HHS Is the Largest Grant-Making Agency in the Federal Government
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distributes more grant funding than any other federal agency. Its operating divisions fund programs in healthcare, public health, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, aging services, refugee assistance, and community health. For nonprofits working in any of these areas, HHS grants nonprofits programs represent the largest available pool of federal funding.
HHS is not a single grant program. It is an umbrella over multiple agencies, each with its own priorities, application processes, and funding cycles. This guide breaks down the major HHS operating divisions that fund nonprofits and explains how to navigate their grant programs.
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA funds programs that improve access to healthcare for people who are uninsured, underserved, or living in rural areas. It is the primary federal agency for community health centers, rural health, and health workforce development.
Key HRSA Programs
- Health Center Program: HRSA funds more than 1,400 community health centers serving over 30 million patients annually. Health centers receive federal Section 330 grants for operations, and HRSA periodically opens New Access Point grants for organizations seeking to establish new health center sites.
- Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: Grants for organizations providing medical care, medications, and support services to people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured.
- Maternal and Child Health: The Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant funds state programs. HRSA also runs competitive grants for programs addressing infant mortality, maternal health, and children with special healthcare needs.
- National Health Service Corps: Loan repayment and scholarship programs for health professionals who commit to working in underserved areas. While not a traditional grant to an organization, health centers and clinics benefit by using NHSC to recruit and retain providers.
- Rural Health Grants: Multiple programs including Rural Health Network Development, Small Healthcare Provider Quality Improvement, and Rural Health Information Technology grants.
Who Is Eligible for HRSA Grants
HRSA grants are open to nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribes, and in some cases academic institutions. Community health center grants have specific requirements: the organization must serve a medically underserved area or population, provide services regardless of ability to pay, and have a governing board with a majority of members who are patients of the health center.
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA funds programs addressing mental health, substance use disorders, and crisis intervention. For organizations working in behavioral health, SAMHSA is a primary federal funding source and a key part of the HHS grants nonprofits landscape.
Key SAMHSA Programs
- Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG): Distributed to states, which then subgrant to local organizations for mental health services.
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG): State-administered funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC): Grants and Medicaid demonstration funding for clinics providing comprehensive behavioral health services with no one turned away for inability to pay.
- Drug-Free Communities (DFC): Grants for community coalitions working on youth substance abuse prevention.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Grants for crisis centers participating in the national 988 system.
ACF: Administration for Children and Families
ACF funds programs serving children, families, refugees, and people with developmental disabilities.
Key ACF Programs
- Head Start and Early Head Start: Comprehensive early childhood education, health, and family support for low-income families. New grants are available when existing grantees relinquish funding or fail to meet quality standards.
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): Distributed to states, which fund Community Action Agencies and other organizations providing anti-poverty services.
- Refugee Resettlement: Grants for organizations providing initial resettlement services, employment training, English language instruction, and social adjustment support for refugees and asylees.
- Family Violence Prevention and Services: Grants for domestic violence shelters and support services.
- Child Care and Development Fund: State-administered funding for child care subsidies and quality improvement.
CDC and NIH
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds public health programs including disease prevention, health promotion, immunization, environmental health, and emergency preparedness. CDC grants are typically available to state and local health departments, but nonprofits can often participate as sub-recipients or partners.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary federal funder of biomedical and public health research. Most NIH grants go to academic institutions, but community-based organizations can receive NIH funding through community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships and specific programs targeting community health interventions.
How to Write Competitive HHS Grant Applications
Understand the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Every HHS grant starts with a NOFO published on Grants.gov. The NOFO contains everything you need: eligibility criteria, application requirements, scoring rubric, budget guidelines, and reporting expectations. Read the entire NOFO before writing anything. Many applicants miss technical requirements buried in the document that can disqualify otherwise strong applications.
Register Early
HHS grants require registration in SAM.gov (for your UEI) and Grants.gov. First-time registration on SAM.gov can take 2 to 4 weeks. If you wait until a NOFO is published to start registering, you may not be ready in time to submit. Register now if you have not already.
Use the Scoring Rubric as Your Outline
HHS NOFOs include detailed scoring criteria. If the needs assessment is worth 25 points, the program design is worth 30, the organizational capacity is worth 20, and the budget is worth 15, structure your application to give each section proportional depth. This is where many HHS grants nonprofits applicants lose points: they write extensively about their program but give minimal attention to sections worth significant points.
Document Community Need With Local Data
HHS reviewers expect data-driven needs statements. Use county-level health data from County Health Rankings, CDC PLACES data, HRSA data dashboards, census data, and state vital statistics. Cite your sources. National statistics alone are insufficient. You need to show the problem exists in the specific community your program will serve.
Describe Evidence-Based Practices
HHS prioritizes programs using practices listed in federal evidence registries like SAMHSA's Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center, the CDC Guide to Community Preventive Services, or the What Works Clearinghouse. Name the specific practice or model you will implement and cite its evidence base.
Include a Realistic Evaluation Plan
HHS grants almost always require an evaluation component. At minimum, describe the process measures (what you will track about program implementation) and outcome measures (what changes for participants). Identify validated instruments or data sources you will use. If the grant is large enough to warrant an external evaluator, include that role in your budget.
Common Mistakes in HHS Applications
- Ignoring the NOFO requirements: Failing to include a required attachment, exceeding page limits, or using the wrong font size can result in your application being screened out before it reaches reviewers.
- Weak organizational capacity section: HHS reviewers need confidence that you can manage federal funds. Describe your financial management systems, experience with federal grants, qualified staff, and audit history.
- Unrealistic timelines: Proposing to launch a fully operational program within 30 days of award notification signals inexperience. Build in realistic ramp-up time for hiring, procurement, and program setup.
- Budget errors: Federal budgets must comply with 2 CFR 200 (the Uniform Guidance). Indirect cost rates must match your negotiated rate or the de minimis rate. Personnel costs must reflect actual salary levels, not aspirational ones.
Finding HHS Grants Matched to Your Organization
FindGrants indexes HHS grants nonprofits opportunities from HRSA, SAMHSA, ACF, CDC, NIH, and other operating divisions alongside state health programs and private health foundations. Enter your organization type, focus areas, service location, and populations served to get a ranked list of matching opportunities from the 57,000+ grants in the database. The matching engine saves hours of browsing Grants.gov and surfaces programs from state agencies and foundations that complement federal funding.
See pricing and plans for access to the complete grant database and matching tools.
The Bottom Line
HHS grants nonprofits funding is substantial, but navigating the agency's multiple operating divisions and grant programs requires targeted research. Start by identifying which HHS agencies fund work in your program area. Read the NOFOs carefully, register on required platforms early, and build your application around the scoring rubric. The organizations that win HHS grants consistently are the ones that combine strong local data, evidence-based practices, and meticulous attention to application requirements.