As Cuyahoga County continues its work to end the HIV epidemic, the AIDS Funding Collaborative (AFC) announced the release of its 2026 Request for Applications (RFA) for annual responsive grants. Through this funding opportunity, the AFC is investing in community-driven solutions that expand access to HIV prevention, medical care, and support where they are needed most. The 2026 RFA invites nonprofit organizations across Cuyahoga County to propose initiatives that strengthen the local HIV response. Funding is available for programs focused on HIV care and support services, HIV prevention efforts, and community-led, neighborhood-based strategies that reach populations and ZIP codes experiencing the greatest impact.
2026 AFC grants: Responsive, Discretionary, Targeted, Catalyst
The AFC awards grants, both large and small, in four different categories including annual responsive grants; small discretionary grants for sponsorships or short-term projects; grants by invitation that are targeted to urgent or unmet needs; and mid-range grants called catalyst grants, designed to support innovative and intensive HIV-related efforts in specific neighborhoods and networks that face the highest rates of HIV.
Consistent with the AFC’s values, proposals that elevate the leadership and lived experience of people living with HIV, as well as those that reflect strong partnerships across organizations, will receive special consideration.
The responsive grant application process begins with a required Letter of Intent (LOI), which provides organizations an opportunity to outline their proposed work and its alignment with the AFC’s funding priorities. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Key dates for the 2026 Responsive Grants cycle include:
- Request for Applications released: May 28, 2026
- Technical Assistance sessions: June 3 or June 4, 2026
- Letters of Intent due: June 29, 2026
- Funding begins: October 1, 2026
About the AIDS Funding Collaborative
The AIDS Funding Collaborative strengthens the community’s response to HIV/AIDS as a public-private partnership providing coordination, leadership, advocacy, and funding in Cuyahoga County. There are still too many new HIV infections. The AFC’s vision is that the HIV epidemic is ended, and Cuyahoga County is a place of health and opportunity for people living with or at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS.
The AFC encourages interested organizations, including first-time applicants, to attend a technical assistance session to learn about the application process and funding priorities.
Full application materials, registration links for technical assistance sessions, and additional guidance are available at www.aidsfundingcollaborative.org.
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