CDRI Grants (Start-up awards, Pilot awards)

CDRI Grants (Start-up awards, Pilot awards) is sponsored by Alzheimer's Association. The CDRI grant program supports organizations and providers offering person-centered respite care, providing relief to caregivers while ensuring meaningful engagement and safe support for those living with dementia.

CDRI Research Grant l Alzheimer's Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) The CDRI grant program is now part of our new Center for Dementia Respite Innovation website. For current grant opportunities, eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit the CDRI website .

The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation funds new respite care innovation projects across the country. Over the course of five years, the CDRI will award up to $20 million in competitive grants to local respite care providers to improve and increase the delivery of person-centered dementia care, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, outcomes, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability.

The Alzheimer’s Association has been awarded a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services division, to enhance respite services for dementia caregivers. This funding established the CDRI to fund new respite innovation projects nationwide.

The CDRI will award approximately $20 million in competitive grants to respite care providers that propose to improve the quality of their services. Grant recipients will be supported with online training and ongoing technical assistance to ensure that respite services are dementia-capable. The CDRI will collect data and study the outcomes of these improvement projects to inform public policy.

This is a competitive RFA process, and not all applications will receive awards. The number of awardees will be determined based on the applications received and the funding level requests. Please note that the Steering Committee and the CDRI will thoroughly review budgets to determine their feasibility.

Do not inflate budget requests based on the possibility of a reduced funding award. Start-up awards: $100,000 total ($50,000 per year for two years) Start-up awards allow an organization or provider not already providing dementia-specific respite services to plan and launch a respite program and implement a small innovative program.

Pilot awards: Up to $125,000 Pilot awards allow an existing community-based organization/respite provider to enhance their program by adding innovative components. Local respite providers and organizations prepared to expand their existing programs with an innovative component or those prepared to launch a new respite program.

Organizations providing services to communities at higher risk for Alzheimer's or other dementia are encouraged to apply. Domestic public or private for-profit or non-profit entities, including state and local governments, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and higher education institutions. Other organization types will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Currently providing with the bandwidth to expand, or prepared to provide, dementia-related respite services. Dedicate a staff member to lead the project, engaged in all required aspects of the initiative, including participation in all learning and support opportunities. Commitment to abiding by all terms and conditions set out in the program award.

Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with relevant community stakeholders. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that there is a pre-existing need within the community for the proposed programs. Organizations must be able to demonstrate the ability to launch their proposed program and begin serving clients within 2 months of grant award.

Two-year start-up awards will be given 6 months to begin serving clients. For CDRI funded respite program purposes, a caregiver cannot be required to participate in additional organizational programming as a condition of benefiting from funded respite services. Multiple locations or sites of a national organization can apply for an award as long as each site has its own EIN number.

However, no more than three entities of the same franchise or license are eligible to receive awards. Applicants are required to identify a Lead Staff Member to fully participate in all aspects of this initiative. This position will serve as the point person for the Center.

A competitive application will designate a professional who: Is knowledgeable about dementia respite services (business, practice, needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers). Is knowledgeable about state licensure and local requirements that would inform the implementation of the proposed innovative program. Has demonstrated leadership experience.

Is an innovative thinker. At least 50% of time is allocated to this project. Recommendation: For start-up awards, it is suggested that the lead staff member be full-time on this project.

Has demonstrated ability to develop programming that is responsive to community needs and includes collaboration with community partnerships. Skilled in the development and implementation of program plans. Understands the importance of program evaluation data for continued improvement and sustainability.

Staff salaries and wages and fringe benefits associated with grant funded activities. Fringe benefits do not apply to external consultants. Costs related to hiring and training respite staff and/or volunteers.

Outreach and engagement, including: Costs associated with outreach efforts to raise awareness about grant-funded respite services, engage with caregivers, and promote community involvement. Expenses related to the use of technology that enhance the delivery of respite services, such as computers, communication tools, software, or specialized equipment for dementia care.

All technology over $1,000 must be included in your application budget and project scope and cannot be added as an expense after award. All technology must be reviewed by CDRI leadership before award, with ample time to verify the efficacy and legitimacy of the program. Transportation, including: Costs associated with transportation services to facilitate access to respite care for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Program materials and supplies, including: Costs related to procuring program-specific materials and supplies, including those needed for engaging activities, or educational sessions. Marketing and communication, including: Expenses allocated for marketing and communication efforts to promote dementia-specific respite services within the community.

Education and training, including: Expenses related to attendance at a training or professional development activity related to this program. Justification must be shown on how it will strengthen your program and/or staff. Consultants and contractors, including: If you plan to hire a consultant or outsource labor, this must be outlined in the application budget.

A consultant or contractor is defined as a professional hired to perform work related to the project, but who is not formally employed by the grantee organization. Contractors are paid for their work, but do not receive benefits through the grantee organization. Learn more about the CDRI and grant application process during the informational webinar on Feb.

18, 2026 at 1 p. m. ET.

Registration for the informational webinar is required. For additional information, please send queries to cdri@alz. org .

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $18,228,216 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $4,941,389 with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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