Addressing Stigma to End the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. | HRSA 25 060

FAQs: Addressing Stigma to End the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (HRSA-25-060)

What is HRSA-25-060?

HRSA-25-060 is a discretionary federal funding opportunity run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program is titled "Addressing Stigma to End the HIV Epidemic in the U.S." and is offered as a cooperative agreement, with collaboration and aligned expertise from NIH and CDC.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The purpose is to expand access to stigma-free, high-quality HIV prevention, care, and treatment by tackling stigma and discrimination that prevent people from entering care, staying in care, or achieving the best possible health outcomes.

Who is the program trying to reach or benefit?

The initiative is specifically oriented toward people who have not been successfully maintained in HIV care and toward communities that experience higher rates of HIV in the United States. It recognizes that stigma operates at social, structural, and organizational levels and affects service uptake, quality of care, and patient trust.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That structure generally indicates substantial federal involvement beyond a standard grant, such as active collaboration, ongoing guidance, and shared expectations around implementation and evaluation.

How many awards does HRSA expect to make?

HRSA anticipates making one award. The single recipient is intended to serve as the central coordinating provider for the initiative.

What role will the single funded recipient play?

The funded recipient will act as the national Implementation, Capacity, and Evaluation Provider. In practice, that means functioning as a backbone organization that delivers training, builds capacity, and provides hands-on support to demonstration sites that participate as subrecipients.

What are "demonstration sites" in this opportunity?

Demonstration sites are participating sites that will implement anti-stigma interventions and take part as subrecipients. The national provider will support these sites through training, implementation support, evaluation, and dissemination of lessons learned.

What is meant by an "implementation science approach" in this program?

An implementation science approach means the work is not limited to choosing anti-stigma interventions. The recipient and demonstration sites will systematically adapt interventions for local settings, implement them while accounting for real-world constraints, evaluate what works (and why), and disseminate tools and lessons so other organizations can replicate or tailor successful approaches.

Is this program focused only on awareness campaigns?

No. The stated objectives emphasize shifting organizational culture and everyday practice, not just raising awareness. The goal is operational change inside HIV service organizations that can be tested, evaluated, and scaled.

What are the main objectives of the initiative?

The objectives include: strengthening and promoting a culture of anti-stigma across HHS-funded organizations providing HIV-related services; increasing the availability and dissemination of practical tools organizations can adopt and adapt; increasing the use of evidence-informed anti-stigma interventions; and achieving measurable reductions in stigmatizing practices and behaviors among providers and staff.

What does it mean to strengthen a "culture of anti-stigma" across organizations?

Based on the program description, it implies changes in organizational norms and everyday practice, including leadership expectations, policies, and routine operations within HHS-funded organizations providing HIV-related services.

What kinds of tools does the program aim to produce and share?

The program emphasizes practical tools that HIV care, treatment, and prevention organizations can adopt and adapt to address stigma internally. It also emphasizes dissemination so other HIV service organizations can replicate or tailor effective approaches.

Are applicants expected to use evidence-informed interventions?

Yes. A stated objective is to increase the use of evidence-informed anti-stigma interventions, pointing applicants toward approaches grounded in research and prior experience rather than one-off messaging efforts.

How does the program define success or outcomes?

The program targets measurable reductions in stigmatizing practices and behaviors among providers and staff, linking stigma reduction to improved outcomes such as better patient experiences, stronger engagement and retention in care, and higher-quality prevention and treatment services.

Which federal efforts or programs are specifically referenced?

The opportunity references organizations connected to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, especially in relation to disseminating practical tools and strengthening anti-stigma practices.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to domestic organizations (not individuals). Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and government entities such as states, counties, cities or townships, special districts, and independent school districts. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are eligible, as are Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations.

Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.

What does "domestic" mean for this specific notice?

For this funding notice, "domestic" includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the freely associated states listed in the notice: Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.

Is the program limited to the continental United States?

No. The program includes multiple U.S. territories and freely associated states as described in the notice.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 93.928.

When is the application due?

The original application closing date is March 18, 2025.

When was the opportunity created or posted?

The opportunity was created on January 16, 2025.

How much funding is available (award ceiling)?

The posted award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data. That often means the ceiling is not set in that field or is described elsewhere in the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Applicants are expected to confirm funding levels and budget parameters in the complete NOFO text.

What does it mean that the posted award ceiling shows 0?

Based on the information provided, it suggests the ceiling may not be captured in the summarized source field and may be detailed elsewhere in the full NOFO. It is a signal to verify the actual funding amount and budget guidance in the complete notice.

What is the overall design of the project?

The grant is designed to move stigma reduction from an abstract goal into operational, testable, and scalable practices inside HIV service organizations. The national provider is expected to help demonstration sites implement interventions with rigor, evaluate impact, and spread effective tools and strategies broadly.

Which agencies are involved besides HRSA?

HRSA runs the opportunity, with collaboration and aligned expertise from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).