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National Foundation For The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention Inc (CDC Foundation)

Annual Giving
$274.8M
Grant Range
$50K - $5.0M

National Foundation For The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention Inc (CDC Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 58-2106707
  • Annual Giving: $274.8 million (FY2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; typically announced through specific RFPs
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly by program (mini-grants for community organizations typically $100,000-$150,000; larger program grants in millions)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (77 countries)
  • Application Method: Invitation only/project-specific RFPs (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Overview

The CDC Foundation (formally named the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc.) was established by Congress in 1995 as an independent nonprofit organization to help the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work effectively with outside partners. Since its founding, the organization has raised $2.2 billion supporting nearly 1,400 programs. In FY2023, the foundation mobilized $274.8 million from donors and funders to support 138 programs (110 domestic, 28 global) across 77 countries. The foundation's unique model focuses on connecting external partners and resources with CDC scientists to accelerate CDC projects and extend CDC's reach. It has earned 17 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, demonstrating exceptional financial stewardship. Dr. Judy Monroe has served as President and CEO since 2015, bringing extensive public health leadership experience.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The CDC Foundation operates through project-specific funding rather than traditional open grant cycles. Programs include:

  • Community Mini-Grants: For community-based organizations addressing specific health issues (e.g., Mpox vaccination program provided grants to 42 organizations totaling $5 million in September 2023, averaging approximately $119,000 per organization)
  • Public Health Workforce Support: Employs 700 field staff across health departments
  • Vaccine Equity Programs: Such as P4VE, which engaged 123 community-based organizations with $69.4 million in federal support
  • Emergency Response Grants: 237 emergency response projects in FY2023, including COVID-19 response ($83.9 million in FY2023)
  • Data Modernization: Programs supporting public health data infrastructure
  • Maternal and Child Health: International programs in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Water Safety and Drowning Prevention: Community-serving organizations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas

Application Method: Project-specific RFPs only (no unsolicited applications accepted)

Priority Areas

Current strategic priorities include:

  • Data modernization for public health systems
  • Building global health security
  • Addressing health equity challenges
  • Strengthening public health workforce
  • Building capacity of community-based organizations
  • Enhancing multi-sector collaboration in public health

The foundation prioritizes:

  • Community-based organizations serving populations with limited access to health services
  • Programs reaching communities disproportionately impacted by health emergencies
  • Organizations with strong connections to local communities
  • Partnerships that leverage philanthropic and government funding

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited proposals (foundation explicitly states they "do not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals")
  • Projects not aligned with current CDC priorities
  • Projects without CDC partnership or origination
  • Traditional endowment-funded grants (the foundation is not an endowed foundation)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Dr. Judy Monroe has served as President and CEO since 2015. She previously served as Indiana State Health Commissioner, led the CDC's Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, and worked as a family physician. Monroe emphasizes efficiency and strategic use of resources: "I don't like waste. I like to be very efficient, and I love a good strategy." On funding priorities, she has stated: "right now our number one priority is working with partners to help end the pandemic" while also emphasizing "data modernization, building greater global health security, and taking on health equity challenges."

Board of Directors

Raymond Baxter, Board Chair (Chair of Blue Shield of California Foundation Board of Trustees; retired Senior Vice President at Kaiser Permanente)

Notable Board Members:

  • Jeffrey P. Koplan, MD: Vice President for Global Health at Emory University
  • James S. Marks, MD, MPH: Former Executive Vice President at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Brian Gott: Chief Innovation Officer for the Entertainment Industry Foundation
  • Donald Warne, MD, MPH: Co-director of the Center for Indigenous Health at Johns Hopkins University
  • Phil Kent: Former Chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System

The board comprises 16 directors who serve up to two five-year terms.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The CDC Foundation does not have a public open application process. The foundation explicitly states: "We are not a traditional grantmaking foundation. We are not an endowed foundation, and we do not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals."

How Grants Are Awarded:

  1. Project-Specific RFPs: The CDC Foundation occasionally issues Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to sub-grant funds received for a specific project
  2. CDC-Originated Funding: The foundation is "unable to respond to requests for funding that do not originate at CDC"
  3. Partner-Funded Programs: Many grants are funded through partnerships with other foundations (e.g., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MacArthur Foundation) for specific CDC initiatives

When RFPs Are Available:

  • Posted on the CDC Foundation website at https://www.cdcfoundation.org/request-for-proposals
  • Typically target specific organizations: providers of products or services for CDC Foundation programs, or eligible nonprofit/governmental organizations for specific health issues
  • Recent examples include drowning prevention programs (deadline January 30, 2026) and maternal health programs in Malawi (deadline January 15, 2026)

For Federal Grant Opportunities: Organizations seeking traditional federal public health grants should visit www.grants.gov for CDC and other federal agency opportunities.

Getting on Their Radar

This section reflects specific, documented approaches for the CDC Foundation:

  1. Monitor the RFP Page: Regularly check https://www.cdcfoundation.org/request-for-proposals for new opportunities aligned with your organization's mission

  2. Partner with CDC Programs: Since funding requests must "originate at CDC," building relationships with relevant CDC program offices and demonstrating your organization's value to CDC initiatives is crucial

  3. Demonstrate Community Impact: The foundation emphasizes "the power of people in their own community to know best what kind of assistance and support will be most effective." Document your community connections and cultural competence.

  4. Engage with Funding Partners: Many CDC Foundation programs are funded through partnerships with other foundations (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Kaiser Permanente). Relationships with these organizations may lead to CDC Foundation opportunities.

  5. Focus on Priority Populations: The foundation prioritizes organizations serving "communities with people who have limited access" to health services and "communities disproportionately impacted" by health issues.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program and are specified in individual RFPs. The foundation emphasizes efficiency, with CEO Dr. Monroe setting a goal during emergency responses that "at least 90% of funding come in the door would have been obligated or out the door" because "an emergency response is, in fact, an emergency."

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In FY2023, the foundation funded 232 community organizations nationwide across 138 total programs, indicating selective but substantial reach when opportunities are available.

Reapplication Policy

Since applications are by invitation only through specific RFPs, there is no standard reapplication policy. Organizations not selected for one RFP may apply for future opportunities as they are announced.

Application Success Factors

Based on CDC Foundation's Documented Priorities and Funded Projects:

  1. Community Connections Are Paramount: The foundation explicitly values "the power of people in their own community to know best what kind of assistance and support will be most effective." Demonstrate deep community roots, trust, and cultural competence.

  2. Alignment with CDC Strategic Priorities: Dr. Monroe identifies key priorities as "data modernization, building greater global health security, and taking on health equity challenges." Proposals must align with active CDC initiatives.

  3. Reach Underserved Populations: Priority consideration goes to "programs that reach communities with people who have limited access" to health services. The foundation targets "communities disproportionately impacted" by health challenges.

  4. Demonstrate Partnership Capacity: The foundation's model emphasizes "effective partnerships, strong multi-sector collaborations and systems level approaches." Show your ability to work across sectors.

  5. Efficiency and Impact: Dr. Monroe emphasizes: "I don't like waste. I like to be very efficient, and I love a good strategy." Applications should demonstrate cost-effectiveness and clear impact metrics.

  6. Focus on Health Equity: Recent programs consistently target equity issues, from Mpox vaccination in disproportionately affected communities to vaccine equity programs reaching 300+ million people. Frame proposals through an equity lens.

  7. Leverage Existing Infrastructure: With 700 field staff in health departments and partnerships with 3,460 entities, the foundation values organizations that can integrate with existing public health infrastructure.

Examples of Recently Funded Work:

  • 42 community-based organizations addressing Mpox vaccine confidence in affected communities ($5 million total, September 2023)
  • 34 community-based organizations, 6 health departments, and 1 tribal organization for Mpox vaccination equity (January 2023)
  • 123 community-based organizations for P4VE vaccine equity program (administered 230,000 vaccines, reached 300+ million people)
  • Community-serving organizations providing swimming and water safety training in 11 states with focus on limited-access communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a traditional funder: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Success requires monitoring their RFP page and building relationships with CDC program offices that could originate funding requests.

  • Community trust is currency: The foundation explicitly values community-based organizations with deep local knowledge and connections. Emphasize your community credibility and cultural competence.

  • Equity is central: Every recent program prioritizes reaching "disproportionately impacted" or "limited access" communities. Frame your work through an equity lens with specific population data.

  • Think project-specific, not general support: Grants are tied to specific CDC initiatives and health issues. Tailor applications to the exact RFP specifications rather than your general work.

  • Efficiency matters: Dr. Monroe's emphasis on not wasting resources and moving funding quickly means proposals should be lean, strategic, and clearly demonstrate impact per dollar spent.

  • Partnership is the model: The foundation serves as a connector between CDC and external partners. Show how your work complements and extends CDC's reach rather than duplicating it.

  • Watch the major foundation partners: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente have funded multiple CDC Foundation initiatives. These partnerships often signal emerging priority areas.

References

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