Emerging Scholars in Family Planning Grant

The Emerging Scholars in Family Planning grant, offered by the Society of Family Planning, represents a critical component of the organization's strategy to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community dedicated to the science of abortion and contraception. This grant supports early-career researchers enrolled in graduate or clinical training programs by funding publishable scholarly research projects. The initiative is aimed at building a pipeline of future leaders in the field by providing funding, mentorship, and professional development opportunities that integrate recipients into the broader family planning research network. Importantly, the grant is intended to nurture scholars' work that contributes empirical evidence with potential for practical impact on clinical practices, public policy, and health service delivery structures in the United States. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that focus on abortion or contraception within the U.S. context and align with the Society's goal of supporting work that advances just and equitable access to reproductive health. Proposals must show a clear and strategic pathway to real-world impact and must critically engage with the applicants’ own positionality, including how their identities and lived experiences inform the research. The Society values research that confronts institutional racism and inequities within science and medicine and thus prioritizes funding scholars who reflect deeply on these intersections in their work. The grant awards up to $7,500 per scholar to fund direct research expenses such as statistical analysis, translation services, equipment, participant compensation, and travel essential to the research project. A portion of up to 20% of the grant may be used for stipends or conference presentation support. The funding period spans 12 months and is contingent upon submission of an award agreement and IRB approval or exemption. Indirect costs are not permitted. The Society anticipates awarding up to fifteen grants under this program, emphasizing support for research likely to contribute substantially to the field of family planning. In addition to financial support, recipients benefit from several career development opportunities. These include complimentary registration, lodging, and travel for the Society’s 2026 and 2027 Annual Meetings, a free membership to the Society throughout the award period, and a $3,000 mentorship stipend to establish a formal mentorship relationship with a Society-affiliated expert. Mentors are selected based on alignment with the scholar’s topic or methodology. The Society also covers one open-access publication processing fee if the scholar’s work is published within two years post-award. The application window for the 2026 cycle opens on January 13, 2026, and closes on May 12, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. Proposals must be submitted through the Society’s online portal and must include a completed application form, a 250-word project summary, a 7-page proposal narrative covering background, methods, population, and positionality, a one-page future contributions statement, a one-page mentorship needs outline, a detailed 2-page budget and justification, a CV (max 10 pages), and one letter of recommendation. All submissions must be consolidated into a single PDF. All eligible proposals are peer-reviewed based on the project’s potential for impact (40%), the applicant's positionality (20%), expertise (20%), and envisioned contributions to the field (20%). The funder may also participate in the selection process to ensure strategic alignment across its initiatives. Awards will be announced in August 2026. For support or clarification, applicants are invited to contact the Society at [email protected]. The grant’s structured support, comprehensive evaluation process, and integrated mentorship offerings make it a unique opportunity for trainees looking to make a meaningful impact in reproductive health research.

Clearly articulate research-to-impact pathway; demonstrate alignment with DEI goals; define study population and audience; reflect on positionality.