ARF Educational Grants

The American Retina Foundation currently offers the following types of grants:

Research Grants

To be considered for this type of grant the research must be related to original research in macular degeneration. Applications will be received on an ongoing basis and will be reviewed by the Research Fund Committee as well as the ARF board. These small grants will be awarded in the amount of $15,000 or less. As part of your acceptance of this grant the American Retina Foundation shall be entitled to receive a royalty from any commercial application resulting from the success of the research. This amount is 2% of the profitable proceeds collected and funds shall be given to the Foundation as an unrestricted donation.

Medical Education Grants

Grants will be considered for educational activities in the therapeutic areas of Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, or Neovascular Eye Disease. Grants must meet submission criteria assigned by the American Retina Foundation grants review committee prior to being accepted for funding. Educational grants will only be accepted for CME or CE certified activities approved by and accredited provider of continuing education. Grants in this area will be awarded in the amount of $10,000 or less.

The American Retina Foundation has received a generous grant from Genentech that continues to allow us fund to a series of small grants related to AMD and other neovascular diseases for 2009. We encourage those seeking support for educational activities related to AMD and other neovascular diseases to apply for a grant.

Community Outreach Grants

Grants are made for community outreach programs in the areas of Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, or Neovascular eye disease. Funding will be used to develop educational materials for patients and the public. Community outreach grants will only be considered if the requester is a nonprofit organization or if the activity is sponsored by a nonprofit organization. Grants in this area will be awarded in the amount of $10,000 or less.

Travel Grants

American Retina Foundation Travel & Hardship Grant Funds can be used for travel to a meeting or event of an educational or leadership value to the retina community and patient care. Grants will be awarded based on the decision of the ARF board of directors, according to need and impact of the training. A summary report to the Foundation is required upon completion of attendance. Grants in amounts up to $1,000 can be awarded to offset the cost of lodging, meals and other expenses. The submitted budget must include full itinerary details and projection of expenses. Additionally, each grant proposal must demonstrate compelling reasons for attending the meeting and how meeting attendance will satisfy an unmeet need.

The Online Application Process

An online Grant Application Form and complete instructions can be found on this site. To start, either login to your existing grant system account or create a grant system account as appropriate below. A single account can apply for and manage multiple grant submissions, therefore you do not need a new account for each grant application submitted. By registering, you can save your online grant applications and complete them at your convenience. In addition, you can check on the status of your pending applications. It's easy, and it's password-protected to ensure security.

Please note that completed applications, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted at least 60 business days prior to the date you need to receive a funding decision regarding your grant application. Each application is given careful consideration as part of a rigorous evaluation by the ARF Grants Review Committee. Accordingly, it may take up to three weeks for you to receive a decision regarding your application. Once approved, grant payments will be made within two weeks (10 business days).

Please also note that at this time, the ARF does not accept requests for charitable contributions.