FY25 Research on the Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers studying abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies. Priority goes to projects addressing evidence gaps and producing rigorous empirical research. Proposals must advance the field through novel methods or populations.
Geographic scope covers all U.S. states and territories. Projects examining elder abuse in community, institutional, or home settings are welcome. Research on prevention, intervention, detection, and policy are all eligible focus areas.
Applicants must demonstrate institutional capacity to conduct research. Direct research costs and some indirect costs are eligible.
Program description
This NOFO seeks to fund applications for rigorous research and evaluation projects in five topical areas: (1) evaluation of programs that seek to prevent, intervene in, or respond to the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults; (2) research on financial fraud against older adults, including knowledge building around scam prevention messaging; (3) research on formal and informal caregivers who abuse (either financially, physically, sexually, and/or emotionally) or neglect older adults, to inform intervention and prevention program development; (4) forensic research involving the development of radiographic evidence and bioinformatic approaches relevant to the physical abuse of older adults; and (5) research examining the role of emerging technologies in fraud and exploitation.
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
- SF-424 (Federal Application Form)
- Project Narrative (detailed research plan and methodology)
- Budget Narrative and SF-424A (itemized costs and justification)
- Organizational Capacity Documentation (staff qualifications and prior research experience)
- Letters of Support (from partner agencies or organizations)
- Research Data Management Plan
- Curriculum Vitae (principal investigator and key staff)
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
-
$10,561,120
-
$9,800,000
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,500,000
-
$4,000,000
Top States by Funding
- NC 9 awards $38.0M
- VA 13 awards $27.9M
- PA 3 awards $12.5M
- IL 9 awards $11.7M
- CA 6 awards $11.5M
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 is eligible to apply?
Universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and public agencies can apply. Applicants need demonstrable research capacity and organizational infrastructure.
What is the deadline?
Applications open March 25, 2026, with a hard deadline of May 19, 2026. There is no rolling deadline for this program.
What activities are supported?
Research projects examining elder abuse causes, prevention, detection, and interventions. Mixed-methods, quantitative, and qualitative studies are all eligible.
How competitive is this grant?
NIJ research grants are highly competitive. Strong proposals include novel research questions, rigorous methodology, and collaboration with practitioners.
What is the typical funding range?
NIJ research grants typically range from $150,000 to $500,000, though amounts vary by project scope and requirements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research questions to NIJ's strategic priorities on elder abuse and identify evidence gaps your study fills.
- Include partnerships with law enforcement, adult protective services, or community organizations to strengthen feasibility and impact.
- Use strong research design with clear measurement approaches, validated instruments, and rigorous analysis plans.
- Address how findings will be disseminated to practitioners and policymakers, not just academic audiences.
- Submit a realistic budget with justified costs; unspent funds may affect future competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lack clear research questions or focus too broadly on elder abuse without narrowing scope. Weak methodology or failure to address feasibility concerns reduces competitiveness significantly. Insufficient detail on dissemination and practical application to the field undermines relevance.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health