National Ombudsman Resource Center
🏛 Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to support the National Ombudsman Resource Center, which promotes and strengthens ombudsman programs serving vulnerable populations. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, universities, and other public institutions with demonstrated expertise in long-term care advocacy, patient/resident protection, and ombudsman services. The program supports activities nationwide but often prioritizes work benefiting residents and families in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other care settings. Funding supports resource development, training, technical assistance, research, and capacity-building for existing ombudsman programs and the broader ombudsman field.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Key dates
- Jun 15, 2026 Award announced
- Jun 29, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
- Jul 29, 2026 Application deadline in 13 days
Program description
ACL plans to compete a new cooperative agreement for one (1) award to operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC). The purpose of NORC is to provide support, technical assistance, and training to the 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks to enhance the skills, knowledge, and management capacity of the State Ombudsman programs. As a result of this grant, ACL expects state Ombudsman will improve their skills and ability to effectively advocate for residents in long-term care facilities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative/statement of work describing resource center activities, goals, and evaluation plan
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity statement and staff qualifications/resumes
- Letters of support and partnership agreements from ombudsman programs and organizations
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
- Audited financial statements (for organizations with prior federal funding)
- Data on current ombudsman program landscape and documented needs
- Evaluation plan with specific metrics and data collection methods
- Sustainability plan and timeline
Program contact
- 👤 Kari Benson
- 📧 contactelderjustice@acl.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 401-4634
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.048 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$66,701,512
-
$50,000,000
-
$32,636,000
-
$13,015,977
-
$12,893,893
-
$10,364,463
-
$9,949,997
-
$9,779,231
-
$9,097,121
-
$8,389,500
Top States by Funding
- DC 9 awards $159.0M
- NY 6 awards $53.7M
- MO 4 awards $28.0M
- CA 5 awards $19.9M
- VA 4 awards $15.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.048). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $82,804,000 | |
| 2025 | $82,804,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $82,804,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Typically 501(c)(3) nonprofits, universities, and public institutions with expertise in ombudsman services, long-term care advocacy, and consumer protection. Some programs may accept fiscal sponsors or organizations with relevant experience in aging services or healthcare advocacy.
What types of activities does this grant support?
Common activities include developing ombudsman training materials, providing technical assistance to ombudsman programs, conducting research on ombudsman effectiveness, maintaining resource libraries, and strengthening ombudsman capacity across states and regions.
When is the application deadline?
The application opens September 5, 2025. Check Grants.gov or the Administration for Community Living website for the specific deadline, as it is not yet listed in available materials.
How competitive is this funding?
This is typically a competitive federal grant with moderate-to-strong competition. Applications should demonstrate clear understanding of ombudsman needs, a detailed work plan, experienced personnel, and sustainable partnerships with ombudsman programs nationwide.
What is the typical funding range?
Federal grants through ACL for ombudsman programs typically range from $200,000 to $500,000+ annually, depending on scope. The actual range for this specific funding opportunity should be confirmed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Ground your proposal in real ombudsman program data and feedback. Conduct listening sessions with actual ombudsman programs to identify their most pressing capacity gaps before writing your proposal. Reviewers will recognize authentic understanding of field needs versus generic assumptions.
- Design a realistic evaluation plan with specific, measurable outcomes for how your resource center will improve ombudsman program effectiveness. Include both quantitative metrics (training hours delivered, resources downloaded) and qualitative evidence (program director feedback, policy changes influenced).
- Develop clear partnerships and letters of support from established state and regional ombudsman programs, ombudsman associations, and consumer advocacy organizations. These demonstrate buy-in and help justify your role as a resource center serving the field.
- Explain your sustainability plan beyond the grant period. Federal resource centers are expected to become increasingly self-sufficient over time through diverse revenue streams (fee-for-service training, memberships, foundation support, etc.).
- Address equity and inclusion explicitly. Show how your resource center will serve ombudsman programs in underserved regions (rural areas, tribal lands, regions with fewer resources) and in programs serving historically marginalized populations.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by presenting a generic training/resource center proposal without demonstrating deep knowledge of current ombudsman program challenges and landscape. Reviewers want evidence that you've engaged with actual programs and understand their specific barriers. Additionally, many applicants underestimate the importance of strong organizational partnerships—the grant seeks to strengthen the entire ombudsman field, so your application must show who you're partnering with and how those partnerships are structured and sustained beyond the grant period.
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