Grief Reach Capacity Building Cycle

Grief Reach Cycle 2 – 2026

Capacity Building Cycle

Open June 1 to July 13, 2026 at 8pm ET.
Grants awarded September 2026

Submission Information

This grant opportunity is open for applications through July 13, 2026, at 8:00pm ET. In order to receive the application, the eligibility form must be completed by June 29, 2026.

CYCLE OVERVIEW

Through Grief Reach, the New York Life Foundation and the National Alliance for Children’s Grief are working together to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, enhance access, and elevate the field of childhood bereavement through the Grief Reach grant program.

FOCUS OF THIS CYCLE: CAPACITY BUILDING

This funding cycle supports projects that build organizational capacity so that your work can be more effective, sustainable, and far-reaching.

Eligible projects must fall under one of two categories:

  1. Organizational Development & Planning. Examples: Strategic planning, infrastructure improvement, fundraising, communications, volunteer engagement, or business planning
  2. Strategic Relationships & Collaborations. Examples: Consultant support, technical assistance, mergers or restructuring, partnership development, or joint business planning

Note: Funding is not for direct programming. This cycle supports internal improvements that help your organization grow stronger and more effective.

Each awarded grant will be $15,000 for a one-year period. Only one application per organization is allowed during this cycle. We would like to invite any organization that currently serves young people who are grieving to apply for this competitive grant opportunity.

Please direct inquiries to the National Alliance for Children’s Grief info@nacg.org. You will find everything you need to know on this page. Please take a moment to read it all the way through.

Application Resources:

  • For more information, please view the Request for Proposal here.
  • Register for the Q&A Call →
  • Download a sample application. This is for preview purposes only and is not an official application. The application link will be sent to eligible applicants once eligibility is confirmed.
  • Download the GANTT Chart here →
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: We will use a grief reach eligibility form for this grant to determine eligibility to apply. This ensures you do not invest time in completing a full application if you do not qualify. Please use the button below to complete the eligibility check to determine your grant application eligibility. Once eligibility has been determined, you will be given access to the complete application.
Complete the eligibility form →

Additional Eligibility Information:

Eligibility & Application Process Overview 

Before applying, complete the Eligibility Check Form to confirm you meet the basic criteria. If eligible, you’ll be granted access to the full application.

To be considered, your organization must:

  • Be a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • Provide direct services to children and youth who are grieving
  • Have an annual budget of at least $100,000
  • Have at least one paid staff member
  • Submit 990s for at least two of the last three years
  • Provide audited financials for the most recent fiscal year
  • Ensure the grant request does not exceed 15% of your most recent actuals
  • Include a clear and specific grant budget
  • Include cultural considerations relevant to the community you serve

 

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of NACG staff, New York Life Foundation representatives, and representatives from the childhood bereavement field. Character limits will apply to application questions, and only text within those limits will be reviewed.

Complete the eligibility form →

Grief Reach Grants Timeline:

June 1

Application Opens


June 4 at 2:00pm ET

Grief Reach Q&A Call
Register for the call →


June 29

Eligibility Form Closes. No new applicants after this date.


July 13
8:00pm ET

Application Closes

For additional information, please view the Request for Proposal (RFP) or use the link below to complete the eligibility form.

               

Is this opportunity not the right fit for you? Learn more about our Grief Reach Grants Community Education Cycle, currently open for applications.

Learn more →

About Grief Reach:

This grant program began in 2011 as a partnership between the National Alliance for Children’s Grief and the New York Life Foundation. Grief Reach is a dedicated grant opportunity supporting childhood bereavement services in the United States. This competitive funding opportunity has the following goals:

  • Increase access to bereavement support services in local communities, especially diverse communities
  • Enhance the capacity of organizations providing bereavement support services
  • Expand bereavement support services to address unmet needs
  • Support communities dealing with grief and loss with tangible resources

The competitive grant opportunity is open to any organization that currently serves young people who are grieving and is looking for funding to enhance access to and increase grief support for youth and their families. Each cycle has a dedicated focus area – please reference the focus area when making the decision to apply.