Peer-Led Town Meeting Expansion Project
The Reunion Project (TRP), the alliance of long-term survivors of HIV, is excited to announce the 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) for a mini-grant aimed at empowering communities to develop and host their own peer-led community meeting for people living with HIV long-term and older adults with HIV. These in-person meetings will focus on educating, supporting, and networking for HIV long-term survivors and people aging with HIV. TRP is inviting proposals from community-based organizations, advocacy groups, or individuals who have not previously received support from TRP and whose project aligns with TRP’s mission and values.
The Denver Principles and MIPA
Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to The Denver Principles, which shaped the active involvement of people living with HIV in the AIDS response, and the meaningful involvement of people with HIV/AIDS (MIPA), which ensures that the communities most affected by HIV are involved in decision-making, at every level of the response.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for the mini-grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a 501c3 community-based organization, advocacy group, or individual sponsored by a 501c3.
- Must have experience working with HIV long-term survivors and/or aging with HIV, and communities affected by HIV.
- Must demonstrate the ability to organize and host a half- or full-day, in-person, peer-led community town meeting.
- Must provide a proposed budget and commit to using all awarded funds for the town meeting.
- This grant is only applicable to individuals and organizations based in the United States or Puerto Rico.
Grant Details
TRP will offer up to five (5) mini-grants of up to $5,000 each in 2026. These grants are intended for the development and execution of peer-led in-person community town meetings in their respective geographic area or region. Recipients must utilize the awarded funds as outlined in their proposals. Awards will be distributed in 2026. The grant period is from February 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026 for a duration of nine (9) months. TRP will also provide some in-kind support to the grant awardees.
Proposal Requirements
All proposals must be submitted in English and include the following:
- A cover letter with the organization or individual’s name, address, contact person, and contact information (phone number and email address); if an individual, must be sponsored by a 501(c)(3)
- A project proposal, (maximum three pages) including:
- Project title and summary
- Project goals and objectives
- Prioritized audience
- Proposed activities and timeline
- Expected measurable outcomes
- Budget breakdown of how awarded funds will be used
- Plans for measuring success
- A list of previous projects, events, or initiatives related to HIV and AIDS or HIV long-term survivors that the applicant has implemented or participated in.
- Grant period is from February 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Grantees must agree to submit a report/summary in writing detailing the outcomes of their project no later than November 15, 2026.
Submission Process
Proposals should be submitted via email to info@reunionproject.net, or via the file upload link provided below. If submitting by email, the subject line should read “2026 Mini-grant Proposal – [Organization or Individual Name]”. Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Applicants may be contacted for additional information or to schedule an interview. If submitting as an individual, you must include a letter of support from a 501c3 organization, and funds will be disbursed to that organization.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Alignment with TRP’s mission and values
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Feasibility of the proposed project
- Clarity and completeness of the proposal
- Creativity and innovation of proposed activities
- Justification and accountability of the budget
- Experience and track record of the applicant in projects related to HIV and AIDS and/or HIV long-term survivors.
Award Notification
Grant awardees will be notified no later than January 31, 2026. The notification will include instructions on how to accept the award and the terms and conditions for accepting the award.
2026 Mini-Grant Opportunity Info-Session
Join TRP staff for an optional informational webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 1-2pm ET, to learn more about our exciting mini-grant opportunity for the Peer-Led Town Meeting Expansion Project (PLTMEP). During this session we will share our vision and goals for creating peer-led events in your communities, based on TRP’s mission and values. We will also answer any questions you may have regarding the development and submission of your proposal.
About The Reunion Project
The Reunion Project is the alliance of HIV long-term survivors. We convene and connect individuals and communities through sharing our unique stories, disseminating accurate information, and issuing calls-to-action on issues and policies affecting people living with HIV for more than a decade.
The Reunion Project is committed to creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments at all our in-person and virtual events. All people living with HIV, their partners, loved ones, allies, and supporters deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. TRP is also committed to language justice in an effort to create shared power, practice inclusion, and dismantle traditional systems of oppression that have traditionally disenfranchised non-English speakers.
