Gerber Foundation Grants Program
The mission of The Gerber Foundation, to enhance the quality of life of infants and young children in nutrition, care, and development, has remained the guiding beacon for Foundation giving throughout its history. Accordingly, priority is given to projects whose primary beneficiaries are young children from birth to three years of age.
In all of our grantmaking, the Foundation is particularly interested in fresh approaches to solving problems in our defined program areas. Research approaches should, if proven successful, generate long-term support from other sources, promote the health and well-being of infants up to the age of three, and lead to systemic change in practice.
Generally, competitive requests will be focused on particular projects in furtherance of the Foundation's mission and goals of supporting nutrition or health-related interventions to improve infant health and development. Foundation grants are not typically ongoing. Supported projects should have beginnings and endings, reasonable periods during which measurable progress or outcomes are accomplished. The impact of Foundation funding should be detailed, so that the infusion of new or outside funding can be seen to have some positive influence on the progress or outcome of the project.
The Foundation gives priority to projects of national or regional impact. Projects should be sufficiently focused to make a felt difference in the field of interest.
The Gerber Foundation has an interest in promoting the development of new investigators. Recognizing that many developing researchers may find it difficult to obtain initial funding to establish their line of investigation, a Novice Researcher program has been initiated. The purpose is to encourage the development of medical research in infant and early childhood health and nutrition by awarding small grants to new researchers. Up to 10 awards may be given per year.
These awards follow the Foundation's current focus on clinical/translational research in infant and early childhood health and nutrition. Emphasis is placed on projects with relatively short clinical applicability.
The Trustees of The Gerber Foundation expect the Foundation's grant dollars to make a significant impact on issues facing infants and young children. Through our grant-making efforts, the Trustees are committed to improving the health and well-being of the youngest members of our society.
The primary focus of grantmaking is on health and nutritional issues affecting infants and young children. Research projects aimed at finding solutions to children's health and nutritional problems are sought. Of particular interest are those offering a substantial promise of meaningful advances in prevention and treatment of diseases and those with broad applicability to the general population.
Interested researchers may contact the Program Manager to discuss how specific research ideas fit with the Foundation's current interests.
Concept papers are due June 1 and December 1 of each year. If these dates fall on a weekend, the papers are due the next business day. Determination of interest in receiving a full proposal is generally made within two weeks. Notification will be made to the primary contact via U.S. mail.
The Concept paper provides a brief summary of the project, enabling the Foundation to assess how well the proposed researcher fits with the Foundation’s interests. Both lay and medical professionals will review the concept paper. Medical jargon should be limited, where feasible.
The concept paper format should include a cover letter, contact page and 2-page concept paper (12 point type). The letter enables the Foundation staff and Trustees to determine the relevance of the proposed project to the Foundation's programs and to provide advice on whether to submit a full proposal.
The cover letter should be written by a senior official of the applying organization or from the department chair to which the principal investigator is assigned. The letter should include a brief introduction to the investigator(s), the goals of their research and why they feel this project is a fit with The Gerber Foundation.
The contact page should include at least a primary and secondary contact with name, title, address, phone, fax and email information. The designated primary contact will receive results of the concept paper review by U.S. mail.
The concept paper (2 pages) should include the following:
Administrative information:
Project title
Principal Investigator
Length of study (Maximum 3 years)
Estimated total cost (Does not need to be itemized)
Number of subjects to be studied
Age range of subjects
Hypothesis(es) and objectives: State the specific hypothesis(es) to be tested. Describe objectives or aims of the proposed research.
Study design: Describe the basic design of the study, including information about study groups, measures and sample collection and primary outcomes to be evaluated.
Potential impact: Discuss expected outcomes and the ways findings are expected to improve the health and nutrition of infants and young children. Include a projection of the number of years before findings may result in significant changes in practice or influence the health and nutrition of infants and young children.
Scientific references are not necessary for the concept paper.
Concept papers may be submitted:
online
emailed to tgf@ncresa.org in a Word or PDF format
faxed to 231.924.7906
or mailed to: The Gerber Foundation, 4747 W. 48th Street, Suite 153, Fremont, MI, 49412-8119
Individuals seeking assistance with their concept paper may contact the Foundation at any time.
Questions may be submitted using the following information.
Address
The Gerber Foundation
4747 West 48th St, Suite 153
Fremont, MI 49412-8119
Phone: (231) 924-3175
Fax: (231) 924-7906
Email: tgf@ncresa.org
Staff
Catherine A. Obits
Program Manager
cobits@ncresa.org
Marcy Griffes
Administrative Assistant
tgf@ncresa.org
