Community-Led Momentum Grants

The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) is Wisconsin’s largest health philanthropy, operating under the Medical College of Wisconsin. Established from a financial gift made by Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, AHW aims to propel innovative efforts that improve health outcomes and advance health equity across all regions of the state. It supports partnerships among researchers, organizations, and communities, with a commitment to inclusive participation, transparency, and measurable impact. The 2026 Community-Led Momentum Grants program is part of AHW’s Momentum Grant initiative, offering up to $250,000 over a 24-month period to collaborative teams composed of Wisconsin-based community organizations and MCW academic partners. These grants focus on two primary areas: Public and Community Health and Health Workforce Education and Development. The intent is to implement evidence-based strategies that address community-identified health needs, inform policy, improve health indicators, and reduce disparities. Projects must be innovative and demonstrate impact within the funded period. Under the Public and Community Health focus, eligible proposals may include implementation and evaluation of practices to address local health priorities, knowledge dissemination through campaigns and toolkits, or research to inform policy and system changes. For Health Workforce Education and Development, the focus is on developing or adapting tools that enhance workforce skills, improve recruitment and retention, and support continuous learning for roles like community health workers and public health professionals. Eligible applicants must form a partnership between a Wisconsin-based community organization (501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or government entity) and an MCW faculty member. The community partner must act as fiscal agent and contribute a minimum 5% FTE to the project, as must the MCW academic partner. Collaborators are permitted but not required. All funds must support direct, project-specific costs and may not be used for general operations, supplanting, or indirect expenses. The application process involves a two-stage review. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by October 27, 2025, via AHW’s online portal. LOIs include a form, a narrative, and electronically submitted signatures through DocuSign. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by February 23, 2026. Awards will be announced in May 2026, with projects beginning July 1, 2026. Applications are assessed on impact, feasibility, and alignment with AHW’s priorities, with reviews conducted by community and MCW reviewers, and final approval by the MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health. While not required, applicants are encouraged to consult with AHW before submission to ensure alignment and to explore opportunities for leveraging additional funding. Funded projects will be monitored for compliance, and IRB approval must be obtained when human subjects research is involved.

Engage early with AHW for pre-submission consultation; clearly align with health equity goals and demonstrate evidence-based impact.