Finding Federal Funding for HIV Programs

Where Can I Find Federal Funds to Support HIV Programs or Services?

Each year, the federal government commits significant resources to end the HIV epidemic. To increase the reach and effectiveness of HIV services and programs, non-federal organizations and entities may receive federal funds in the form of direct grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to conduct research or to expand HIV awareness, prevention, and treatment services in communities across the nation. Grants.gov is your primary source to FIND and APPLY for federal funding opportunities.

Below, you will find information about federal agencies that make funding available to organizations for HIV services or activities within the United States. Read more about the roles of various federal agencies in the Federal Activities and Agencies section of this site. You can find links to the most recent HIV.gov blog posts related to funding announcements and recent funding awards by clicking on the “funding” topic tag at the top of this page.

Agencies and Offices Funding HIV Activities

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the largest federal grant-making agency in the United States. The agencies and offices within HHS listed below provide grant support for HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment, and research. Entities eligible to apply for funding vary by funding opportunity, but can include state and local government agencies, Tribes, community-based organizations, academic medical centers, and educational organizations. Read more about HHS grants and contracts.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention supports national, state, and community-based high impact HIV prevention activities to prevent new HIV infections, improve health outcomes for persons with HIV, and reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities. CDC uses grants and cooperative agreements to fund research and non-research public health programs that advance the Agency’s public health mission. CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention maintains an HIV Funding and Budget page with information on current CDC HIV prevention funding opportunities open for applicants as well as active grant programs for which awards have already been made. In addition, CDC’s National Prevention Information Network provides a database of HIV-related funding opportunity announcements from CDC and many other federal agencies, as well as funding opportunities related to viral hepatitis, STDs, tuberculosis, and school health. More information on CDC grants is available from CDC’s Office of Grants Services.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

HRSA makes grants to organizations to improve and expand health care services for underserved people. HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau administers the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides a comprehensive system of care that includes primary medical care and essential support services for people with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. The Program works with cities, states, and local community-based organizations to provide HIV care and treatment services to more than half a million people each year. Additionally, the Program provides grants to develop and implement innovative models of HIV care and treatment to quickly respond to emerging needs of people with HIV. The Program is divided into five Parts, each of which provides grant funding to eligible entities. Find information about HRSA's open HIV/AIDS Bureau grant opportunities.

HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) funds nearly 1,400 health centers across the country. They provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary health care to underserved communities at nearly 15,000 sites. HRSA BPHC makes HIV testing and prevention funding available to eligible health centers through the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative. View HRSA’s open BPHC funding opportunities.

Indian Health Service (IHS)

The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The mission of IHS is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. The IHS HIV/HCV/STI Program makes funding available to eligible entities. View funding opportunities from IHS.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH represents the largest public investment in HIV/AIDS research in the world. As HIV crosses nearly every area of medicine and scientific investigation, the response to the HIV pandemic requires a multi-Institute, multidisciplinary, global research program. Almost all of the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers conduct and support basic, clinical, behavioral, social science, and/or translational research that addresses the prevention and treatment of HIV disease and its associated coinfections, comorbidities, and other complications. NIH offers funding for many types of grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans for researchers. Learn about these funding programs, as well as about NIH's budget process, grant policies, guidelines, and funding opportunities here.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. The agency makes grant funds available through the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and the Center for Mental Health Services. These funding opportunities support programs for substance use disorders and mental illness. Some of these opportunities, including those supported by funds appropriated through the Minority AIDS Initiative, have elements related to the intersection of these behavioral health services and HIV testing, prevention, and care. Find information on SAMHSA grants and learn about SAMHSA’s grant application, review, and management process on this page.

Other HHS Agencies and Offices

The programs and funding opportunities of several other HHS agencies and offices may require or allow provision of HIV education, testing, prevention, linkage to care, peer navigation, or other HIV services. Other programs and funding opportunities address syndemic conditions such as sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis, substance use disorders, and mental health. Such funding opportunities may be offered by:

• Administration on Children and Families
• Administration for Community Living
• CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health
• CDC Division of STD Prevention
• CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis
• Office of Minority Health
• Office on Women’s Health

Other Federal Agencies Funding HIV Activities

In addition to HHS, other Federal departments support programs that fund various HIV services and activities.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program is the only federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD makes grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV and their families. Information on HUD grants is available on this page.

PEPFAR

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of the more than 39 million individuals living with HIV/AIDS around the world. PEPFAR is managed and overseen by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. Leveraging the power of a whole-of-government approach to controlling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, PEPFAR is implemented by seven other U.S. government departments and agencies: the U.S Agency for International Development; HHS and its agencies, including CDC, HRSA, and NIH; the U.S. Department of DefenseExit Disclaimer; the Peace Corps; the U.S. Department of Labor; the U.S. Department of Commerce; and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Some of those agencies make funds available through grants and contracts to support PEPFAR implementation in partner countries. Visit the agency websites for details on PEPFAR-related funding opportunities. CDC’s National Prevention Information Network also maintains a database of HIV-related funding opportunities that often lists PEPFAR-related funding announcements from these agencies.