Best Grants for Public Health in West Virginia

First- and second-year medical students conducting clinical, basic science, epidemiology, or health services research can receive US $7,000 through the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, including those studying in West Virginia. Focused on advancing medical research and professionalism, Alpha Omega Alpha also reimburses up to $1,000 for presenting results at a national conference.

The FY 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) funding aims to enhance health services in underserved communities across the U.S. by providing grants for comprehensive preventive and primary care. This initiative allows for a competitive selection of service areas, ensuring that health centers can effectively deliver high-quality healthcare. Additional service areas may be announced throughout the year to accommodate changes in service availability, supporting continuous care for those in need.

The FY26 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Clinical Trial Award promotes the swift initiation of impactful clinical trials for diseases outlined in specific topic areas. It offers two application categories: Clinical Trial Only and Clinical Trial with Planning Phase, supporting various funding levels based on trial phases and participant counts. The total funding of approximately $94.5M aims to support up to 9 applications, with a maximum award period of 4 years, ensuring significant advancements in medical research.

Navigant Credit Union 

Navigant Credit Union is the longest-operating, member-owned credit union in Rhode Island. Since its founding in 1915, Navigant Credit Union has been dedicated to providing its members with unparalleled financial products and services, while working every day to stay committed to the financial well-being of the families, businesses and communities we serve. 

Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation Grant

For over a century, Navigant Credit Union has been committed to making a meaningful difference in the community. In 2017, we established the Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation to further amplify our impact in five strategic areas:

• Education & Financial Literacy: Organizational and capital support for programs, supplies, building products, sports facilities and teams.
• Social Services: Financial support for programs and organizations for children, veterans, hunger and housing.
• Public Health, Safety & Well-Being: Support for programs addressing public safety, emergency care and eradication of disease.

AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation strengthens financial resilience for and with older adults by empowering individuals and improving systems.

AARP empowers people to choose how they live as they age. There are 125 million Americans who are 50 or older, and people want their money, health and happiness to last as long as they do. We are a wise friend and fierce defender, focusing on the priorities of older Americans.

Purpose Prize® from AARP

Honoring extraordinary people 50-plus who put their purpose into action.

Purpose is a powerful force for good. The Purpose Prize from AARP honors extraordinary older Americans who put their purpose into action to support AARP’s mission of empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Winners receive $75,000 and a year of organizational support from AARP to grow the impact of their nonprofits. Examples of organizational support include data and evaluation, governance and succession planning, fundraising strategy, and prospectus development.

The Edith M. Pritchard Scholarship, offered by Nurses Educational Funds Inc., supports nurses pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in nursing education and public health. Applicants must hold a current RN license, maintain a GPA of 3.6, and have at least two semesters of study remaining post-award notification. This scholarship promotes nursing leadership and is funded through donations, reflecting over a century of commitment to nursing education.

CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the public health system save and improve lives by unleashing the power of partnerships to protect the health, safety and security of all communities, everywhere. The CDC Foundation is authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners, corporations, organizations and individuals to support the critical health protection mission of CDC and the public health system.

The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year aimed at protecting communities across the country from a variety of health threats—from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like malaria and HIV to emergency responses, such as Ebola and Zika.

Contractor for Implementation and Evaluation of Healthy Native Babies Project Materials

This RFP request proposals from Tribes, Tribal Serving Organizations (TSOs) and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) [T/TSOs/UIOs] to implement and evaluate the updated Healthy Native Babies Project (HNBP) materials within their service areas. This initiative aims to strengthen culturally relevant infant safe sleep education, increase community awareness and support Native families in reducing sleep related infant deaths. Selected T/TSOs/UIOs will adapt, disseminate and assess the use of HNBP materials in ways that reflect the cultural, linguistic and community-specific needs of the Native populations they serve. 

This project is a rapid turnaround project to support T/TSOs/UIOs in:

• Implementing HNBP materials in clinical, community, and family setting
• Training staff and community partners
• Evaluating reach, effectiveness, and community feedback
• Identifying barriers, facilitators, lessons learned, and best practices for future replication

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Lucy C. Perry Scholarship

Preference for funds from this scholarship is given to applicants studying at Indiana University and interested in public health.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Liesel M. Hiemenz Scholarship

This permanent scholarship was established in memory of Ms. Hiemenz, a nurse from Germany. Preference is given to applicants interested in public health.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster the cancer surveillance workforce through educational initiatives. By enhancing collaborations with cancer partners and developing tools for improved data quality, this program will expand the capacity of registrars. Efforts will focus on recruitment and retention, ultimately ensuring compliance with Public Law 102-515. Strengthening the cancer registrar workforce will lead to timely and accurate cancer data submission, supporting public health objectives.

The NIH is announcing a funding opportunity for competitive revisions of ongoing grants to tackle unforeseen public health crises. This Urgent Competitive Revision program aims to facilitate timely responses to emerging health challenges. Once the Notice of Funding Opportunity is published, eligible applications will be directly routed to the appropriate NIH awarding component. Only submissions in response to an Urgent Guide Notice published by an NIH Institute or Center will be accepted.

The CORE Funding: Lilly Research Grant aims to advance research on genetic hearing loss. It invites investigators to explore the genetic factors contributing to hearing loss, promoting innovative projects that enhance understanding in this critical area. Supported by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation, the grant fosters significant research efforts to improve outcomes and strategies in otolaryngology, ensuring a comprehensive approach to hearing health.

Trainees conducting basic, translational, or clinical research in head and neck oncology, including public health and epidemiology aspects, can apply for the CORE AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation. This U.S. program offers up to US $20,000 for projects on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology of head and neck neoplastic disease, which may benefit West Virginia public health researchers.

Researchers conducting basic, translational, or clinical thyroid cancer studies that touch on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology in the U.S., including West Virginia, may be eligible for this $10,000 award. With a mission to advance otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation supports thyroid cancer research through its CORE program.

Researchers conducting head and neck cancer translational clinical or epidemiologic studies in the U.S., including West Virginia, can apply for the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation’s CORE AHNS Presidential Award; awards US $15,000 for innovative projects integrating emerging technologies with patient-centered research and public health–related outcomes.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in public health or environmental science studying full-time at accredited U.S. institutions, including those from West Virginia, can receive need-based support ranging from US $100 - US $30,000. West Virginia public health students with verified Tribal affiliation may access this Grace Wall Barreda Memorial Scholarship from Native Forward Scholars Fund.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in West Virginia can apply for Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Thriving Community Impact Fund support grants, awarding up to US $2,499 for community health programs. Funding can back initiatives in public health, mental and social well-being, poverty and economic stability, neighborhood environments, and related community development efforts with a simple, rolling application process.

With a mission to advance biomedical and public health research, the National Institutes of Health provides U.S. investigators and institutions with funding to study integrated management of chronic pain and opioid use disorder. West Virginia public health and healthcare organizations conducting implementation research on CP and OUD care models may be eligible to apply when the NOFO is released.

West Virginia public health and biomedical research organizations can access funding through the Department of the Air Force for studies in aerospace medicine, human performance, occupational and environmental health, and epidemiology. This CHEERS opportunity supports white papers, and potentially full proposals, that generate operational medical solutions for current and future Department of Defense missions.

Master’s students in school-based health education programs can use this $1,000 scholarship for any personal or educational expenses while studying at accredited institutions in the U.S. or its territories. With a mission to advance health and physical education, Society of Health and Physical Educators also provides a complimentary one-year student membership, which may benefit aspiring public health educators in West Virginia.

West Virginia undergraduate public health and school-based health education majors can access funding through the Society of Health and Physical Educators’ Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship. This US $1,000 award supports full-time sophomores, juniors, or seniors at accredited U.S. colleges or universities and includes a complimentary one-year SHAPE America student membership.

Research institutions and investigators working on chronic pain and opioid use disorder can apply for National Institutes of Health funding to study integrated, health-system–level care models, including collaborative and implementation strategies. Projects in West Virginia may be eligible as part of this multi-site public health research opportunity across the U.S. and territories.

Public health and epidemiology organizations in West Virginia and other eligible U.S. jurisdictions can apply for up to US $200,000 to strengthen antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens. This Food and Drug Administration program supports enhanced detection of drug-resistant bacteria and expansion of National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) sampling sites.

Hospitals, health institutions, and healthcare organizations focused on medical research, public health, and care delivery can apply for E S Prentiss Foundation grants supporting healthcare initiatives, primarily in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. West Virginia public health organizations may be eligible if their projects advance medical knowledge, public health activities, or direct care for low-income populations.

Legal service organizations and public interest lawyers providing civil legal aid around opioid use disorder can receive support for two-year fellowship positions in West Virginia and nationwide. Equal Justice Works provides public health-focused Attorney Fellows to expand capacity, remove legal barriers to OUD treatment, and connect underserved communities with needed services.

Rural public entities, Tribes, and nonprofits needing water or waste system improvements in low-income colonias can apply for loans and grants from USDA Rural Development. Focused on safe drinking water and waste disposal, this program funds construction of basic systems and storm-water drainage, and West Virginia public health organizations serving eligible areas may be able to participate.

The NIOSH K01 grant offers vital support for early-career researchers in occupational health, providing 'protected time' for mentorship and professional development. This funding aims to bridge the gap from postdoctoral training to independent research, fostering the next generation of investigators. By emphasizing skill enhancement and independence, the program plays a crucial role in advancing safety and health research. Applicants must articulate their mentorship needs and demonstrate the potential for increased autonomy in their research careers.