StartUP Grant Prerequisite
Before you apply for the StartUP Respite Grant Program, you must complete RCAW’s
Bringing Respite to Your Community (BRYC) Workshop.
About the Grant
Starting a new respite care program can be challenging, especially when covering the initial costs. These expenses can include rent, insurance, staff wages, training, supplies, and required licenses.
Respite Care Association of Wisconsin (RCAW) offers funding to help new respite care programs get started. We also support existing programs and businesses that want to grow or add respite services across Wisconsin.
With funding from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, RCAW is able to offer this support through July 2027. These funds are available to programs in all 72 counties and 11 tribes in Wisconsin.
Who Can Apply
To qualify for this grant, you must meet one of the following:
You are starting a brand new respite care program or business.
You are growing an existing business by adding a new respite program or location.
You must also meet both of the following:
Your program or business provides hands-on respite care in Wisconsin.
At least one team member has completed the Bringing Respite to Your Community (BRYC) Workshop.
Important Dates
We accept applications during two designated windows: December 1–15 and June 1–15
| Application Windows | Application Due | Awards Announced | Funds Distributed |
| December 1–15 | December 15 | December 29 | February 05 |
| June 1–15 | June 15 | June 30 | August 05 |
This can be YOU!
Thanks to funding from RCAW, Discovering Pathways, Inc. has expanded access to innovative, community-based social respite for adults with disabilities. Founded as a volunteer-driven organization, Discovering Pathways launched its social respite programming with just one participant and has since grown to serve nine individuals through inclusive, participant-centered experiences.
Programming is intentionally designed around each individual’s interests, strengths, and choices, ensuring participants are never forced to engage and are empowered to explore activities at their own pace. Through this approach, individuals have stepped outside their comfort zones, tried new activities, and built meaningful connections and friendships within the community.
Caregivers have shared the relief they experience knowing their loved ones have access to social opportunities they may not otherwise be able to provide, describing Discovering Pathways as a safe, comfortable, and trusted space. While still a growing organization, interest continues to spread, and Discovering Pathways remains committed to innovating how respite services are delivered to better support individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.
Check out their website here.
Thank you so much for your continued support of JRNY Friends. We are incredibly grateful for this grant and the meaningful impact it has had on the individuals and families we serve. Because of it, we are able to provide consistent support that has truly blessed our families and strengthened their connection to church community.
JRNY Friends exists to make church accessible for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We provide Sunday respite and, through intentional relationships, inclusive programming, and adapted worship opportunities, we support entire families in engaging fully in church life—many for the first time in years—fostering belonging, dignity, and spiritual growth.
Thank you again for partnering with us and investing in this important work. We are so grateful for your belief in our mission and the difference it continues to make.
How To Apply
Step 1
Ensure you have successfully completed RCAW’s Bringing Respite to Your Community workshop. Applications submitted by individuals who have not completed this step will not be scored or considered.
Step 2
Download the application questions and templates here:
- Start-UP Respite Grant Program Application Instructions
- Start-Up Budget – Template A
- Annual Budget – Template B
Step 3
Submit your application during one of two application windows. Applications are accepted from December 1 to 15 and June 1 to 15.
Step 4
Email your completed budget templates and all required supporting documentation to [email protected].
All applicants must follow the submission instructions for budgets and supporting documents exactly. Detailed instructions are provided in the StartUP Respite Grant Program Application Instructions.
FAQs
Programs may submit up to two applications per year. Programs that provide services to populations and areas of the state that have not been previously served will be given priority.
We accept applications during two designated windows: December 1–15 and June 1–15
| Application Windows | Application Due | Awards Announced | Funds Distributed |
| December 1–15 | December 15 | December 29 | February 05 |
| June 1–15 | June 15 | June 30 | August 05 |
You can be at any stage of the process! RCAW asks for a program/business name and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to receive funds. Otherwise, funds are going to you personally rather than the business. This could cause issues for your tax reporting, as it would be considered personal income. If the program is part of an existing organization, then the funds would go to that organization to fund this new program.
Grant requests can range from $5,000 to $25,000. A successful grant applicant might receive partial funding depending on available funds.
Funds can be used for business-related start-up costs:’
- Staff Salaries,
- Facility,
- Insurance,
- Licensing,
- Staff onboarding,
- Education,
- Printing,
- Marketing,
- Program supplies,
- Equipment.
Please note: these funds are funded through a federal grant and cannot be used for food costs.
An independent provider is an individual who is providing respite services for clients independently. They may be listed as a sole proprietor or as an LLC and might have a contract with a county, MCO, or individual clients. Click here to learn more about becoming an independent provider.
A respite program has employees or volunteers that assist in providing respite services. The program could occur as little as once or twice a month, or as often as daily.
No, individuals looking at becoming independent providers are not a good fit for this grant. This grant is specifically to start new respite programs in the community.
Respite programs can be volunteer-based programs or large businesses. There are many ways a respite program can look. Here is a short list of some of the ways.
Faith-based or Volunteer-based respite programs – provides respite with volunteers for no to little charge to families. These programs may run as little as a couple times a year, or as often as weekly.
In-home respite staffing agency – this program hires employees to provide respite in the client’s homes, staff’s home, or the community. This is often one-on-one care between the staff and the client. There is often a contract with a long-term care funding source, MCO, or private pay.
Community-based respite programs – these are programs that take place in a community setting such as an adult day center, a child care center, an adult family home, a community center, a park, or other place outside of the home. Typically more than one individual attends the program at one time, and there is a use of staff or volunteers to support the respite program.
New program – this is a respite program that is brand new. This is the first service that the program or business is providing.
Expansion program – this is a new respite program or location that is part of an existing business (ANY business).
Examples:
- An agency currently provides in-home services and are applying to open a respite center, this is considered an expansion program.
- A child care center wants to start offering respite care, this would be an expansion service.
The RCAW StartUP Grant application needs to focus on the program that you are starting up. The questions need to be answered for the new program. There is one additional question about how the new program fits in with the existing organization. Here you would explain how the programs fit together, why you are expanding, etc. The rest of the application should focus on the program you are asking to be funded. Answer the question about how funds will be used as it relates to the new program. The budgets should be clear on the new program vs the existing organization.
The BRYC workshop is currently offered through RCAW. To find out more about the RCAW workshop visit: Bringing Respite to Your Community Workshop.
Completing the RCAW Respite Care Provider Training (10-course respite training) does not meet the eligibility requirements for this grant.
Congrats. You will receive an agreement and paperwork to sign. Once these are returned, your grant award will be mailed to you. You will be asked to complete progress reports at the 6‑month and 1‑year points to share how the funds were used and how the program is developing. Applicants are also required to meet virtually with RCAW staff at the 3‑month and 9‑month points.
Val Madsen can answer any questions you have. You can email [email protected] or set up a virtual meeting using the meeting scheduler link.
This project was made possible by support from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (grant number 90LRLI0050) totaling $2,010,042 with 75% funded by ACL/HHS and $502,968 (25%) funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Grant Program Fraud Statement RCAW funds the majority of its programs with state and federal funds. RCAW is responsible for ensuring funds are used for their intended purpose and in a manner to conduct the goals and objectives identified in the grant. RCAW reserves the right to deny a grant application if it suspects or detects fraudulent information contained on a grant application RCAW also reserves the right to report suspected fraud to the appropriate officials, and applicants will be banned from applying for grants in the future. They may be subject to repayment of said grant funds to RCAW. All parties involved in grant fraud can potentially be charged with government grant fraud. Using state and federal grant dollars for unjust enrichment, personal gain, or other than their intended use is a form of theft, subject to criminal prosecution. Read the Grant Program Detailed Fraud Disclaimer.