The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and its Office of Family Assistance (OFA), is planning to release a funding opportunity titled "Family, Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement – Fatherhood (FORGE Fatherhood)." This grant initiative is structured to support activities promoting responsible fatherhood and falls under the Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants (Assistance Listing 93.086). The funding instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement, with a discretionary funding category that emphasizes income security and social services.

The grant aims to fund projects focused exclusively on adult fathers aged 18 and older who have children aged 24 or younger. The definition of fathers includes both those from the general population ("community fathers") and those reuniting with families after incarceration. The projects should align with one or more of the three core categories authorized under Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act: promoting or sustaining marriage, responsible parenting, and economic stability.

A total estimated program funding of $55 million will be distributed among an expected 66 awards. Each award will range between $400,000 and $1,250,000. The estimated post date for the funding opportunity is April 25, 2025, with applications due by June 24, 2025, no later than 11:59 PM EST. The awards are expected to be announced on August 29, 2025, with project start dates scheduled for September 30, 2025.

Eligible applicants include a wide array of public and nonprofit entities such as state, county, and city governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, and faith-based organizations. Applications from individuals and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified.

Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare for a competitive application process. While no cost sharing or matching is required, it is critical for applicants to clearly demonstrate how their proposed project meets the goals of responsible fatherhood promotion. For additional information, applicants may contact Tanya Howell at 202-205-8714 or via email at OFA@grantreview.org.