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The Gerber Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
9%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.5-4.2 million
  • Success Rate: 8-9% (concept paper); 50-70% (full proposal)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months (varies by grant round)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $350,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: National (research); West Michigan (community grants)

Contact Details

Address: 4747 W 48th St, Suite 153, Fremont, MI 49412-8119

Phone: (231) 924-3175

Email: tgf@gerberfoundation.org

Website: www.gerberfoundation.org

Online Application Portal: https://gerberfoundation.smartsimple.com

Overview

Established in 1952 by Daniel Gerber, Sr. and Gerber Products Company as the Gerber Baby Foods Fund, The Gerber Foundation became a separately endowed private foundation in 1994 when Gerber Products sold to Sandoz Ltd. With total net assets of approximately $85.8 million, the foundation has awarded $123 million to recipients worldwide. The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life of infants and young children in nutrition, care, and development, with priority given to projects focused on children from the first year before birth to three years of age. Approximately 70% of the foundation's grantmaking supports applied research on health and nutritional issues affecting infants and young children. The foundation awards 10-15 research grants annually and distributes approximately $3.5-4.2 million in total grants each year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Research Awards: $20,000 - $350,000

  • Maximum $350,000 total (inclusive of indirect costs at 10%)
  • Maximum $125,000 per year
  • Up to 3-year project length
  • For experienced Principal Investigators
  • Applications accepted via online portal on fixed deadlines (May 15 and November 15)

Novice Research Awards: Up to $30,000

  • Maximum $30,000 total (inclusive of 10% indirect costs)
  • For physicians, PhD candidates, PharmD candidates in residency/fellowship or no more than one year post-training
  • Requires mentor and development plan
  • Applications accepted via online portal on fixed deadlines (May 15 and November 15)

West Michigan Youth Grants: $5,000 - $10,000 (occasionally up to $20,000)

  • Generally limited to one-year commitments
  • Average grant size less than $5,000
  • Serves Lake, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties
  • Applications accepted via online portal on rolling basis

Merit Scholarships: Competitive merit-based scholarships for select Michigan high schools

Priority Areas

Research Grants:

  • Pediatric health research
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Environmental hazards affecting infants and young children
  • Applied research with practical solutions that can be easily and rapidly implemented
  • Projects resulting in new diagnostic tools, treatment regimens, preventative measures, and risk assessment tools
  • Research with predictable timeframe to clinical application

West Michigan Grants:

  • Health and nutrition programs
  • Dental care
  • Early childhood services
  • Literacy programs
  • Parent education
  • STEAM programs
  • Out-of-school learning programs
  • Collaborative programs with broad community support

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects focused solely on sharing current information with parents or caregivers (educational programs without new research)
  • Applicants who hold or have received a K01 award from the NIH (for novice grants)
  • Purely basic science research without near-term clinical application
  • Projects primarily benefiting children outside the U.S. (exceptions made with strong justification)
  • Projects outside 0-3 age range receive lower priority
  • Capital campaigns (rarely considered for West Michigan grants)
  • Multiple concept papers per PI in the same cycle

Governance and Leadership

Board President: Barbara Ivens, MS, RDN, FADA, FAND

  • Distinguished career in dietetics with roles at Gerber Products Company, PepsiCo, and ConAgra Foods
  • Michigan State University graduate in Foods and Human Nutrition
  • Quoted: The foundation wants to "act as a catalyst for new ideas/research that improve infant and young child nutrition, care and development, and contribute to the knowledge of the impact of nutrition on their health and development"

Executive Director: Sara Hohnstein (joined September 2022)

  • BA from Cornerstone University, Masters from Colorado State University
  • More than 10 years of experience in grantmaking and social work
  • Former NICU parent at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
  • Quoted: "I have sat in the seat of both the grantmaker and the grant applicant... I hope that when people encounter the Gerber Foundation, they find us to be transparent and clear about our focus areas and processes and a helpful resource for their work"
  • Quoted: "We will also be listening closely to our partners, evaluating research, and continuously learning. We want to stay at the forefront of pediatric health and nutrition research and proactively engage in our community"

Program Manager: Cathy Obits (retired 2022 after 23-year career)

Other Board Members: Randall Dyk, Nancy Nevin-Folino, Steve Poole, Randy Puff

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Research Grants (Major and Novice):

  • Two-stage application process: Concept Paper followed by Full Proposal (by invitation only)
  • All applications submitted through online SmartSimple portal at https://gerberfoundation.smartsimple.com
  • New applicants must register in the system
  • Only one concept paper per PI allowed per cycle

West Michigan Grants:

  • Apply through online SmartSimple portal
  • Applications reviewed on rolling basis

General Requirements:

  • Must be tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) or governmental entity
  • No grants made directly to individuals
  • Researcher must be U.S.-based

Decision Timeline

Fall Research Grant Round:

  • Concept Papers Due: May 15, 4pm ET
  • Concept Paper Notifications: Mid-June
  • Full Proposals Due: August 15, 4pm ET
  • Full Proposal Notifications: Late November

Spring Research Grant Round:

  • Concept Papers Due: November 15, 4pm ET
  • Concept Paper Notifications: Mid-December
  • Full Proposals Due: February 15, 4pm ET
  • Full Proposal Notifications: Late May

Total Process: Approximately 6 months from concept paper to final decision

Success Rates

  • Concept Paper Stage: Approximately 130 concept papers received per deadline; 10-12 selected for full proposal submission (8-9% success rate)
  • Full Proposal Stage: 50-70% of invited full proposals receive funding
  • Overall: 10-15 research grants awarded annually totaling approximately $2.4-3.5 million

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy documented in available sources. Applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation at tgf@gerberfoundation.org or (231) 924-3175 for guidance on resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Write for Multiple Audiences: The foundation explicitly states that concept papers and proposals are reviewed by both lay and medical professionals. Medical jargon should be limited, and concept papers should be written in lay terms. This dual-audience approach is critical to advancing to the full proposal stage.

Emphasize Practical, Implementable Solutions: The board is "particularly looking for practical solutions that can be easily and rapidly implemented on a broad scale with a predictable time frame to clinical application." The foundation seeks "fresh approaches to solving common, everyday problems or emerging issues."

Focus on Change in Practice: The foundation explicitly states they are "looking for projects that will result in 'new' information, treatments or tools that will result in a change in practice." Research must produce actionable outcomes, not just knowledge dissemination.

Recent Successful Projects Include:

  • Study of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treatment in preterm neonates (University of Wisconsin, $30,000)
  • Detection of marijuana metabolites in human milk (UC San Diego)
  • Tracheostomy-associated respiratory infections in pediatric patients (Children's Hospital Los Angeles, $350,000)
  • Role of zinc in development of preterm infants (Brigham and Women's Hospital)
  • Opioid withdrawal in neonatal patients

Demonstrate Best Fit: Selection is based on "the overall quality of the research and a determination of best fit with the Foundation's goals." Clearly articulate alignment with the 0-3 age focus and nutrition/care/development priorities.

Budget Restrictions:

  • Indirect costs limited to 10%
  • PI and Co-PI time limited to 30%
  • Base salary capped at NIH levels
  • Ensure budget compliance to avoid automatic disqualification

Seek Guidance: The foundation encourages applicants to "contact the Foundation at any time during the application process for assistance or guidance with their submission." Take advantage of this accessibility.

For West Michigan Grants: Collaborative programs with broad community support are specifically encouraged. Show partnership and community buy-in.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two-stage hurdle: Only 8-9% of concept papers advance to full proposal, but 50-70% of full proposals are funded—invest heavily in a compelling, accessible concept paper that communicates to both medical and lay reviewers
  • Applied research focus: The foundation rarely funds educational programs or purely basic science; emphasize practical clinical applications with predictable implementation timelines
  • Age specificity matters: Priority is given to the 0-3 age range (including one year before birth); clearly demonstrate how your project serves this population
  • Accessible communication: Write in lay terms for the concept paper and limit medical jargon throughout—the board includes non-medical professionals
  • Leverage foundation accessibility: Executive Director Sara Hohnstein emphasizes transparency and being a "helpful resource"—contact the foundation for guidance during the application process
  • Budget compliance is critical: 10% indirect cost cap, 30% personnel time cap, and NIH salary caps are firm restrictions
  • Focus on new knowledge: The foundation seeks "new information, treatments or tools that will result in a change in practice," not projects that share existing knowledge with parents or providers

References

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