ACOG Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$250,000 (2025-26 cycle)
• Success Rate: 15.6% (5 of 32 applications funded in 2024-25)
• Decision Time: ~6 months (June application to December decision)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000 (programmatic); $100,000 (research)
• Geographic Focus: National and international
• EIN: 36-2217981

Contact Details

Website: https://www.acog.org/giving/grants

Address: 409 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024-2125

Email: [email protected]

Phone:

• Toll-free: (800) 762-2264
• Direct: (240) 547-2156
• Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

Pre-Application Support: Webinar available: "How to Submit a Strong Proposal to the ACOG Foundation" outlines strategic priorities, grant review processes, and review criteria

Overview

The ACOG Foundation is the charitable arm of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(3) organization supporting charitable, educational, and scientific programs that improve the lives of people seeking obstetric and gynecologic care. While ACOG was founded in 1951, the Foundation operates as its philanthropic wing, distributing approximately $137,348 in the 2024-25 grant cycle and $250,000 budgeted for 2025-26. The Foundation's mission centers on supporting initiatives that advance health equity, reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, and transform the culture of ob-gyn medicine. Recent strategic priorities reflect the post-Dobbs landscape, emphasizing public education and access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. Under the leadership of CEO Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, FACOG (appointed August 2024), the Foundation maintains ACOG's commitment to eliminating racial disparities and confronting bias in healthcare delivery.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Topic Area 1: Programmatic Submissions ($150,000 total available for 2025-26)

• Grant range: $10,000 - $50,000
• Duration: 12-18 months
• Application method: Online portal, annual cycle with June deadline
• Multiple awards made from this pool

Topic Area 2: Research Submissions ($100,000 total available for 2025-26)

• Single award: $100,000
• Duration: 2 years
• Application method: Online portal, annual cycle with June deadline
• One grant awarded per cycle

Recent Awards (2024-25 Examples):

• Understanding How the Maternity Access Crisis is Impacting Patient Care in New York - $50,000
• Lake Zone Fistula Program: Expanding High-Quality Obstetric Fistula Care in Tanzania - $50,000
• Total 2024-25 awards: 5 grants totaling $137,348

Priority Areas

The Foundation accepts proposals addressing:

Programmatic Focus:

• Reducing preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity
• Transforming the culture of obstetrics and gynecology to advance health equity
• Increasing data-driven understanding of ob-gyns to meet patient needs
• Advancing public education initiatives in a post-Dobbs environment

Research Focus:

• Advancing gynecologic care
• Increasing health equity and access
• Clinical research projects (basic research is not the focus)
• Quality improvement initiatives

Cross-Cutting Priority:

• Substantive support for diversity, equity, and inclusion consistent with ACOG Foundation policy
• Alignment with ACOG's commitment to eliminating racial disparities in women's health outcomes

What They Don't Fund

• Lobbying activities
• Fundraisers or entertainment costs
• Proposals exceeding $50,000 or less than $10,000
• Basic research projects (for the current RFP cycle)
• Proposals from individuals (must be submitted through nonprofit entity)
• Projects outside charitable, educational, and scientific activities

Governance and Leadership

Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, FACS, FACOG - Chief Executive Officer, ACOG (August 2024) Dr. Brooks oversees ACOG and its Foundation, bringing expertise in health equity and organizational transformation.

Kendra Davis - Senior Director of Philanthropy, ACOG and ACOG Foundation Serves on the Foundation Board of Directors and manages grant programs.

Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA - 76th President, ACOG (2024-2025)

ACOG Foundation Board of Directors (2024-25) The Board provides governance with day-to-day operational support from executive staff. Members include Robert H. Palmer Jr, MD, FACOG; David W. Doty, DO, FACOG; Anne L. Banfield, MD, FACOG; and others.

The Foundation operates under ACOG's broader commitment to "changing the culture of medicine and eliminating racial disparities in women's health outcomes." As stated in ACOG's commitment statement: "As the nation's leading organization of physicians dedicated to the health care of women, it is incumbent upon us to combat racism, racial bias, and achieve inclusiveness through concrete action."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Submission Method: Online portal only (proposals submitted outside the portal will not be accepted)

Application Deadline: Friday, June 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Portal Access: Contact [email protected] for portal access information

Pre-Application Resources:

• Webinar recording available: "How to Submit a Strong Proposal to the ACOG Foundation"
• Direct questions to Development Office at [email protected]

Blind Review Process: The Foundation conducts a blind proposal review in 2025. Important: Do not refer to your organization by name in all narrative text and budget templates.

Required Elements:

• Clear identification of objectives and specific issues to be addressed
• Performance monitoring and evaluation narrative with goals, objectives, and indicators
• Methods for gathering quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate program results
• Budget using required template (detailed breakdown of staff and programmatic resources)
• Demonstration of organizational capacity for grant management and fiscal responsibility
• Evidence of support for diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Alignment with ACOG's mission and strategic priorities

Decision Timeline

Proposal Deadline: June 13, 2025 (11:59 p.m. ET)

Board Review: ACOG Foundation Board of Directors reviews panel recommendations

Decision Notification: December 2025 (finalized by Board)

Total Timeline: Approximately 6 months from submission to decision

Grant Period: Funded projects begin following notification, with at least one midterm check-in scheduled for summer 2026

Success Rates

2024-25 Cycle:

• Applications received: 32
• Grants awarded: 5
• Success rate: 15.6%
• Total awarded: $137,348

This competitive success rate demonstrates the importance of careful alignment with Foundation priorities and thorough proposal development.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation has not published specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Contact the Development Office at [email protected] for guidance on resubmission eligibility and timing.

Application Success Factors

Based on ACOG Foundation's published review criteria and guidance:

Score-Based Evaluation (Maximum 70 Points) The Foundation uses a point-based scoring system. Strong proposals must excel across all criteria.

Blind Review Compliance "Applicants are instructed not to refer to their organization by name in all narrative text and budget templates." This 2025 requirement means proposals must stand on merit without relying on institutional reputation.

Clarity and Substance Are Non-Negotiable Proposals should be "clearly and accurately written and substantive and contain sufficient detail to allow the ACOG Foundation grant review panel to evaluate the likely impact." Avoid vague language; provide specific metrics, timelines, and outcomes.

Demonstrate DEI Integration "Proposals should show substantive support of ACOG and the ACOG Foundation's policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion." Given ACOG's explicit commitment to "eliminating racial disparities in women's health outcomes," proposals should directly address how they advance health equity.

Feasibility and Originality The Foundation seeks proposals that are "creative and demonstrate originality and relevance" while maintaining "reasonable, feasible" objectives "able to accommodate changing circumstances."

Robust Evaluation Plans Include "performance monitoring and evaluation narrative that includes the goals, objectives, and indicators" plus "methods of gathering quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate program results."

Strategic Alignment Proposals must demonstrate "consistency with the ACOG Foundation's charitable, educational, and scientific activities; alignment with ACOG's mission and current strategic priorities."

Budget Precision Use the required template and provide "clear budget...with details on staff and programmatic resources." Show responsible fiscal management and efficient resource use.

Organizational Capacity "Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of effective grant management by staff, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations."

Early Submission Recommended The Foundation "recommends submitting proposals early to avoid technical issues." Don't wait until the June 13 deadline.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly competitive: With a 15.6% success rate, only the strongest applications succeed. Invest significant time in proposal development and utilize the Foundation's webinar resources.

• Blind review changes the game: Unlike most funders, ACOG conducts blind review. Your proposal must succeed without institutional name recognition. Focus on methodology, innovation, and impact metrics.

• Health equity is central, not peripheral: ACOG's commitment to "eliminating racial disparities" and "confronting implicit and explicit bias and racism" must be reflected substantively throughout your proposal.

• Two distinct tracks: Decide early whether your project fits programmatic ($10K-$50K, multiple awards) or research ($100K, single award) criteria. Research track excludes basic research—focus on clinical applications.

• Post-Dobbs priorities matter: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes "advancing public education initiatives in a post-Dobbs environment." Projects addressing reproductive healthcare access in this context are strategic priorities.

• December decisions mean year-end planning: With decisions finalized in December 2025, funded projects will likely begin in early 2026. Plan implementation timelines accordingly.

• Evaluation plans must be detailed: The Foundation requires specific goals, objectives, indicators, and data collection methods. Generic evaluation language will score poorly—be precise about measurement strategies.

References

1. ACOG Foundation - Request for Grant Proposals. https://www.acog.org/giving/grants/request-for-proposals (Accessed March 3, 2026)

2. ACOG Foundation - About the Foundation. https://www.acog.org/giving/about (Accessed March 3, 2026)

3. ACOG Foundation Grant Awardees 2024–25. https://www.acog.org/giving/grants/grantees (Accessed March 3, 2026)

4. ACOG Foundation - Grants Overview. https://www.acog.org/giving/grants (Accessed March 3, 2026)

5. ACOG Foundation Board of Directors. https://www.acog.org/giving/about/board-of-directors (Accessed March 3, 2026)

6. How to Submit a Strong Proposal to the ACOG Foundation (Webinar). https://www.acog.org/education-and-events/webinars/how-to-submit-a-strong-proposal-to-the-acog-foundation (Accessed March 3, 2026)

7. ACOG - Our Commitment to Changing the Culture of Medicine and Eliminating Racial Disparities in Women's Health Outcomes. https://www.acog.org/about/our-commitment-to-changing-the-culture-of-medicine-and-eliminating-racial-disparities-in-womens-health-outcomes (Accessed March 3, 2026)

8. ACOG Announces Sandra E. Brooks as Chief Executive Officer. https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2024/07/acog-announces-sandra-brooks-md-mba-facog-as-chief-executive-officer (Accessed March 3, 2026)

9. ACOG Foundation invites proposals to improve those seeking obstetric and gynecologic care. Philanthropy News Digest. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp17818-acog-foundation-invites-proposals-to-improve-those-seeking-obstetric-and-gynecologic-care (Accessed March 3, 2026)

10. GuideStar Profile - ACOG Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/36-2217981 (Accessed March 3, 2026)