Federal Grant Opportunities on the Horizon for Community Health Centers
After a quiet year for HRSA grant opportunities in 2025, the landscape for Community Health Centers (CHCs) is set to shift significantly in 2026. Several new funding opportunities are on the horizon, offering CHCs a chance to strengthen their programs, expand services, and address critical health needs in their communities. Understanding these upcoming grants and preparing early can help your health center maximize its chances for success.
A New Funding Landscape
The past year has been challenging for CHCs, with limited federal grant opportunities and ongoing financial pressures. Many health centers have had to rely on existing resources, making it difficult to launch new initiatives or respond to emerging needs. The good news: HRSA is planning several major grant programs for 2026 that represent a significant opportunity for CHCs to secure new funding streams, innovate care delivery, and build resilience for the future.
The MAHA Elevate and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) programs are expected to be among the most impactful opportunities for CHCs by supporting whole-person care, chronic disease prevention, and substance use disorder services. There are also a variety of other federal grants forecasted for 2026 including programs that address workforce development, pediatric and maternal health, behavioral health integration, and more.
Upcoming Grant Opportunities: What is Forecasted for 2026?
Make America Health Again (MAHA) ELEVATE
Funder: CMS Innovation Center - MAHA ELEVATE
Purpose: 3-year cooperative agreements focused on evidence-based, whole person approaches including lifestyle and functional medicine interventions to address the chronic disease epidemic. Interventions are intended to support, not replace, medical care received by people with Medicare.
Who should consider this opportunity: CHCs with a substantial Medicare population and strong evaluation capacity.
Timeline: NOFO expected early 2026; first cohort launches Sept 1, 2026.
Scale: ~$100M total; with up to 30 awards expected via cooperative agreements
Fit factors: Ability to deliver and rigorously evaluate preventive lifestyle interventions; cross-sector partnerships; data infrastructure.
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Impact
Funder: HRSA, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy - RCORP-Impact
Purpose: Drive measurable improvements in access to integrated, coordinated treatment and recovery services for Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The program will support: New or expanded evidence-based SUD prevention, treatment and recovery; coordination across health and supportive services; and workforce development.
Awards & Funding: 80 expected awards; up to $750,000/year over a 4-year project period.
Timeline (forecast): Post Feb 23, 2026; due Apr 22, 2026; start Sept 1, 2026.
Match: No cost sharing.
Fit factors: Rural service area eligibility; capacity to implement integrated prevention/treatment/recovery and sustain services post-award.
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning
Funder: HRSA - RCORP-Planning
Purpose: Planning-only funds to build partnerships and foundational capacity for a comprehensive SUD/OUD service system in rural communities (no direct services).
Awards & Funding: 40 expected awards; $100,000 (one-year).
Timeline (forecast): Post Feb 2, 2026; due Apr 6, 2026.
Match: No cost sharing.
Fit factors: Best for rural CHCs that need time to convene partners, complete needs assessments, and design sustainable, community-backed SUD systems.
Other Forecasted Awards
Rural Residency Planning and Development Program (HRSA) - 14 expected awards of up to $750,000 each to develop new, accredited rural residency programs, including Rural Track Programs. Start-up funding will be available for family medicine, internal medicine, preventive medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, and Ob-Gyn. Expected posting: February 16, 2026. Rural Residency Planning and Development Program
Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (HRSA) - 2 expected awards of up to $445,000 each to improve mental and behavioral health in children and youth by improving access to tele-consultation, training and care coordination support. Expected posting: March 27, 2026. PMHCA
Quality Improvement Fund - Dental Services for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (HRSA) - 25 expected awards of $2,000,000 each to increase access to dental services and improve dental health outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and developmental disorders. Health centers will build upon existing evidence-based models to pilot innovative approaches. Expected posting: February 11, 2026. QIF-DNDD
Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health) - 18 expected awards of $300,000 to $550,000 each to accelerate implementation of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) during pregnancy and postpartum. Expected posting: April 30, 2026. Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control
Early Childhood Comprhensive Systems Project: Scaling Effective Early Childhood Systems (ECCS SEED) - 8 expected awards of up to $875,000 each to address root causes of chronic disease in early childhood by connecting parents to services and improving access to health care and early screening. Expected Posting: March 2, 2026. ECCS SEED
Technology-enabled Collaborative Learning Program - 9 expected awards of up to $475,000 each to support the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning to improve retention of health care providers and increase access to health care services in rural and underserved areas. Expected posting: February 2, 2026. Technology-enabled Collaborative Learning Program
What These Opportunities Mean for Your Health Center
Securing HRSA funding can be transformative. The MAHA Elevate program, for example, will help CHCs expand chronic disease management services, improve care coordination, and address health disparities through innovative lifestyle interventions. RCORP grants will support rural centers in tackling opioid use disorder through comprehensive prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.
Beyond the immediate financial boost, these grants can help CHCs:
Diversify funding sources and reduce reliance on a single stream
Launch new programs or expand existing services
Strengthen partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders
Invest in workforce development and infrastructure
Preparing for Success: Strategic Steps to Take Now
To position your health center for success with these upcoming opportunities, start preparing now:
Start Early: Review eligibility criteria and begin gathering required documentation now. Don't wait until the NOFO is released to begin your preparation.
Engage Stakeholders: Involve clinical, administrative, and community partners in planning. Their insights will strengthen your proposal and demonstrate community buy-in.
Assess Needs: Use data to identify gaps and opportunities that align with grant priorities. A strong needs assessment is the foundation of a competitive application.
Build Capacity: Strengthen your grant writing and project management teams. Consider whether you need external support to develop a competitive proposal.
Monitor Announcements: Stay up to date with HRSA's official communications and deadlines. Set up alerts and regularly check the Federal Register and Grants.gov.
How Community Link Consulting Can Help
Our team brings extensive experience supporting CHCs through the grant application process. We offer comprehensive services including grant prospecting and strategic planning, proposal development and review, data analysis and needs assessment, and project management support. Whether you're new to HRSA grants or looking to refine your approach, we're here to help you navigate the process and maximize your chances for success.
Looking Ahead
2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for CHC funding. By preparing now, your health center can take full advantage of new HRSA opportunities and continue to deliver high-quality care to your community. Don't wait - reach out today to discuss how we can support your grant strategy and help you achieve your goals.
Contact Us:
Phone: 509-226-1393
Email: info@communitylinkconsulting.com
About the Author
Susan Robertson, Senior Consultant
Community Link Consulting
Susan has over 25 years of nonprofit experience, with the past decade dedicated to community health center grant writing and management. As a former Chief Strategy Officer and Interim CEO of a Colorado-based Community Health Center, she has successfully secured and managed millions in federal grant funding. Susan's expertise in HRSA grant programs, needs assessment, and program development makes her an invaluable resource for health centers navigating complex federal funding opportunities. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
