March 5, 2026
Grant Funding Available: Caregiver Support in Times of Uncertainty
On March 5, 2026 by Gina DiMaggio
At LeadingAge Minnesota, we know that our members are navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain environment.
Recent federal immigration enforcement actions have only heightened this uncertainty and created further disruption for a critical segment of Minnesota’s aging services workforce. In moments like this, our shared commitment to older adults and the caregivers who serve them matters more than ever.
Impact on Care Delivery
In recent weeks, many LAMN members have weathered growing fear and hesitation among caregivers stemming from visible or perceived immigration enforcement activity in communities across Minnesota. Some staff have expressed concern about simply coming to work. Others are carrying the emotional weight of worrying about family members and friends. Still others wonder what all of this signals about their future here in Minnesota.
These stressors do not stay at the door — they follow caregivers into their places of work, affecting wellbeing, focus, and ultimately the stability of care delivery.
At the same time, Minnesota’s aging services field has little margin for additional workforce disruption. Nearly one in three Nursing Assistants in our state is an immigrant — significantly higher than the national average — and with more than 12,000 open caregiving positions statewide, providers cannot easily absorb further instability.
In response, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation moved quickly to secure supplemental philanthropic funding to stand up a rapid-response grant program that puts flexible resources directly into the hands of our members to support caregivers during this critical moment.
Caregiver Support in Times of Uncertainty Grant Program
This responsive grant opportunity is designed to rapidly deploy flexible funding to provider members to support caregivers and stabilize operations during this period of heightened uncertainty and disruption. We’re sharing some key details about the opportunity below. More information can be found in the full application link below.
Key Details:
- Application Deadline: March 16 at Noon
- Funding Period: April–August 2026
- Total Funding Available: $410,000
- Maximum Award Amount: $25,000 per physical site/campus
Eligible Applicants: Current LeadingAge Minnesota provider members, including care centers, assisted living, home care, home and community-based services, independent living, and adult day providers.
Why This Matters
Across Minnesota, aging services providers are experiencing a moment that echoes the early days of COVID-19:
- Caregivers are facing fear and uncertainty
- Circumstances are evolving rapidly
- Providers must continue delivering essential care under unprecedented strain
Protecting continuity of care, supporting caregiver safety and wellbeing, maintaining operational stability, and preventing further workforce erosion are essential to ensuring access to quality care for older adults and families across Minnesota.
This initiative reflects the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation’s strategic priority to grow a high-quality, sustainable workforce statewide. It also builds upon our broader work to support immigrant and refugee caregivers who are essential to the strength and future of Minnesota’s aging services sector.
Next Steps
This opportunity is supported by external philanthropic funding designated specifically to help providers implement community-informed solutions that address immediate caregiver safety, stability, and wellbeing needs. LAMF is granting these resources directly to members to strengthen workforce capacity and sustainability across the state.
We encourage you to review the full RFP and consider how this opportunity could support your staff and strengthen your organization during this critical time. Our goal is to move quickly so resources can reach caregivers as soon as possible.
Together, we will continue to stand with caregivers and ensure that Minnesota’s older adults receive the quality care they deserve.