Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive - Adults (HEART) | HHS 2025 ACF OFA ZB 0109

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OFA ZB 0109

Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive - Adults (HEART) is a competitive federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA). The program will fund projects that deliver "healthy marriage promotion" services authorized under Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act. A key feature of this opportunity is that it is limited to adults: proposed projects must be designed specifically for adult individuals or adult couples, defined as people age 18 and older.

The HEART program is built around implementing practical, service-delivery strategies that strengthen relationships and families. Applicants are expected to propose programming that uses a broad mix of approaches, including curriculum-based skills development and other structured supports. Funded projects must align with one or more of seven legislatively specified activity areas: marriage and relationship education/skills (often referred to as MRES), pre-marital education, marriage enhancement, divorce reduction activities, marriage mentoring, public advertising campaigns, and efforts intended to reduce disincentives to marriage. In other words, proposals can range from direct education and coaching for couples to broader community-level initiatives, as long as they fit within these allowable categories.

ACF has indicated it wants a diverse portfolio of awards. That includes large, high-impact projects; moderate-scope efforts; smaller projects; and smaller new or initial programs. This suggests the competition is not limited to established models only, and that organizations with varying capacity levels may be able to compete if they can present a credible plan, well-defined services, and an approach that fits the authorized activity areas.

This funding opportunity will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which typically means there will be more federal involvement or collaboration in implementation than in a standard grant. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding within the Income Security and Social Services category (CFDA 93.086). The anticipated maximum award amount (ceiling) is $1,250,000, and ACF expects to make around 40 awards. The application closing date is July 29, 2025.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based public and private entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education (including Tribal institutions); federally recognized Tribal governments; other Tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including other than small businesses); and small businesses. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible to apply, and foreign entities are also ineligible and would be disqualified during review.

Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly eligible as long as they meet the standard requirements that apply to any applicant. ACF states it will not discriminate in selecting recipients based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation, and it references applicable federal protections and requirements (including 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.). Overall, HEART is designed to support organizations that can deliver evidence-informed or well-structured relationship and marriage-related services for adults, with flexibility in scale and approach as long as the work fits within the authorized activity categories.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OFA in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive - Adults (HEART)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.086.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OFA ZB 0109

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