The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) New Partners Program Call for Proposals: Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility and organizational fit
1. How do I know whether my organization qualifies as a “new partner” to JAHF?
For non-profit organizations: If your organization has never received a board-authorized grant from JAHF, you are eligible to apply.
For academic institutions: If your department or division has never received a board-authorized grant from JAHF, you are eligible to apply.
Recipients of limited discretionary awards are eligible to apply.
2. Can an organization apply if a staff member previously was a Project Lead or Principal Investigator on a JAHF-funded project at another institution?
Yes, if the non-profit organization or academic department or division has not received a board-authorized grant.
3. Can an organization submit more than one Letter of Intent (LOI) if it has multiple departments, campuses, hospitals, or investigators?
We will only accept one LOI per organization unless they come from separate departments/divisions and are addressing distinct topics with non-overlapping implementation sites.
Project scope and scale
4. What does JAHF mean by a “national or multi-site” initiative?
JAHF will prioritize initiatives that produce outcomes on a national scale. Multi-site initiatives across states or within a state will be considered if they are scalable at a multi-state or national level.
5. Can all the sites in a multi-site initiative be located in the same city, county, or state?
Projects that focus on a few sites within a limited geographic area will not be competitive. Initiatives with multiple sites within one state will be considered if they are scalable at a national level.
6. If our initial implementation is relatively small, can we qualify if we have a clear plan to scale the model more broadly? Is there a minimum number of sites required?
The number of sites should be adequate to demonstrate scalability at a national level.
Programmatic fit
7. What does JAHF mean by an “innovative” approach? Does the project itself need to be new, or can we adapt or scale an existing evidence-based model?
JAHF is seeking projects that introduce innovative ideas and approaches to its current work or build on existing initiatives in new ways.
Adapting or scaling existing evidence-based models in new and different ways from current JAHF approaches would be acceptable.
8. Are the topic areas listed in the call for proposals priorities, or simply examples?
The topics listed are examples.
9. What does it mean to incorporate the voices and perspectives or lived experience of older adults and family caregivers?
This can take many forms including but not limited to: advisory groups that meaningfully incorporate input and decision-making of older adults and caregivers in the design and execution of an initiative; using surveys, focus groups, and other qualitative methods to inform a project; having older adults and caregivers as project-team members; having older adults and caregivers define outcomes and measures; testing communication and dissemination materials; collecting stories, essays, and videos; or equipping older adults and caregivers to engage in advocacy.
10. Is an equity focus required or preferred?
All else being equal, proposed projects with a focus on equity and underserved or marginalized populations will be more competitive than those without.
11. Will you fund a research project?
Successful proposals will include evidence-informed models of care or policy implementation activities that are scalable and sustainable.
Evaluating or studying implementation activities would be acceptable, but early, discovery-stage research will not be competitive.
Partnerships
12. Are partnerships required?
No, but competitive applications will either include partnerships or explain why a single organization can accomplish the stated goals.
13. Can we partner with an existing JAHF grantee, or have them as a subcontractor or collaborator on a proposal led by an eligible new partner?
Yes, but the initiative must represent a different set of activities from the existing JAHF grantee’s work.
14. Do we need formal commitments or letters of support from partners when submitting the LOI, or only at the full-proposal stage?
Only at the full-proposal stage.
Direct services and allowable activities
15. What does JAHF consider a “direct service”?
Activities such as routine clinical care, legal representation, transportation, meal delivery, or other services to meet the immediate needs of individuals would be considered direct service.
16. Can our project include some direct services if they are part of testing, implementing, or scaling a broader model?
Grant funds may support clinical personnel who are involved in implementation, training, evaluation, or systems change rather than routine care delivery.
Letter of Intent (LOI) and overall application process
17. Can you give me an overview of how the entire application process works?
A potential applicant must first register for the online grants portal by providing basic eligibility information and contact information. Complete this step by October 21, 2026, at 12:00 pm ET.
After you submit your registration, you will receive an email within two business days with information about how to access the online grants portal and instructions for submitting your LOI. LOIs must be received by October 27, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.
Submitted LOIs will be reviewed, and selected applicants will be invited by email to submit a full proposal by January 15, 2027.
The full proposal requires a more detailed project narrative, workplan, budget and budget justification, and other required materials. For invited applicants, full proposals must be submitted in the same portal by March 3, 2027, at 12:00 PM ET.
The proposals will undergo further review, and successful applicants will be notified by June 11, 2027. Grants will commence on July 1, 2027.
18. Can I view/prepare LOI responses outside the portal?
Yes. The LOI instructions, which will be included in the email you receive within two days following registration, will provide all LOI questions and the character limits for each response. You may draft your responses outside of the portal and then copy and paste them in the online portal when you are ready to submit.
19. Is there a page or word limit for the LOI?
Yes. Each LOI question has a specific character limit. These limits will be included in the LOI instructions, which will be provided after registration.
20. Do we need to submit a detailed budget with the LOI?
No. A detailed budget is not submitted with the LOI but will be required if you advance to the full proposal stage.
21. What financial documents are required with the LOI?
Applicants must submit a copy of their organization’s most recent Form 990 and audited financial statements with the LOI. Additional financial or organizational documentation may be requested as part of the Foundation’s due diligence review.
22. What if my organization does not have a Form 990 or audited financial statements?
If your organization does not have a Form 990, please submit other IRS documentation demonstrating its tax-exempt status or confirming its eligibility to receive charitable contributions, such as an IRS Determination Letter.
If your organization does not have audited financial statements, please submit the most comparable financial documentation available. The Foundation may request additional financial or organizational documentation as part of its due diligence review.
23. Can an applicant submit an LOI without first registering in the portal by October 21?
Interested applicants must register for this grant opportunity before being able to submit an LOI. It is highly recommended to register on the portal by October 21 to ensure that there is time for your registration to be processed (which may take up to two business days) and for you to submit your LOI by the deadline on October 27, 2026, at 12PM ET.
24. Can changes be made to the project, partners, scope, or requested amount between the LOI and the invited full proposal stages?
Yes, but the changes should be limited and should be consistent with the project described in the LOI that was reviewed and selected to advance to the full proposal stage (the full proposal is meant to expand upon and provide greater detail about the work proposed in the LOI).
If you are invited to submit a full proposal and you wish to make a change to any of your LOI responses, you should email CFP@johnahartford.org, explain the reasons for your requested changes, and detail the changes in writing in the email.
Please note that we will make this allowance only after careful review of the request, and only if your LOI has been selected to advance to the full proposal stage.
25. If invited to submit a full proposal, does that mean the project is likely to be funded?
There is no guarantee that an invitation to submit a full proposal will result in funding.
We anticipate inviting more applicants to submit full proposals than we will be able to fund this year.
26. Can prospective applicants speak with JAHF staff about whether a project is a good fit before submitting an LOI?
No, the LOI process is meant to be a relatively easy way to submit an idea for consideration.
Prospective applicants should carefully review the CFP and this FAQ document before submitting an LOI. Questions that are not addressed there may be sent to CFP@johnahartford.org.
If additional clarification is needed, a request to speak to a JAHF staff member may be made, and the decision to do so will remain at the discretion of JAHF staff.
Funding and budget
27. What is the grant term and the maximum funding amount?
The period of performance for awarded grants will be July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2029. The maximum funding amount is $150,000 per year for each grant year, totaling $300,000.
28. Can applicants request less than $300,000 or propose a project shorter than two years?
Yes.
29. Does the $300,000 maximum request include indirect costs and fringe benefits?
Yes.
30. What indirect-cost rate is allowed?
Indirect costs may not exceed 12.5% of direct costs, excluding subcontracts. Subcontractors may include indirect costs of up to 12.5% of their own direct costs, if the amount is not also included in the applicant’s budget.
31. Is cost sharing or matching funding required?
No, but cost sharing or matching funding from the applicant or other funders may increase an initiative’s competitiveness.
32. What does JAHF expect regarding sustainability after the grant ends?
To be competitive, and depending on the nature of the project, JAHF expects an applicant to show that activities will continue beyond the end of funding period, or explain why that will not be necessary to achieve the proposed scalable outcomes.
We do not expect all projects to be fully complete and scaled within the two-year time period. In those cases, applicants should describe plans to sustain successful project work, disseminate key findings, support adoption of effective practices, and/or secure future funding.
33. Are applicants expected to continue all grant-funded positions after JAHF funding ends?
Not necessarily, but a plan for sustaining the work or a rationale for discontinuation should be provided.
34. Can more than 50% of an individual's time be devoted to the project if grant funds cover no more than half of that person's salary and benefits?
Yes. Individuals may devote more than 50% of their time to the project, provided that no more than 50% of their salary and benefits are charged to the grant. Any additional effort must be supported by other funding sources.