2025 Dorothy Rupe CNA Program Grants: 

A Request for Proposals

The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation invites accredited California Community Colleges to submit proposals for consideration at its March 2025 board meeting. Grants of up to $60,000 will be awarded to qualified certified nursing assistant and home health aide programs for use during the 2025-26 academic year.

Dorothy Rupe CNA Program Grants are awarded to nursing assistant programs providing high quality entry-level healthcare training for students, creating economic opportunity for low-income, unemployed, and re-entry workers, while also increasing the availability of CNAs and HHAs in the workforce. The Foundation has a particular interest in projects that will increase the number of direct care professionals providing aid in a home-based setting.

Dorothy Rupe CNA Program Grants can be used for the following:

  • Student Support – To provide low-income students with financial assistance for program related expenses. Examples of student support include certification exam fees, textbooks, uniforms, course specific fees and/or mandatory supplies—in other words, the supplemental costs typically required of nursing assistant students that may be a barrier to enrollment.
  • Instructional Support – To fund an instructional assistant position for the purpose of minimizing attrition and improving student outcomes (e.g. course completion and exam pass rates). Grants for instructional assistance support additional practice in the skills lab and/or mock testing in preparation for the certification exam. Priority will be given to programs that employ former CNA students to serve in this capacity.

Items that are NOT eligible for support:

  • Instruction costs (e.g., full-time or adjunct faculty), administrative support, counseling, general academic tutoring, or instructor release time
  • Computers, furniture, equipment, or skills lab/training facility supplies
  • Travel expenses to the Foundation’s annual conference
  • Indirect costs or college/foundation overhead

To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted to the Foundation no later than Friday, January 10, 2025. Awards will be announced in late March.

Program Background
The Dorothy Rupe Caregiver Program at the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation was influenced by Arthur Rupe’s experience with his late wife’s illness and his difficulty in finding suitably trained, compassionate nursing assistants to care for her. Beginning in 2000, the Foundation provided support to Santa Barbara City College’s Dorothy D. Rupe Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide Program. Mindful of the considerable need for nursing assistants and home health aides to care for California’s aging population, the Foundation broadened its support to CNA/HHA programs throughout the California Community College System in 2012.

In 2024, the Foundation awarded $625,000 to 18 CNA programs. For a list of recipients, please see our caregiving webpage.

Eligibility
Any California Community College with an active certified nursing assistant program is eligible to apply. Grants will be distributed to the college’s district, foundation, or other qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the program’s fiscal sponsor.

How to Apply
Apply online at https://www.grantinterface.com/rupe/Common/LogOn.aspx. First-time applicants will be required to create a new account prior to accessing the online application. If you receive a message that your school or organization is already registered in our system, please do not create a new account. Contact the Foundation for further assistance.

After logging on, click on “Apply,” then the link entitled “Dorothy Rupe Caregiver Grants” to begin a new application. A letter of inquiry is not required for this funding opportunity.

Applications must include the following:

  • A brief overview of the community college and population served
  • A detailed description of the nursing assistant program, including year established, number of sections offered per semester, number of students enrolled/waitlisted, completion rate and CNA exam pass rate
  • A description of the program’s current needs and the project to be funded
  • A clear rationale for the project and items to be funded
  • Names and brief biographies of the program director and any other key faculty and/or staff involved in the project
  • Project timeline and evaluation methods
  • A detailed project budget

After submission, the Foundation may contact the CNA program director with questions or a request for additional information.

Applications are due by Friday, January 10, 2025.
Please note: this is a firm deadline and late applications will not be accepted.
Early submissions are encouraged.

Reporting Requirements
Grant recipients will be required to submit midterm and year-end reports on program outcomes.

Contact
For questions, additional information, or technical assistance, please contact Christine Northup, Senior Program Officer, at [email protected].