Pioneered by Dana Reeve, the Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations that impact and empower people living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers by providing grants to nonprofit organizations whose projects and initiatives foster inclusion, involvement, and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Grants are awarded to organizations that address the needs of people living with paralysis caused by spinal cord and other injuries, diseases, or birth conditions, including (but not limited to) stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The QOL grants program consists of Direct Effect, Priority Impact, and Expanded Impact grants.

Direct Effect (Tier 1) is open-focused and awards grants of up to $24,999 to support a wide range of projects and activities. Grants fund programs and projects that will clearly impact individuals living with paralysis and their families.

Direct Effect grants are offered twice yearly, in the 1st (Spring) and 2nd (Fall) grant cycles.

Priority Impact (Tiers 2-4) offers three increasing levels of grant funding. Each tier is targeted to focus on a Priority issue for the community of individuals living with paralysis and their families.

Tier 2 — Grants of up to $30,000 for the following Priority areas:

• Assistive Technology
  Disaster Preparedness
  Respite/Caregiving
  

Tier 3 — Grants of up to $40,000

• Racial Equity
  Rural Unserved and Underserved Populations
  

Tier 4 — Grants of up to $50,000

• Employment
  Nursing Home Transition
  

Priority Impact grants are currently being offered once per year, in the 2nd grant cycle (Fall).

Expanded Impact (Tier 5). A grant program developed for previously awarded Quality of Life grantees whose programs and/or projects have achieved demonstrable, successful impact. The Expanded Impact Quality of Life grants program will award approximately four (4) grants of up to $100,000 each and will support significant expansion of strategies and programs that are evidence-based, show innovative promising practices, and/or best practices in the field they serve to improve quality of life for people with paralysis, their families, and caregivers.

Expanded Impact grants are currently being offered once per year, in the 1st grant cycle (Spring).

The Reeve Foundation gives special consideration to organizations that serve returning wounded military and their families, and to those that provide targeted services to diverse cultural communities and/or underserved population groups. This includes (but not limited to): persons at risk of incarceration, current or released prisoners; ethnic minorities; homeless; indigenous or tribal communities; LGBTQ; limited English proficiency; rural residents; migrant workers; low-income and/or poverty populations; and newly injured people with paralysis and their caregivers.