FY 2026 Research on the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Individuals
🏛 National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 22, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations studying elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, universities, government agencies, and other research institutions that meet federal requirements. The research must address one of four focus areas: technology's role in elder fraud, forensic investigation methods, program evaluation, or financial fraud prevention. Projects must advance the scientific understanding of these issues through rigorous research methodology.
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Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the NIJ FY 2026 Research on the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Individuals. This opportunity seeks to improve knowledge and understanding of relevant issues through science. Under this NOFO, NIJ is seeking proposals to address one or more of the following topic areas:
1. Research examining the role of emerging technologies in fraud and exploitation, including technology-enabled approaches to enhance detection and investigation.
2. Forensic research to inform and strengthen the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse cases.
3. Evaluation of programs that seek to prevent, intervene in, or respond to the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults.
4. Research to inform the development of effective education and intervention programs that address financial fraud against older adults.
Applications proposing research projects not addressing one of these four areas will not be considered.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Detailed project narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity and qualifications
- Research methodology and evaluation plan
- Letters of support or organizational commitment
- Curriculum vitae of key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$18,393,640
-
$13,250,000
-
$12,361,120
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,416,415
Top States by Funding
- NC 10 awards $42.3M
- VA 14 awards $28.8M
- PA 3 awards $14.3M
- CA 8 awards $13.3M
- MA 12 awards $12.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies are eligible. Your organization must be able to conduct rigorous research and meet federal compliance requirements.
What research topics does NIJ fund under this NOFO?
Four areas: emerging technology in elder fraud detection, forensic methods for elder abuse cases, program evaluation for abuse prevention/intervention, and financial fraud education/prevention programs. Proposals outside these topics will be rejected.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is November 30, 2026. Check the full NOFO for any submission window details or rolling review periods.
What makes a competitive application for NIJ research?
Strong proposals demonstrate rigorous methodology, clear significance to elder protection, experienced research teams, and feasibility within the budget. Clearly align your project to one of the four funded topic areas.
What is the funding range for awards?
Total funding available is $1,800,000. Individual award amounts vary based on project scope and evaluation scores. Contact NIJ for typical award size ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Select ONE of the four topic areas and build your proposal tightly around it. Off-topic proposals are automatically rejected.
- Emphasize rigorous research design. NIJ prioritizes scientifically sound methodology and clear evaluation plans.
- Connect your research directly to real-world impact on elder protection. Show how findings will inform policy or practice.
- Include a strong evaluation plan with measurable outcomes. NIJ expects clear metrics and data collection strategies.
- Partner with practitioners or agencies serving elderly populations. Collaborations strengthen relevance and feasibility.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing research outside the four specified topic areas. Weak or vague research methodology that doesn't meet federal research standards. Failing to demonstrate how findings will improve elder protection or inform practice.
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