Catalyst Awards for Transformation in Graduate Medical Education

The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the education of health professionals in the United States. The Foundation’s Catalyst Awards for Transformation in Graduate Medical Education support projects that enhance the clinical learning environment for residents and fellows. These awards focus on three priority areas: promoting diversity, equity, and belonging; increasing opportunities to learn in and from high-performing interprofessional teams; and preparing future health professionals to navigate ethical dilemmas. Projects funded by the Catalyst Awards must be innovative and aim to improve the experience and outcomes of graduate medical education learners. Proposals should describe, implement, and evaluate new strategies to help learners thrive in their clinical settings. The program emphasizes the co-creation of projects between faculty and learners, encouraging learners to take on investigative roles. Projects that demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period, with institutional commitment through matching or in-kind support, are favored. Letters of support and evidence of co-leadership from learners strengthen an application. The 2026 award cycle will fund selected projects with up to $100,000 total over an 18-month period. This amount includes indirect costs, which are capped at 10%. Applications were open to residents, fellows, and faculty affiliated with graduate medical education (GME) programs, including hospitals, health systems, and medical schools. Projects involving interprofessional teams that include nursing or medical student collaboration are also welcomed, provided the focus remains on graduate medical education. Applicants were required to submit their proposals by September 17, 2025, with award notifications scheduled for no later than January 23, 2026. The funding period for awarded projects begins on February 16, 2026, and ends on August 15, 2027. While there are no limitations on the number of submissions from a single institution, only one institution may receive the award in the case of cross-institutional collaboration. Others must be included via subcontracts. Allowable costs exclude general support, capital expenditures, endowments, and projects outside the U.S. or its territories. Projects must have tangible impacts and be scalable or replicable across institutions. Evaluation criteria include significance, alignment with the Foundation's priorities, learner inclusion, applicability, and institutional support. All inquiries may be directed to info@macyfoundation.org or by phone at (212) 486-2424. The Catalyst Awards are recurring, with prior awards offered in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The next anticipated cycle is expected to open in September 2026. The program has demonstrated success in improving clinical learning settings and remains a competitive opportunity for GME-focused educational innovation.

Projects should align with priority areas and show strong learner involvement and institutional commitment.