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Federal Funding for Kinship Navigator Programs

As of May 2026, the U.S. Administration for Children and Families has released the grant forecasts for two highly anticipated, competitive kinship navigator funding opportunities:

Kinship Navigator Programs: Replications and Tribal Adaptation

  • Purpose: This opportunity seeks to increase the number of state and Tribal child welfare agencies that replicate and implement an evidence-based Kinship Navigator Program (KNP) rated as promising, supported, or well-supported by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. Applications must identify the Clearinghouse-rated kinship navigator program model the applicant intends to replicate.
  • Tribes: Tribal child welfare agencies may replicate one of the approved models and adapt program manuals as needed to align with Tribal policies, practices, and culture, while maintaining the model’s core components; Tribal consortia are encouraged to apply. 
  • Priority: Priority will be given to agencies that do not currently operate a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program as defined in Section 427(a)(1) of the Social Security Act.
  • Eligibility: Non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and businesses are eligible to apply, but their applications should include a letter or other documentation stating they are partnering with a title IV-E state or Tribal child welfare agency in implementing the Kinship Navigator Program. Similarly, Public Law 118-258 requires any child welfare agency applicant to have a letter of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families.  
  • Expected Number of Awards: 10 total, including 6 state awards and 4 Tribal awards
  • Award Range: $400,000-$500,000 per year for 3 years
  • Funding Match: Grantees will likely be required to provide a 25% match. Fifty percent of the match requirement will likely be allowed through in-kind funds. 
  • The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or full application is expected to post on grants.gov in June 2026.
  • NOTE: This opportunity replaces the non-competitive FY26 title IV-B subpart 2 kinship navigator funding, which was formula granted to each state, territory, and IV-E Tribe annually between 2018 and 2025. The Supporting America’s Children and Families Act, described in IM-25-04, changed the title IV-B subpart 2 kinship navigator grants from a formula mandatory grant to discretionary grants.

Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations

  • Purpose: This opportunity seeks to support the implementation and rigorous evaluation of existing Kinship Navigator Programs (KNPs). The goal is to increase the number of programs that qualify for federal Title IV-E Kinship Navigator funding by building strong evidence of improved outcomes for kin caregivers and the children in their care.
  • Intent: This opportunity is intended for states and Tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program.
  • Eligibility: Non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and businesses are eligible to apply, but their applications must include a letter of commitment from a title IV-E child welfare agency to implement the title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program that meets the Clearinghouse’s requirements upon the completion of the three-year period. Similarly, Public Law 118-258 requires any state or local child welfare agency applicant to have a letter of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families.  
  • Expected Number of Awards: 8 total
  • Award Range: $400,000-$600,000 per year for 3 years
  • Funding Match: Grantees will likely be required to provide a 25% match. Fifty percent of the match requirement will likely be allowed through in-kind funds. 
  • The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or full application is expected to post on grants.gov in June 2026.

The following resources may help you prepare to apply:

Two or more states may apply together, but one organization/agency would need to be listed as the lead applicant. For an example of states working together, check out the webinar recording and materials, “Developing Rural & Multi-State Navigator Programs: Lessons, Models, and Opportunities.”