Making a Difference Program

The Greenwall Foundation is inviting proposals for its Fall 2025 cycle of the "Making a Difference in Real-World Bioethics Dilemmas" grant program. This initiative aims to support impactful bioethics research that informs and improves decision-making in clinical, biomedical, and public health contexts. The Foundation’s overarching vision is to integrate bioethics into key decisions across health care, policy, and research, and its mission emphasizes the expansion of bioethics knowledge to improve practical outcomes in these areas. Proposals should tackle emerging or unresolved bioethics dilemmas and must demonstrate potential for real-world impact. The Foundation is especially interested in projects that address priority topics such as trust in science and medicine, healthcare bias and discrimination, responses to public health crises, issues of healthcare access and cost, and the implications of changes in federal health policy and funding. However, proposals addressing other relevant bioethics challenges are also welcome. Projects may be empirical, normative, or conceptual, and may include pilot studies or mentored collaborations involving early-career researchers and seasoned bioethics scholars. Applicants must detail how their projects will address a practical bioethics problem and contribute innovative solutions. The research team must include appropriate expertise and ideally involve collaborations with stakeholders directly impacted by the issue, such as clinicians or public health officials. Proposals should include dissemination strategies targeting both academic audiences and stakeholders in positions to implement the findings. The Foundation encourages alignment with its strategic priorities: fostering a broad and inclusive approach to bioethics and increasing its influence on policymaking. Eligibility for this program is limited to individuals affiliated with tax-exempt U.S. institutions. Principal investigators must hold a doctoral-level degree such as a PhD, JD, or MD. Projects that lack a central focus on bioethics, lack practical recommendations, or aim to advocate predetermined conclusions are not eligible. Additionally, the Foundation does not fund projects focused solely on meetings or training unless tied to a significant publication or implementation strategy. Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by June 23, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. The LOI must include specific information such as the project title, summary, priority topic, funding request, and a detailed narrative with defined sections covering the bioethics problem, research aims, methodology, dissemination plans, innovation, and team expertise. Invited full proposals are due by September 2, 2025. Projects should begin on or after January 1, 2026, and no later than April 1, 2026. Inquiries should be directed to Kyle Ruempler at kruempler@greenwall.org. Technical assistance for the application portal can be requested from support@foundant.com. The next grant cycle will occur in Spring 2026, with details to be released in late Fall 2025.