Grant Funding for Disability Services Organizations
Disability services grants fund a wide range of programs: independent living centers, supported employment services, assistive technology provision, ADA accessibility improvements, disability advocacy, recreational programming, and community integration support. Federal investment in disability services has grown substantially since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead decision, creating a complex landscape of grants across multiple federal agencies. Private foundations have followed, particularly around employment, inclusion, and disability-led leadership. This guide maps the major funding sources for disability services nonprofits.
Types of Disability Services Funding
Independent Living Programs
Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are consumer-controlled nonprofits that provide four core services: information and referral, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, and independent living skills training. CILs are funded primarily through the Rehabilitation Act, Title VII, Part C, administered by ACL. There are approximately 400 CILs nationwide; new centers can compete for Part C funding through ACL's regional offices.
Supported Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation
Nonprofits providing job training, supported employment, and vocational services for people with disabilities access funding through multiple channels including state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (funded by the Rehabilitation Act, Title I), the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program, and DOL's Employment and Training Administration grants.
Top Federal Grant Sources
Administration for Community Living (ACL)
ACL is the primary federal agency funding disability services. Key programs include: the Assistive Technology Act Programs (Section 4 State Grants and Section 5 National Activities); the Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program; the Lifespan Respite Care Program; disability and rehabilitation research grants through NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research); and the Developmental Disabilities programs under the DD Act including State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), and Protection and Advocacy Systems.
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA funds disability-related healthcare access programs including the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (which includes children with special healthcare needs set-asides), the Healthy Start program, and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) grants that must serve patients with disabilities. HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce also funds training programs for healthcare providers working with people with disabilities.
Department of Labor (DOL)
DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) funds demonstration grants and initiatives to advance employment of people with disabilities. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) includes set-asides for people with the most significant disabilities, administered through state workforce agencies. DOL's YouthBuild program funds organizations serving young people with disabilities transitioning from school to work.
Department of Education (ED)
ED funds programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including State Formula Grants (Part B for school-age, Part C for early intervention), as well as competitive grants for personnel preparation, technical assistance centers, and research. The Special Education Discretionary Grant programs fund model demonstration projects that disability service nonprofits can lead or partner on.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
SSA funds the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program through cooperative agreements with nonprofits to provide benefits counseling to SSI and SSDI recipients considering employment. SSA also funds Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) programs.
Foundation Funding for Disability Services
Private foundation investment in disability services is concentrated in several areas: the Kessler Foundation funds employment and community living research; the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation funds youth employment; the Poses Family Foundation supports disability arts; the RespectAbility organization provides funding and technical assistance; and the Ford Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation fund disability inclusion as part of their equity portfolios. Community foundations often have disability services grant cycles as well, particularly in metropolitan areas with large disability communities.
Eligibility and Application Tips
- Consumer control requirements: Many ACL programs require that people with disabilities constitute a majority of board members and staff. Document your organizational governance carefully.
- Cross-disability approach: Federal programs under the DD Act and Rehabilitation Act typically require serving people with a broad range of disabilities, not a single condition. Ensure your programs meet this requirement before applying.
- WIOA partnerships: Building formal partnerships with your state's American Job Centers (Workforce Development Boards) strengthens applications for employment-focused grants and may open access to WIOA co-enrollment funding.
- Medicaid waiver revenue: Many disability services nonprofits rely on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers for core revenue. Grant applications should demonstrate how grant funds complement (rather than substitute for) Medicaid billing capacity.
Find Disability Grants with FindGrants
Disability services funding is scattered across ACL, HHS, DOL, ED, SSA, and dozens of state agencies and private foundations. FindGrants.io surfaces disability-focused grant opportunities matched to your organization type, service population, and geographic focus. Enter your profile once and see ranked grant matches across all major federal and foundation sources — so your team spends time on applications, not on research.