Women's Initiative for Screening and Health (WISH)

The Women's Initiative for Screening and Health (WISH) is a forecasted federal grant opportunity managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a sub-agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative is designed to improve health outcomes for women throughout their lives by expanding access to preventive health services. Through the establishment and support of multidisciplinary coalitions—comprising healthcare providers, academic institutions, and patient-centered organizations—WISH seeks to operationalize and broaden the implementation of HRSA-supported women's preventive service guidelines. The primary objectives of the WISH program include reviewing and recommending evidence-based updates to existing women’s preventive service guidelines, enhancing awareness and knowledge about these guidelines among providers and the public, and increasing their usage in clinical practice settings. These guidelines play a pivotal role in ensuring that women have access to comprehensive, preventive care rooted in the latest scientific and clinical research. By focusing on knowledge dissemination and clinical adoption, the initiative aims to embed these standards more deeply across the national healthcare landscape. WISH is structured as a cooperative agreement, which suggests a close working relationship between HRSA and the recipient organization, involving substantial federal involvement in programmatic decisions and implementation oversight. The total estimated program funding is $1,000,000, with an identical award ceiling and no minimum floor specified. Only one award is expected for this funding round. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, allowing for broader accessibility to applicants with limited resources. Eligibility for the WISH initiative spans a wide range of organizations. Qualified applicants include state, county, city, and township governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; public housing authorities; tribal governments and tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); and for-profit entities, including small businesses. The opportunity is open to domestic applicants, defined to include the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories and associated jurisdictions, ensuring wide geographic inclusion. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically by April 4, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The estimated post date for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity is February 3, 2026, allowing applicants approximately two months to prepare submissions. Award announcements are expected on May 1, 2026, with funded projects beginning June 1, 2026. At this time, there is no mention of a requirement for letters of intent, concept papers, or other gating documents as part of the application process. For additional information or technical assistance, applicants may contact CDR Johannie Escarne at 301-443-5692 or via email at wellwomancare@hrsa.gov. No PDF of the full NOFO has been provided yet, as this remains a forecasted opportunity. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov and HRSA channels for the official release and any accompanying application guidance or documentation.