Academic Partners for Community-Led Seed Grants

The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW), a major health philanthropy affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin, has issued a call for MCW Academic Partners to participate in Community-Led Seed Grants. AHW’s mission is to improve health and advance health equity across Wisconsin by supporting innovative, community-driven initiatives. This funding opportunity is designed not as a direct grant to academic applicants, but as a mechanism to identify and prepare qualified MCW faculty to collaborate with community organizations that will independently apply for and lead funded projects. The purpose of the Community-Led Seed Grants is to support early-stage, community-identified health initiatives that address pressing local health needs. These projects emphasize innovation, community leadership, and the testing of new ideas that can serve as a foundation for long-term, sustainable health improvements. The initiative aligns with AHW’s focus areas, including public and community health and health workforce development, and seeks to promote measurable improvements in health outcomes while reducing disparities across Wisconsin communities. Funding supports projects that are led by community partners, with MCW academic partners contributing expertise in implementation, evaluation, data analysis, policy development, or subject-matter knowledge. While the academic partners do not directly receive grant awards independently, they are eligible to receive salary and fringe support through project budgets based on a 10% or 20% full-time effort commitment. Projects are expected to run for a 12-month period beginning January 1, 2027, with the possibility of a six-month no-cost extension. Funding may cover personnel time, travel, and project-related activities necessary to achieve the project’s goals. Eligibility is limited to MCW faculty members holding the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, and who are employed full-time or at full professional effort. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to commit the required level of effort and possess relevant experience or interest in community-engaged work. The program emphasizes collaboration best practices and requires academic partners to work closely with community organizations, sharing responsibility for communication, reporting, and compliance requirements. The application process requires submission through an online form by August 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Applicants must complete required fields including professional background, areas of expertise, alignment with AHW priorities, and availability. Following submission, applicants must complete an electronic signature process within three business days. No paper or email submissions are accepted. AHW also encourages pre-application consultations to ensure alignment with program goals. Applications undergo a technical review followed by a merit-based evaluation assessing alignment with program goals, experience with community partnerships, and readiness to contribute effectively. Final recommendations are reviewed by the MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health and ultimately approved by the MCW Board of Trustees. Successful applicants are then matched with funded community-led projects through a facilitated process. Award notifications are expected in October 2026, with project activities beginning January 1, 2027. Academic partners are responsible for securing Institutional Review Board approval when applicable and ensuring compliance with human research protections. The program does not specify recurring cycles but reflects a structured funding opportunity tied to a specific project period and application window.

Demonstrate strong community partnership experience and alignment with AHW priorities; clearly define role and expertise contribution