FAQs Grants

• Pioneer Grants: Designed for organizations that have never received funding from NEXT for AUTISM, these grants provide up to $10,000 to support innovative, community-based, or autistic-led programs.
• Impact Grants: Available to returning grantees, these grants offer up to $20,000 to expand, scale, or introduce new innovative programs.

Note: each grant type has unique milestones, timelines, and deliverables tailored to its goals and scope.

Every year, NEXT earmarks a portion of its grant funding to support autistic-led projects. Autistic-led projects are defined as initiatives that must have active and continuous involvement from an autistic employee of the organization. 

To qualify for community-based funding, organizations must be serving adults with autism in their communities in the areas of work, home, social engagement, or health and well-being.

Each application is reviewed based on the same set of criteria. This includes the following areas of review: innovation, impact, support of underserved populations (e.g. poverty, POC, rural, nonspeaking), and clearly defined outcomes that are measurable and achievable. 

Yes! Every year we strive to make our grant process more accessible. Please reference the resource section link. Not seeing what you need on this list? Let's figure it out together. Email [email protected] to request additional accommodations. 
 

If your organization received funding last year and still has an active grant with us, you are eligible to apply for new funding. However, you’ll be required to provide updates on your current grant’s progress and may be asked to participate in additional phone discussions to review your ongoing work. 

Fiscal sponsorship refers to the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups—typically projects—engaged in activities related to the sponsoring organization's mission. Click here to learn more.

Yes, we fund projects that support autistic adults in one of the following four areas: home, work, social engagement, or health and well-being.

While funding cycles may change on an annual basis, the dates relevant to the current cycle are outlined in the important dates section. 

NEXT for AUTISM currently only funds projects based in the United States. 

NEXT for AUTISM does NOT fund buildings, renovations, or capital campaigns; lobbying or political efforts, advocacy campaigns, productions, films, or documentaries; scholarships for college or graduate school; pass-through programs, general operating support for organizations; or disaster relief through their general grants process.

NEXT for AUTISM allows for an overhead/indirect cost component within the budget, which is no more than ten percent (10%). We welcome proposals that request a lower percentage. The overhead/indirect cost should be included in your request amount.

The grant duration typically covers projects for one year.

No, NEXT of AUTISM only accepts one proposal per organization for each grant cycle.

A review committee is central to the impartial process of grant reviews. The team is comprised of individuals both internal and external to the organization with a passion for and knowledge of supporting adults with autism, including many neurodivergent committee members.

Reviewers utilize a rubric to score applications and meet to discuss the highest-scoring applications ... because we know your program is more than just a number!

Regrettably, given the large number of project proposal submissions, NEXT for AUTISM is unable to provide each applicant with specific feedback. 

NEXT holds open office hours where autistic-led applicants are invited to discuss their ideas and ask questions. Due to high demand, we ask that community-based applicants do not sign up for office hours. Note office hours are available on a first come, first serve basis, and are subject to staff availability.

See list of 2024/25 grant recipients here

View the 2023/24 Grant Impact Report here