Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (84.240)
Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (Assistance Listing 84.240) is run by the Department of Education. It awarded $95.2 million in 285 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $333,996 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $195,895. Half of the 285 awards fell between $186,177 and $351,122, and they ranged from $42,237 to $2.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$95.2 million
- Grant awards285
- Typical award$195,895
- Awarded in FY 2025$19.6 million
- Size rank830 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceFormula grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $17.8 million in fiscal 2021 to $19.6 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 830th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 64% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 56 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide grants for States, and to the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium when sufficient funds are appropriated for the program in accordance with section 509(c)(1)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), to support protection and advocacy systems to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities who are ineligible for services from the other protection and advocacy programs or whose problems fall outside the scope of services available from the Client Assistance Program (CAP). This program is subject to a statutory non-supplanting requirement and, therefore, must use a restricted indirect cost rate in accordance with 34 CFR 76.563 through 76.569. For assistance with questions related to the restricted indirect cost rate, email the Indirect Cost Division at IndirectCostDivision@ed.gov.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Only designated protection and advocacy agencies in each State and Territory, and the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium, may apply. Except for the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium, the Governor designates the protection and advocacy agency in each State.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The Secretary must set aside not less than 1.8 percent and not more than 2.2 percent of the funds appropriated for this program for training and technical assistance to eligible systems established under this program. Federal formula funds are used to support a system in each State to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities who need services that are beyond the scope of the CAP under Section 112 of the Rehabilitation Act; and are ineligible for the protection and advocacy programs under Part C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DDA) and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (PAIMI Act). For any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for this program equals or exceeds $10,500,000, the Secretary must reserve a portion and make a grant to the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Rehabilitation Act, Part Section 509, Subpart C,Public Law N/A.Basic parameters are established in Section 509(c) of the Rehabilitation Act.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Oct 01, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Award range and average, in the agency's words
For FY 2024, the estimated range of State awards (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) under the distribution formula is $195,895 to $1,956,791, with a median award of $219,408. The estimated award for each of the four outlying areas (i.e., American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) is $97,947.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (84.240) awarded $95.2 million across 285 grant awards, an average of $333,996 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 82% of the money, state and local governments 8.5% and small businesses 7.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 210 | $77.9 million | 82% |
| State and local governments | 29 | $8.0 million | 8.5% |
| Small businesses | 25 | $6.8 million | 7.1% |
| Other | 16 | $1.5 million | 1.6% |
| Businesses | 5 | $910,060 | 1.0% |
By state
27 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5 | $9.6 million |
| Texas | 5 | $7.3 million |
| Florida | 5 | $5.4 million |
| New York | 5 | $4.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $3.2 million |
| Illinois | 5 | $3.1 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $2.9 million |
| Georgia | 5 | $2.6 million |
| North Carolina | 5 | $2.6 million |
| Michigan | 5 | $2.4 million |
| New Jersey | 5 | $2.2 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $2.1 million |
| Washington | 5 | $1.9 million |
| Arizona | 5 | $1.8 million |
| Tennessee | 5 | $1.7 million |
| Massachusetts | 5 | $1.7 million |
| Indiana | 5 | $1.7 million |
| Missouri | 5 | $1.5 million |
| Maryland | 5 | $1.5 million |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $1.4 million |
| Colorado | 5 | $1.4 million |
| Minnesota | 5 | $1.4 million |
| New Mexico | 10 | $1.4 million |
| South Carolina | 5 | $1.3 million |
| Alabama | 5 | $1.2 million |
| Kentucky | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Oregon | 5 | $1.0 million |
| Alaska | 5 | $950,316 |
| Arkansas | 5 | $950,316 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $950,316 |
| District of Columbia | 5 | $950,316 |
| Delaware | 5 | $950,316 |
| Iowa | 5 | $950,316 |
| Idaho | 5 | $950,316 |
| Kansas | 5 | $950,316 |
| Maine | 5 | $950,316 |
| Mississippi | 5 | $950,316 |
| Montana | 5 | $950,316 |
| North Dakota | 5 | $950,316 |
| Nebraska | 5 | $950,316 |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $950,316 |
| Nevada | 5 | $950,316 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $950,316 |
| South Dakota | 5 | $950,316 |
| Utah | 5 | $950,316 |
| Vermont | 5 | $950,316 |
| West Virginia | 5 | $950,316 |
| Wyoming | 5 | $950,316 |
| Louisiana | 5 | $941,752 |
| Hawaii | 5 | $936,827 |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $910,060 |
| Puerto Rico | 5 | $574,321 |
| Guam | 5 | $475,156 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 5 | $475,156 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 5 | $475,156 |
| American Samoa | 5 | $384,700 |