Quality of Life grants, conceived by the late Dana Reeve, are awarded to programs or projects that improve the daily lives of people with paralysis, with some emphasis on but not limited to paralysis caused by spinal caused by spinal cord injuries. She started the Quality of Life grants program to recognize and support organizations that recognize and support organizations that help individuals, their families and caregivers in ways that more immediately give them increased independence, day-to-day happiness, and improved access.

Quality of Life grants are most often awarded to nonprofit organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) status, but may also be awarded to community parks, schools, veterans hospitals, tribal entities, etc. Most Quality of Life grants are awarded within the United States of America, although the Reeve Foundation does award a small number of grants to nonprofit organizations based outside the United States.

The Reeve Foundation gives special consideration to organizations that serve returning wounded military and their families, and to those that provide targeted services to diverse cultural communities.