Grant Opportunities

2026 FSMB Foundation Grant Cycle:

Advancing Medical Workforce Data Insights for Medical Regulation

Deadline for submission March 20, 2026

In 2026, the FSMB Foundation will provide grants to state medical and osteopathic boards and other eligible non-profit organizations to advance workforce research that deepens understanding of healthcare workforce trends. The primary goal is to generate evidence-based insights that address state and local workforce needs, inform regulatory policy, and contribute to broader discussions about healthcare workforce shortages in the U.S.

Projects may address any stage along the professional continuum—from students and residents to licensed physicians and PAs, including both U.S. and international graduates and emerging practitioner roles.

Individuals from non-profit organizations, including faculty from medical schools, graduate medical education (residency) programs, and schools of public health, are encouraged to apply in collaboration or consultation with a state medical board in designing their projects. Proposals that reflect input from state licensing authorities - either submitted directly by state medical boards or by non-profits that demonstrate active collaboration or consultation with a state medical board - will receive priority consideration. Regional collaboration will also be considered.

Areas of focus may include but are not limited to:

• Analysis of how evolving models of medical licensure, including alternative licensing pathways, are affecting workforce supply, distribution, and public protection.

• Examination of geographic distribution drivers of physicians and other licensed healthcare providers to identify barriers to access.

• Studies on changes in practice participation, such as the percentage of licensed practitioners’ time spent in clinical care and underlying factors influencing a possible decline in clinical engagement.

• Investigation into how financial reimbursement models affect physicians’ choice of specialty, geographic location, and broader workforce trends.

• Exploration of the impact that international medical graduates and new practitioner models (such as advanced practice providers) have on workforce dynamics and regulatory challenges.

• Studies of the history and evolution of the medical workforce with application to today’s workforce and regulatory challenges. 

Review of a medical board’s tracking of clinical, administrative or academic practices of licensees via categories of licensure or other methods.                                             

Each funded project must be designed for completion within a 24-to-36-month period. Grant recipients will be expected to include a detailed work plan, budget, and timeline for this duration, along with interim and final reporting requirements to the FSMB Foundation. The interim report will be due 9 months after the start of the grant period and the final report will be due at the conclusion of the project or end of grant period, which ever comes first.

Grant Funding Levels

Applicants may apply for up to $75,000 in funding support. A total of $300,000 is available for this grant cycle. The determination of how many grants should be funded and what level of funding provided for each grant will be made by the Board of Directors of the FSMB Foundation. 

Funding is distributed in two stages, with partial funding provided at an approved project’s launch and final funding provided following an interim report by the grantee. 

Application Process and Deadline

To submit an application, applicants must submit a full application on official company/organization letterhead addressing the questions provided below by March 20, 2026. Applications should be submitted via email to fsmbfoundation@fsmb.org, and should be concise and focused on the following key elements: 

1. Project Title
   Provide the title of the proposed project.

Applicant and Organization
Include the name of the state medical board or sponsoring organization. If not a state medical board, briefly describe the organization, confirm non-profit status and include a letter of collaboration with the state licensing board(s).

2. Principal Investigator and Team
   List the main project leader and any key personnel, with contact information and relevant qualifications, including biographies.

3. Collaborators
   Identify all collaborating organizations, briefly describe each partner’s role, and include letters from each collaborating organization confirming their role. For non-state medical board applicants, this would include a letter of support and confirmation from the collaborating or consulting state medical board.

4. Project Narrative (Maximum 500 words)
   Outline the project’s goals, rationale, significance, and relevance to workforce trends and medical regulation. Summarize the project’s design, including hypotheses, objectives, and how the project will advance understanding or regulation.

5. Methodology and Implementation Plan
   Provide a clear description of the methodology, necessary resources, implementation steps, anticipated challenges, measurable outcomes, and data analysis strategies. Projects may employ innovative research methodologies, including mixed methods, big data analytics, GIS geo-mapping, or qualitative approaches exploring practitioner experiences.

6. Workplan and Timeline
   Include a detailed timeline, key milestones, and expected deliverables for the 24-36 month period.

7. Budget and Justification
   Attach a detailed budget with justification for each cost item. Indicate any sources of in-kind or external funding.

8. Dissemination Plan
   Describe how project findings will be shared, including plans for publication or presentation to relevant stakeholders. The Foundation strongly encourages grantees to submit their findings for publication in the Journal of Medical Regulation or to present them as a poster at FSMB’s annual meeting.

9. Conflicts of Interest
   Disclose any potential conflicts.

10. Letters of Support
    Include only if collaborating or partnering is central to project design.

11. The deadline for submission of applications and materials is March 20, 2026. Awards expected to be announced by late spring.  

Submission and Review

• Applications must be submitted electronically, following the Foundation’s template of questions.

• Recipients must submit an interim report at the midpoint and a final report within 60 days of project completion, using Foundation-supplied templates.

Restrictions

1. Grant funds may not be used for the purpose of lobbying policy makers or legislators. 

2. Grant funds may only be used to support personnel who are directly involved in the project’s development, implementation, and execution.

3. The Foundation does not permit the inclusion of indirect costs in grant applications. All requested funds must be allocated solely to direct project expenses that directly support the proposed activity.

Allowable Use of Grant Funds

Grant awards shall be used for direct project costs necessary to achieve the approved outcomes. The Foundation recognizes that reasonable adjustments may be required during implementation and encourages grantees to communicate proactively regarding significant budget modifications.

Grant funds may be used for (include justification):

• Salary and wage cost by individual position related to this project, specifying full- or part-time positions. Please provide a scope of the work expected for individual staff members and estimate total staff hours anticipated and salary/wage cost.

• Program materials and supplies.

• Consultant, contractor or professional fees necessary to carry out the project

• Travel required for project implementation. International travel requires prior approval.

• Essential equipment purchases (items over $5,000 require prior written approval)

• Other expenses

All proposes costs must be:

• Reasonable and necessary to achieve the project objectives

• Clearly allocable to the proposed project

Grant funds may not be used for:

• Lobbying or partisan political activity

• Debt repayment or operating deficits

• General fundraising expenses

• Fines, penalties or legal settlements

• Activities outside the approved project scope

Grant Reports

Grant recipients will be required to report to the FSMB Foundation including a brief interim report during the project’s implementation and a final report at its conclusion. 

For questions about this year’s grant cycle, please contact the FSMB Foundation at fsmbfoundation@fsmb.org.