Opportunities
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The CORAL Center is a community-engaged research initiative dedicated to advancing equitable maternal and behavioral health outcomes. The Community Partnership Core (CPC) is the community-facing arm of CORAL, designed to invest directly in community knowledge, lived experience, and community-grounded solutions. We believe that people closest to the challenges are closest to the solutions, and this funding opportunity is intended to support ideas that emerge from communities themselves. The CORAL Community Partnership Core (CPC) invites community members, community based organizations, advocates, clinicians, academic partners, and others with a passion for this work to apply for pilot funding to support community-driven projects focused on maternal behavioral health in Georgia. Each project should align closely with at least one CORAL CPC-identified priority in maternal behavioral health.
We welcome applications from teams that include community members and/ororganizations doing maternal behavioral health work on the ground, with or without prior research funding experience. Academic partners are welcome but are not required. Academic scientists who wish to apply are encouraged to work jointly on their application with community members and/or organizations.
Each application must include at least one community scientist, defined as a non-academic partner with lived experience, professional expertise, and/or leadership in maternal behavioral health. Community scientists should play a meaningful role in shaping the project goals, approach, and interpretation of findings.If desired, the CORAL team can help connect applicants with researchers at Morehouse School of Medicine or Emory University to support equitable community–academic partnerships. Please contact cmhe@msm.edu for assistance.
Applicants are not limited to the Atlanta metropolitan area. Organizations do not need to be based in Georgia; however, proposed projects must meaningfully impact people or communities in Georgia.
Two awards will be granted, each with a maximum budget of $25,000. Funded projects will have a duration of 12 months.
The application process includes two stages: a Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by an invitation-only revised submission.
Applicants should submit a brief LOI (see Appendix B) to help us understand the proposed project and its alignment with CPC priorities.
LOIs may be submitted in one of two formats:
• Written LOI (maximum 2 pages)
• Video LOI (3-8 minutes)
Both formats should address the following:
• Project title
• Project lead(s) and team members, including affiliations and relevant experience, brief overview of the project goals, approach, and intended impact
• Proposed research or learning question(s)
• How the project aligns with CORAL CPC priorities
• Description of the community–academic partnership, if applicable, and plans for equitable collaboration
• An estimate of your budget and timeframe.
Please also submit resumes or CVs for each team member. Faculty members may submit NIH biosketches, if applicable.
• LOI submission deadline: April 17, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET
• Invitation to virtual pre-review meeting: May 8, 2026
• Virtual pre-review meetings: Week of June 1, 2026
• Invitation for revised submission: June 12, 2026
• Revised submission due: June 30, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET
• Funding notifications: July 17, 2026
• Earliest project start date: September 1, 2026
Note: Timelines may be adjusted based on community feedback and applicant needs.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel that includes community leaders, researchers, and public health professionals. Projects will be evaluated based on alignment with CPC priorities, clarity, and relevance of the proposed work, feasibility, and potential for community impact. Finalists will receive written feedback.
Prior to release of funds, awardees will be asked to:
• Commit to ethical, respectful, and equitable community-engaged research practices
• Obtain IRB approval or exemption, if applicable
• Submit a midpoint progress update and final report
• Share findings at a CORAL event or learning forum
• Acknowledge CORAL CPC funding in all products and presentations
All federal and university policies related to grant administration apply, where applicable.
To submit your written or video LOI, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/4tW8MBh
cmhe@msm.edu
CORAL CPC is committed to supporting community-driven ideas and equitable partnerships. If you have questions, need help identifying academic collaborators, or want to talk through your idea before submitting, please contact cmhe@msm.edu.We look forward to hearing from you!
Pilot Grant Call Appendix Link
