Best Grants for Public Health in Connecticut

Connecticut medical students interested in public health and related research can access funding through the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, which awards US $7,000 for 2–12 month projects. Eligible first- and second-year students at schools with active Alpha Omega Alpha chapters may propose clinical, epidemiology, health services, leadership, or professionalism studies.

Early-career postdoctoral and clinician investigators in nonprofit academic, medical, or research institutions in Connecticut can apply for Health Resources in Action’s mentored research awards, offering up to US $200,000 for human disease–focused clinical and population health studies. Projects may include patient-oriented, epidemiological, behavioral, outcomes, or health services research, including work on health inequities.

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.

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.

The CORE Funding: AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award supports innovative research in head and neck oncology, encouraging trainees to engage in clinical or translational studies. Since its inception, CORE has provided over $14 million in grants, facilitating significant advancements in otolaryngology. This initiative aims to enhance research efforts, reduce fragmentation, and promote collaboration among various stakeholders to improve outcomes for patients with head and neck neoplastic diseases.

Research institutions and medical organizations in Connecticut conducting basic, translational, or clinical thyroid cancer studies can access funding through the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation. Grants of US $10,000 support projects on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology of thyroid cancer, which may benefit broader public health efforts.

Connecticut research institutions and clinical teams working on head and neck cancer epidemiology and public health can apply for funding to integrate emerging technologies into translational studies. Focused on advanced head and neck cancer, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation supports projects using tools like multi-omics, AI-enabled pathology, imaging, and remote monitoring to improve detection, prevention, and treatment.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in public health or environmental science at accredited U.S. institutions can receive need-based scholarships ranging from US $100 - US $30,000. With a mission to support Indigenous scholars, Native Forward Scholars Fund provides this aid nationwide; Connecticut students in eligible fields may benefit.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in Connecticut seeking support for public health and community well-being can apply for Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Thriving Community Impact Fund Support Grants, offering up to US $2,499. Funding may back programs in physical, mental, and social health, poverty and economic stability, and neighborhood or built-environment improvements.

Health systems, research institutions, and clinical teams working on public health and integrative care can pursue NIH funding to improve management of co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder in Connecticut and nationwide. The HEAL IMPOWR BEACON Center opportunity supports hybrid implementation-effectiveness trials, collaborative care models, and capacity building to scale evidence-based CP and OUD services.

Connecticut research institutions and organizations working in epidemiology and public health can pursue funding to support aerospace and operational medicine research under this CHEERS opportunity. Focused on human performance, aerospace medicine, occupational and environmental health, and preventive medicine, the Department of the Air Force invites white papers for studies that advance medical readiness and support current and future DoD missions.

Master’s students in school-based health education programs at accredited U.S. colleges or universities, including those in Connecticut, can receive a $1,000 Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship for any educational expenses. Society of Health and Physical Educators also provides a complimentary one-year student membership in SHAPE America to recipients.

Connecticut undergraduate students majoring in school-based health education can receive scholarship support for their public health studies through the Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship. Offered by the Society of Health and Physical Educators, this annual US $1,000 award includes a one-year complimentary student membership in SHAPE America and can be used for any personal or educational expenses.

Health systems and research institutions in Connecticut and nationwide working on integrated chronic pain and opioid use disorder care can apply for US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health funding. This NOFO supports studies on collaborative care models, implementation strategies, and innovative health system approaches that improve sustainable, integrated OUD and pain services in clinical settings.

Public health and epidemiology organizations in Connecticut and other eligible U.S. jurisdictions can seek funding to enhance antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens. With a mission to protect and promote public health, the FDA provides support to strengthen NARMS sampling, detection of drug-resistant bacteria, and expansion to new surveillance sites, with awards up to US $200,000.

Public health and healthcare organizations in Connecticut can seek funding for medical research, public health initiatives, hospital care, and improved health care access. Grants from E S Prentiss Foundation help epidemiology and public health programs, hospitals, and health institutions, with a preference for private-sector, direct care–oriented projects and commitments of up to five years.

Public interest lawyers providing free civil legal aid on opioid use disorder can apply for Equal Justice Works’ two-year Opioid Crisis Response Program Fellowship, which funds Attorney Fellows’ salaries to expand legal services and wraparound support. Connecticut public health organizations hosting fellows to serve OUD-affected, underserved communities may benefit from this national program.

Federally recognized tribes, state or local governments, and nonprofits serving eligible Colonias can obtain funding to build basic drinking water, wastewater, and storm-water systems in rural low-income communities. With a mission to improve rural health, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants that may benefit Connecticut public health efforts in qualifying areas.

The AWWA Scholarship Program, specifically the Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship, honors a graduate student dedicated to advancing research in drinking water quality, environmental science, and public health. Established in 2020 by the American Water Works Association, this $3,000 scholarship aims to support innovative research that addresses pressing challenges in the water industry. By investing in future leaders, AWWA reinforces its commitment to ensuring safe and sustainable water for all.