Federal Grants Offered by the Administration for Children and Families are a Game-Changer for Nonprofit Organizations

Federal Grants Offered by the Administration for Children and Families are a Game-Changer for Nonprofit Organizations
Non-Profits & Public Agencies April 24, 2025

Unlock Funding for Family Success: The ACF Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grant Program 

The 2025 Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), offer nonprofits a major opportunity to scale services, expand impact, and secure federal funding. 

What ACF HMRF Grants Can Do for Nonprofits  

HMRF federally funded grants aim to improve family stability and child outcomes by promoting healthy relationships, marriage, and responsible parenting. These grants fund evidence-based programming designed to:  

  • Provide education on marriage and relationship skills
  • Support fathers in engaging with their children and families
  • Enhance job readiness and economic stability for parents

The HMRF program offers three federal grants: 

  1. Fatherhood – Family, Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement (FORGE Fatherhood) – Responsible Fatherhood promotion activities for adult fathers;  
  2. Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive-Adults (HEART) – Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education promotion activities for adults; and  
  3. Relationships, Education, Advancement, Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life) – Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education promotion activities for youth, including parenting youth.

If eligible, organizations may apply for more than one of the ACF HMRF grants. 

 

Top Reasons Nonprofits Should Apply for ACF HMRF Grants 

1 – Advance Your Mission

With federally funded awards of up to $6.25 million over 5 years, these grants offer considerable resources to expand your programs and amplify your organization’s impact and mission. 

Previous awardees used the funding to adapt and expand their programs to meet the specific needs of their communities. This included delivering evidence-based curricula and offering childcare and other supportive services to meet the needs of working parents. Awardees also developed new initiatives, hired qualified staff, and invested in technology.  

2 – Demonstrate Community Impact

HMRF programs allow nonprofits to highlight their successes. Evaluations of HMRF grants prove the ability of funded programs to make tangible impacts on the lives of their participants.  

  • TRUE Dads, a family service center in Oklahoma City, OK, implemented an HMRF-funded program that led to a reduction in intimate partner violence while also raising participants’ employment rates.  
  • An HMRF-funded program based in Contra Costa County, CA, resulted in improved employment rates and reduced reliance on public assistance amongst participants.  
  • Auburn University’s evaluation found that their HMRF program improved committed couples’ relationship skills and improved their conflict management skills.  
  • Other HMRF recipients reported a reduction in co-parenting conflicts and an increase in relationship satisfaction. 

3 – Create Partnerships

HMRF federal grants encourage partnerships with local schools, businesses, or other nonprofits. These collaborative relationships can: 

  • Broaden your organization’s reach to provide broader services to additional populations 
  • Enhance program effectiveness to meet your goals 
  • Foster a sense of community involvement 

4 – Strengthen Families and Communities

The overarching goal of the HMRF program is to improve family and community well-being. By participating, your nonprofit organization can: 

  • Provide critical services to your target populations 
  • Equip parents and families with the tools to thrive, such as counseling, skills-based parenting education, and mentoring 
  • Break cycles of poverty and instability

 

The Impact of HMRF Grants and How to Secure Federal Funding 

With the right approach, your organization can secure funding to support family stability, responsible parenting, and community well-being.  

ACF forecasted the HMRF grants to be released on April 25, 2025, with an estimated deadline of June 24, 2025. Contact McAllister & Quinn’s Nonprofit and Public Agencies Practice to schedule a free consultation about applying and to learn about other grants your organization might be eligible for. 

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