The National Council on Aging’s National Falls Prevention Resource Center will provide grants for a 12-month period (June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025) to selected organizations for the development of innovative approaches to older adult falls prevention focused on one of the following areas:
- First Responders/Emergency Medical Services
- Housing/Housing Agencies
- Nutrition Services/Food Access Points
Who is eligible to apply?
Entities eligible to apply for grants under this program are limited to the types of organizations listed below:
- Public or nonprofit providers of services to older adults, including, but not limited to: Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), State Units on Aging (SUAs), Centers for Independent Living (CILs), community health centers, or senior centers
- Faith-based organizations
- State and local government agencies
- Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Public and state controlled institutes of higher education
Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible for this funding opportunity.
What are the key dates?
- Letter of intent due: April 11, 2024, 3 p.m. ET
- Application deadline: Tuesday, April 30, 3034, 3 p.m. ET
- Applicants selected to receive grants will be notified by Thursday, May 30, 2024
How do I apply?
Applicants will submit a letter of intent and full application via this online platform. Emailed submissions will not be considered.
How do I watch the informational webinar?
Anyone interested in appying is encouraged to watch the NCOA informational webinar (passcode 2%#0%hMK).
Get all the details in the full Request for Applications:
How do I volunteer to review applications?
Interested in reviewing? Please let us know.
Frequently asked questions
Application process and proposal details
Q: My organization did not submit a letter of intent by the deadline. Are we still eligible to apply for the Innovation in Falls Prevention grant opportunity?
A: Yes. We ask that you still submit the letter of intent even after the suggested due date since it contains the background information on your agency, and it is required to receive the link to the application. To submit a letter of intent, visit https://webportalapp.com/sp/ncoa_falls_framework.
Q: My letter of intent was sent by email. Do I need to send the letter of intent through WizeHive?
A: Yes. Only organizations that submit letters of intent through the appropriate web link will receive the link to submit the application.
Q: Does the “Mark Complete” button mean my Letter of Intent has been submitted?
A: No. By clicking the “mark complete” button, you will activate a green button to submit the Letter of Intent. An applicant may still edit their LOI after marking complete but will not longer have access to edit once you decide to submit. If the the button appear gray, open the LOI and “mark complete”. When the letter of intent has been successfully submitted, you will see a highlighted message confirming submission.
Q: Does the “Mark Complete” button mean my application has been submitted?
A: No. By clicking the “mark complete” button, you will activate a green button to submit the Application. An applicant may still edit their application after marking complete but will not longer have access to edit once you decide to submit. If the the button appears gray, open the application and “mark complete”. When the application has been successfully submitted, you will see a highlighted message confirming submission and receive an auto-generated email.
Q: Are applicants required to submit their letters of commitment with their application?
A: Letters of commitment are optional. However, if you plan to submit a letter of commitment, it must be uploaded directly to the application. Any documents sent by email, will not be available to reviewers unless stated otherwise.
Q: Are spaces included in the character count on the online application form?
A: Yes. Spaces are included in the character count on the electronic submission form.
Q: Can I save my work while filling out the application?
A: We strongly recommend that you draft your responses first in a word processing document and then copy and paste the responses to the online form. If you must step away from the application unexpectedly, then you can save the application to complete at a later time. Remember to use the save button as frequently as possible.
Q: When attempting to submit a pdf attachment, I received an error saying that the file is too big. How do I reduce the size of the file?
A: Please follow the instructions on how to compress a PDF: http://www.wikihow.com/Compress-a-PDF-File.
Q: Do we have to identify all personnel who will contribute in any way to this grant?
A: No. We are interested in the staff who will be carrying out or supervising the activities you propose in your application. Staff members at your organization who will be providing only administrative or budgeting support to this grant do not need to be identified.
Eligibility
Q: Is an organization that is new to Falls Prevention or older adult services eligible to apply for this grant?
A: We anticipate that we will fund organizations that are already experienced in falls prevention and/or working older adults in focus area (First Responders/Emergency Medical Responsers, Housing, Nutrition/Food Access). We will be evaluating applicants on whether they have proven access and credibility in serving older adults in focus area and/or to prevent older adult falls. However, we will not disqualify proposals from organizations that are newer to providing older adult assistance or addressing older adult falls. We strongly encourage organizations without experience to partner with complementary agencies. For example, a senior center may partner with a local falls coalition to develop an innovation.
Q: We are currently funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to provide Falls Prevention Evidence Based Programs in our state. Can we still apply for this grant?
A: Yes, you are eligible to apply however, this funding opportunity is intended to develop a new innovation. Therefore, you will not be able to use this grant to fund existing work.
Q: Can a newly designated IRS Public Charity (501c3) be considered for funding?
A: We are not likely to fund applications from newly established organizations because they lack a track record of service and sustainability.
Q: Can for-profit companies apply for these grants?
A: For-profit organizations cannot be the lead applicant on a Innovations in Falls Prevention proposal. Under very limited circumstances, we will consider proposals that include for-profit companies as partners or subcontractors. All services to older adults under this grant must be provided free of charge. In addition, activities funded by this grant cannot be used to market or promote any private product or service, such as a specific contractor to install grab bars. If you are wondering whether you have developed a proposal that includes a for-profit partner in an acceptable way, we encourage you to contact us before submitting your proposal.
Q: Can national organizations apply?
A: National organizations are welcome to submit a proposal. However, much of this work is done locally and requires local and state relationships to make sure that the process is as seamless as possible. Please include how you will navigate this as a national organization in your proposal.
Q: Can agencies or organizations serving people in U.S. territories apply for this grant?
A: Yes, organizations serving U.S. territories are eligible to apply for this opportunity. If you leave the state question blank, it will prompt a U.S. territory question.
Q: I am already funded by a National Council on Aging (NCOA) grant, can I apply for the Innovations in Falls Prevention grant?
A: Yes. Organizations funded by NCOA are eligible to apply for this opportunity; however, NCOA may consider the performance and capacity to execute both grants' deliverables in the final decision. Also, remember this project must be an addition to existing workplans.
Q: Are organizations required to provide personally identifiable data about older adults in the monthly or final reporting?
A: We do not ask for client-specific data for this funding opportunity. If client-specific data is collected during the pilot, it should be shared with NCOA in the aggregate.
Q: I do not have a Unique Enitiy ID (UEI). What should I do?
A: Visit SAM.gov. On the landing page, there is a section to the right that says “Register Your Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID.” Follow the steps, to “Get a Unique Entity ID.” Registration is not required.
Target area
Q: How large or small should our target area be?
A: You have broad discretion in defining the area you would like to serve. Your target area can be a city (or even a part of a city), a county, multiple cities or counties, or a state. If you intend to serve more than one community we expect applicants to thoroughly defined the communities, community type (urban, rural, suburban), and special populations (Ex. Tribal on-reservation, Limited English Proficency, etc.). This will help understand which communities are best suited to replicate innovation.
Q: My organization serves all listed target populations; should I check all of the boxes on the application?
A: Maybe. If your organization actively works with all listed target populations and plans to create an innovation applicable to all selected populations, yes you may check all of the boxes. The answer is no, if your target population is strongly represented by only a few demographic identifiers and the identifiers influences the nature of the innovation. (Example: My organization in Jackson, Mississippi serves 95% African Americans, 3% Hispanic/Latino, 2% Caucasian. While we provide services for anyone who requests it, consider whether the approach would change should the demographics differ or the credibility of the best practice, assuming the innovation would be appropriate across communities not regularly served by agancy.) Please note: The target populations selected do not influence scoring in any way.
Use of grant funding
Q: Would it be inappropriate to use some of the grant funds to create a new staff position or to pay the salaries of existing staff members?
A: Paying a portion of staff salaries is a valid use of the grant funds. Since grant activities are being supported by specific staff time, you should be clear in your proposal about how your project will be sustainable in terms of the proposed system to reduce barriers and make benefits access more sustainable beyond the funding period.
Q: May some of the grant funds be used to support an AmeriCorps VISTA?
A: Yes.
Q: Is it possible to split the funding awarded via a subcontract with a local partner?
A: Yes. We encourage organizations to partner with local community organizations to provide develop and pilot an innovation that evisions less falls. If you choose to include a local partner in your efforts, please clearly define the designated role the partner will serve and plans to execute the agreement. It is requested that the applicant submit a letter of commitment from the partner that explains the role the partner will play in the project with the agency's proposal. See "Partnerships" section for more details.
Q: Does “willingness to send a staff member” to events such as Age+Action or the 2024 Falls Summit mean we are required to attend?
A: No, attendance is optional however grantees may benefit professionally by attending events of this nature. While not required, we would love to work with partners who have interest in presenting their innovation in external capacities.
Q: May we use grant funding to cover travel expenses associated with Age+Action 2025 or Falls Summit?
A: Yes. If you are interested in attending, you may include the cost in your proposal budget.
Project activities
Q: What is the planning period allowed for the grant?
A: Yes, an agency may take up to 3 months to actively work on the innovation development and pilot. The planning period should be included in your 12-month workplan. Grantee will provide progress updates for each month, including the planning period.
Q: Can an applicant plan to reapply for another Innovation in Falls Grant after the grant period is over?
A: NCOA is unable to predict future funding availability at this time. We encourage interested applicants to stay connected through NCOA's various communication channels for related announcements.
Q: Is training and technical assistance provided during the grant period? If so, what does it entail?
A: Yes. Training and technical assistance is provided over the grant period. Training and technical assistance includes peer learning sessions, 1:1 meetings with NCOA staff and resource sharing.
Q: Can an Executive Director serve as the program coordinator for the is grant opportunity?
A: No. The RFP states that the program director should not be a C-Suite level staff person.
Q: Are we required to use the National Council on Aging's Falls Free CheckUp tool (https://www.ncoa.org/tools/falls-free-checkup) under this grant?
A: No, however you are welcomed to use existing falls prevention tools, such as NCOA’s FallsFree CheckUp or CDC’s STEADI to develop an innovation. An innovation using an existing resource must bring a new component such as tailoring use to a focus area.
Partnerships
Q: Are partnerships required as part of the Innovation in Falls Prevention Grant?
A: We do not require specific partnerships, but since these grants are focused on the creation of an innovation in partner-related focus areas (first reponsders/emergency medical service, housing, and nutrition/food access), we strongly encourage all applicants to think about how other organizations could best contribute.
Q: What is required from intended partners in the proposal?
A: Partner letters are optional for this grant however if you decide to submit a partner letter, you should explain clearly what role each of your designated partners will serve. The letter of commitment can be addressed to NCOA or the applicant organization. Applicants may attach up to two (2) letters to their application. The role of the supporting agency and the reason they are supporting the application must be clear. A large number of generic letters of support are unnecessary and discouraged.
Budget
Q: Are you reviewing an organization's total operating budget? If so, what will you be looking for?
A: We expect all funded organizations to remain in good financial standing and compliant with Internal Revenue Services (IRS) reporting standards. NCOA will evaluate an applicant's financial documents to identify potential risk factors and may follow up with questions, if necessary.
Q: Will we receive start-up funds at the beginning of the grant period?
A: Yes, you will receive a portion of the grant award at the very beginning of the grant period.
Q: What is the limit of the indirect/administrative rate that may be charged under this grant?
A: We do not have a specific indirect rate. You are welcome to allocate a reasonable percentage of the funds to indirect/administrative costs. Please explain your indirect costs in your budget narrative.
Q: Does NCOA require match funding of any kind?
A: No, NCOA does not ask for organizations to match grant funds for this opportunity.
