Research Grant - Fall Grant Round

The Gerber Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization, focuses its efforts on improving the nutrition, care, and development of infants and young children from one year before birth to three years of age. Through its Research Grant programs, the Foundation supports innovative research projects that promise to yield new treatments, diagnostic tools, or methodologies that can positively influence clinical practices and outcomes for this vulnerable population. The Foundation is particularly interested in practical, scalable solutions that can be rapidly implemented by care providers and improve health, developmental, or nutritional outcomes. Grants are typically categorized under Major and Novice Research Awards. Major Research Awards are capped at $350,000 including indirect costs, and are available for experienced Principal Investigators. Novice Research Awards, capped at $30,000 including indirects, support early-career researchers such as physicians or PhD candidates within one year post-training. These projects must have a mentor and development plan. In both cases, indirect costs cannot exceed 10% of the total grant amount, and salary support for the developing researcher under the Novice program must not exceed 50% of the total budget. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and public governmental institutions such as universities, provided they are not classified as private foundations. The foundation primarily funds organizations based in the United States and its territories, with exceptions granted sparingly for international research that clearly benefits U.S. children. The Foundation does not fund individuals. Projects must be original and lead to changes in practice, and the board does not typically support education-focused proposals targeting caregivers. The grant application process includes two stages: the submission of a Concept Paper, followed by a Full Proposal for selected projects. Concept Papers, which must be written in lay language and exclude scientific references or CVs, are due biannually on May 15 and November 15. Final decisions on concept papers are typically communicated by the end of June and December. If a concept is accepted, a Full Proposal is due by August 15 or February 15, respectively. The Foundation funds approximately 10–15 grants annually with selection rates for full proposals ranging from 50% to 70%. Concept Papers are submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. Applicants may invite team members through the application’s “Invitations” feature. The full proposal must be accessible to both medical and lay reviewers and should minimize medical jargon. Notification of awards is delivered via email, and project start dates generally begin on July 1 or January 1, pending grant agreement finalization and IRB approvals. For assistance throughout the application process, applicants may contact the Foundation via phone at (231) 924-3175 or by email at tgf@gerberfoundation.org. Additional resources, including format guides and invitation instructions, are available on the Foundation's website.

Emphasize practicality, implementation feasibility, and likelihood of leading to practice change.