Federal grant programs / Department of Health and Human Services

ACL Centers for Independent Living (93.432)

Also known as CILs

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$511 million
• Grant awards2,256
• Typical award$187,484
• Awarded in FY 2025$97.7 million
• Size rank367 of 1824
• Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $93.1 million in fiscal 2021 and $97.7 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 367th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 20% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 55 states and territories.

What the program funds

To support a Statewide network of centers for independent living (centers or CILs) and provide financial assistance to centers that comply with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act) consistent with the design included in the State Plan for Independent Living for establishing a statewide network of centers. Centers are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit agencies that are operated in local communities by individuals with disabilities and provide an array of IL services that are designed to enhance independence and productivity of individuals with significant disabilities and to promote their full inclusion and integration into the mainstream of American society.

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

Open opportunities

• Centers for Independent Living Competition - Guam
  Forecast · Expected deadline July 1, 2027 · up to $159,762
• Centers for Independent Living
  Forecast · Expected deadline July 1, 2027 · up to $250,927

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Private non-profit organizations. An eligible agency under the CIL program is a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit agency or a state agency in states in which no eligible private non-profit organization applies for a grant. A State’s allotment for IL Part C funds is determined according to a population-based formula. To the extent funds are available, the Rehabilitation Act requires the Administrator to make awards based on a statutory order of priorities to the extent funds are available: (1) The Administrator shall support existing centers for independent living, as described in subsection (c), that comply with the standards and assurances set forth in section 725, at the level of funding for the previous year. (2) The Administrator shall provide for a cost-of-living increase for such existing centers for independent living. (3) The Administrator shall fund new centers for independent living, as described in subsection (d), that comply with the standards and assurances set forth in section 725.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Federal funds awarded under this program, the CIL program, are used for the establishment and operation of centers for independent living which offer a wide range of independent living (IL) services. Services must include independent living core services which are (1) information and referral services, (2) independent living skills training, (3) peer counseling, including cross-disability peer counseling, (4) individual and systems advocacy and (5) services that (i) facilitate the transition of individuals with significant disabilities from nursing homes and other institutions to home and community-based residences, with the requisite supports and services; (ii) provide assistance to individuals with significant disabilities who are at risk of entering institutions so that the individuals may remain in the community; and (iii) facilitate the transition of youth who are individuals with significant disabilities, who were eligible for individualized education programs under section 614(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)), and who have completed their secondary education or otherwise left school, to post-secondary life. As appropriate, IL services may include a combination of any other independent living services specified in Section 7(18) of the Rehabilitation Act.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply

Award range and average, in the agency's words

FY 20 est amount includes an $85 million increase from CARES Act Funds. FY 21 est amount includes a $5 million increase from CDC Vaccine Funds. FY 22 est includes a $29 million increase identified in the President's budget.

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

Nonprofits received 74% of the money, state and local governments 3.1% and colleges and universities less than 0.1%.

By state

53 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

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