General

What type of projects do you fund?

The mission of The Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including people with low-incomes, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, people with disablities, and the elderly.

The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries. The Commonwealth Fund actively seeks to support projects on innovative approaches to addressing problems within its areas of focus, working in partnership with professionals and organizations in a range of fields. The Fund's current program areas are:

Within these program areas, preference is given to proposals to clarify the scope of serious and neglected problems; to develop, test, and evaluate the impact of practical, innovative models for addressing such problems; to disseminate tools and models of care that have been proven to be effective; or to analyze the impact of policies and trends on well-defined issues. You can review descriptions of funding priorities and listings of recently approved grants for these program areas by clicking on the program areas above.

What is the average size of your grants? Average duration?

During fiscal year 2004–05, the median award amount for board-level grants, which are awards in amounts greater than $50,000, was $210,965. For small grants, in amounts less than or equal to $50,000, the median award was $18,324. Grant periods range from one month to a few years, depending on the scope of the project. The Fund awards grants that support a complete project period, and not annual, renewable grants.

Do Fund program staff seek out and develop projects, or do you accept unsolicited proposals?

Program staff at The Commonwealth Fund both develop projects with prospective grantees and respond to and fund unsolicited proposals. The Fund maintains goals that 20 percent of funded projects are the result of unsolicited proposals, and 20 percent of funds support projects with investigators who are new to the Fund. These guidelines assure that program staff are always open to new ideas and researchers.

What type of organizations do you fund?

The Fund awards grants to tax-exempt organizations and institutions and public agencies. If an organization does not have 501(c)3 status or other tax-exempt recognition, the Fund will determine whether a grant is possible based on a review of the project and the organization's expertise in conducting the research.

Do you fund for-profit organizations?

Occasionally the Fund enters into contracts with for-profit organizations when a suitable nonprofit research base is not available.

Do you fund international projects?

Yes. Although the majority of the Fund's support is focused on domestic issues, international projects are funded through the Fund's International Program in Health Care Policy and Practice area. The program is dedicated to building an international network of policy-oriented health care researchers, sparking innovative health policy thinking and high-level exchanges, and encouraging comparative research and collaboration.

What is the difference between small grants and board grants?

The difference between board-level and small grants is in the award amount, with board grants being awards in amounts greater than $50,000. Additionally, the process by which board and small grants are approved is different. Board grants are approved at one of the three board meetings held each year (July, November, and April), and are typically in development with Fund program staff for at least four to six months before the board meeting.

Through the Small Grants Fund, decisions are made on a monthly basis. Small grants are closely tied to the Fund's strategic purposes, and enable the foundation to move quickly and flexibly to underwrite targeted work. The letter of inquiry is the starting point for both board-level and small grants.

Does the Fund provide fellowship or scholarship support for individuals?

The Commonwealth Fund supports two fellowship programs—the Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and The Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy. Outside of these two programs, the Fund is not allowed to provide support for fellowships or scholarships for individuals, or provide any direct grants or assistance to individuals. The Foundation Center provides resources for individuals seeking foundation support.