The Washington Home Grant

The Washington Home Grant supports innovative programs aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults and terminally ill residents in the Washington, D.C. area. Priorities include caregiver relief, support for the critically ill, addressing food insecurity, reducing social isolation, and providing sponsorships for eligible organizations. By funding diverse initiatives, the grant enhances community engagement and well-being among vulnerable populations, ensuring vital resources and services are accessible to those in need.

The Washington Home is committed to funding entities that create and deliver innovative, compassionate, and well-managed programs to improve the quality of life for older adults and/or terminally ill residents in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Priority Areas
The Foundation funds programs and projects that support older adults in five priority areas: caregiver relief, critically ill, food insecurity, social isolation, and sponsorship/memberships.
Caregiver Relief
Caregivers provide important support to care recipients who are aging in place or facing a critical illness (cancer, dementia, etc.). Caregivers can include both family members and professionals such as certified nursing assistants and home health aides. The Foundation supports projects that focus on the needs of both the caregiver and their care recipient. Examples of programs and projects funded for caregiver relief include: providing home health aides/ certified nursing assistants (CNAs) for supplemental support, training and education for professional caregivers, caregiver support groups, program equipment, art supplies, and field trips for participants of adult daycare centers.
Critically Ill
People who are critically ill face life-threatening conditions that can lead to physical impairments, cognitive impairments, and disabilities. Critical illness conditions can run the gamut from cancer and heart disease to dementia and stroke. The Foundation supports programs and projects that focus on the provision of direct care services, improving health outcomes for older adults, end-of-life care, and building the workforce needed to care for older adults. Examples of programs and projects funded include: startup costs for the first Geriatric Career Builders’ Apprenticeship Program in Washington, D.C., hospice and palliative care fellowships, nursing scholarships, hospice care and resources, cancer patient support-funds, end-of-life education and awareness, and a geriatric surgery pilot program.
Food Insecurity
This condition affects thousands of older adults throughout Washington, D.C., and millions more nationwide. The Foundation supports programs and projects that focus on increasing access to food as well as improving the quality of food available to older adults. Examples of programs and projects funded include: delivering meals to homebound older adults, expanding the distribution capacity of food programs, increasing access to fresh produce, sharing nutrition education, and providing community-based cooking demonstrations.
Social Isolation
This condition is defined by a lack of relationships with others and having little-tono social support or contact. The Foundation supports virtual and in-person programs that focus on reducing social isolation among older adults through recreational activities involving the arts, physical activity, technology, and more. Examples of projects funded include: swimming programs for older adults, senior wellness center activities and equipment, volunteering, and technology training/support.
Sponsorships & Memberships
While not direct care, this support is vital for organizations to help nurture stability and expansion of programs. The Foundation provides a limited number of sponsorships and memberships for eligible organizations.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must be: designated as a 501(c)3;
located in Washington, D.C.; and
serve older adults (aged 60+) or adults with a critical illness