Federal grant programs / Department of Education

American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (84.250)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$226 million
• Grant awards138
• Typical award$1.5 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$35.3 million
• Size rank580 of 1824
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $49.8 million in fiscal 2021 to $35.3 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 580th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 35% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 26 states and territories.

What the program funds

To make grants to the governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of such governing bodies) located on Federal and State reservations to provide vocational rehabilitation services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near such reservations, consistent with their individual strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in high-quality employment that will increase opportunities for economic self-sufficiency.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.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

The definition of “Indian Tribe" includes Tribal Organizations as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(l)). AIVRS grant competition: Governing bodies of Indian tribes located on Federal and State reservations (and consortia of such governing bodies) may apply. Training and technical assistance grant: State, local, or tribal governments, non-profit organizations, or institutions of higher education may apply.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Financial assistance is provided to the governing bodies of Indian Tribes located on Federal and State reservations (and consortia of such governing bodies) to provide vocational rehabilitation services for American Indians with disabilities residing on or near such reservations under section 121(a) of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 121(c) authorizes the Commissioner to make grants, or enter into contracts or other cooperative agreements with entities that have experience in the operation of vocational rehabilitation services programs under this section to provide such training and technical assistance with respect to developing, conducting, administering, and evaluating such programs to the governing bodies of Indian tribes that have received American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) grants under section 121(a) of the Act. RSA invites an applicant to indicate whether it intends to consolidate its AIVRS grant funds into a current or future 477 plan in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 115-93, the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2017 (25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.). Any request to consolidate AIVRS funds into a 477 plan must be made separately to the U.S. Department of Interior. For further information on the integration of grant funds under this program and related programs, contact the Division of Workforce Development, Office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Projects are required to contribute ten percent of the total cost of the project in cash or in-kind, unless the Commissioner of RSA waives the cost-share requirement under 34 CFR 371.40(c) if the applicant demonstrates that it does not have sufficient resources to contribute the non-Federal share of the cost of the program. Matching requirements are mandatory and are calculated by dividing the amount of Federal funding being requested by nine (9) (e.g., Federal award requested: $450,000 divided by 9 = $50,000 matching requirement).MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Range of new awards in FY 2024 was $260,456 to $1,806,280; Median new award: $600,386.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Tribal governments and organizations received 85% of the money, nonprofits 6.2% and state and local governments 5.8%.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.