Division 18 Lived Experience Fund Research or Program Development Grant

The Division 18 Lived Experience Fund Research or Program Development Grant is a specialized funding opportunity designed to support psychologists with lived experience whose work is dedicated to the advancement of peer support, survivor studies, disclosure, or other lived experience-centered programming or research. Administered by the American Psychological Foundation (APF) in partnership with Division 18 of the American Psychological Association (APA)—Psychologists in Public Service—this grant is part of a broader initiative to encourage innovation and elevate voices within the mental health field that have traditionally been underrepresented or marginalized. The purpose of this grant is to fund impactful, creative, and transformative research or programs that are informed by the applicant’s own lived experience. The fund supports work in a variety of focus areas including peer support structures, consumer/survivor/ex-patient (c/s/x) movements, and the development of new tools or approaches for disclosing lived experience within professional psychological settings. By emphasizing the value of lived experience as a foundation for psychological insight, this grant seeks to foster knowledge creation and service models that challenge conventional boundaries in mental health practice. Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree in psychology and identify as having lived experience relevant to the grant's focus. APF encourages applicants from all backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on inclusion across dimensions such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, geography, ability, age, and religious or cultural background. Applicants at any career stage are welcome, including early-career, mid-career, and senior professionals. Applicants must submit a complete application through the GivingData online platform. Required materials include a project proposal, a detailed project timeline, a budget with justification, and a current curriculum vitae. Once logged into the portal, users can access full formatting and content instructions. APF does not offer feedback on submitted proposals. For technical or procedural questions, applicants may contact APF Programs via email. Submissions will be evaluated based on several criteria including the anticipated impact of the project, the degree of innovation presented, alignment with the grant’s stated goals, and the clarity of the dissemination plan. Projects should clearly articulate how the work will contribute to the field and benefit peer or lived experience communities. The application deadline for this grant is October 16, 2026. Only one grant of $3,000 will be awarded during this funding cycle. This program does not appear to recur annually and is not presented as a rolling opportunity. Therefore, applicants must plan to submit by the specified deadline and monitor future updates from APF for any subsequent rounds.