Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB (HHS-ACF-CB)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to evaluate kinship navigator programs that support relative caregivers. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, universities, research institutions, and government agencies with evaluation capacity. Activities include rigorous impact evaluations, process studies, implementation research, and cost-benefit analyses of kinship navigator services. Geographic scope is national; programs serving kinship families across the U.S. are eligible for evaluation funding.
Applicants must demonstrate evaluation expertise and partnerships with existing kinship navigator programs. The funding supports research and evaluation only, not direct service delivery. Prior experience evaluating child welfare or family support programs is strongly preferred.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Key dates
- Jul 8, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 7, 2026 Application deadline in 21 days
- Sep 29, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the implementation and rigorous evaluation of existing Kinship Navigator Programs (KNPs). The goal is to increase the number of programs that qualify for federal Title IV-E Kinship Navigator funding by building strong evidence of improved outcomes for kinship caregivers and the children in their care. Strengthening the evidence base will position more programs for review by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. This opportunity is intended for states and tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program.
To achieve this goal, projects will focus on the following objectives: Administering KNP services, Collaborative planning, Evaluating the KNP, Complete a final evaluation report that demonstrates positive outcomes for kinship families.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative and Evaluation Plan
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity and Experience
- Letters of Support from Partner Kinship Navigator Programs
- Evaluation Team Qualifications and Staffing Plan
- Data Management and Dissemination Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Liliana Hernandez Chakrabarti
- 📧 cb@grantreview.org
- 📞 888-203-6161
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.605 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,911,066
Top States by Funding
- CA 1 awards $1.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.605). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $600,000 | |
| 2025 | $600,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $600,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, universities, research institutions, and government agencies can apply. Applicants must have evaluation expertise and ability to partner with kinship navigator programs.
What types of evaluations are supported?
Rigorous impact evaluations, process studies, implementation research, and cost-benefit analyses are all eligible. Mixed-method and longitudinal studies are encouraged.
Do I need an existing kinship navigator program to apply?
No, but you must establish partnerships with operating kinship navigator programs to evaluate. Strong relationships with programs strengthen competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding amounts vary; check the announcement for current award ranges and number of grants available.
How competitive is this grant?
This is moderately to highly competitive. Strong evaluation designs, relevant experience, and clear partnerships improve success rates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Use validated evaluation instruments and frameworks specific to child welfare or family support outcomes.
- Partner with multiple kinship navigator programs to increase sample size and generalizability of findings.
- Develop a clear logic model showing how evaluation activities connect to kinship family outcomes.
- Include dissemination plans to share findings with policymakers and program practitioners.
- Budget adequate staff time for evaluation management, data collection, and analysis across all project years.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or underdeveloped partnerships with kinship navigator programs. Vague evaluation design lacking rigor or validated measurement tools. Unrealistic budgets or timelines for complex evaluation activities.
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