The AANA Foundation award cycle includes funding opportunity announcements, application and receipt, primary peer review, programmatic review and funding decision, pre-award and award, post-award monitoring, and closeout. The time from application to funding decision is estimated to be 120 days. Typically, grant awards are not expected to exceed 18 months in duration.
Applications are expected to be accepted, reviewed, and awarded across three cycles per year, with deadlines varying for different grant programs. The Funding Opportunity Announcement for each grant program provides available application dates in the current calendar year, pending funding availability.
*Not all application deadlines are available for each grant program. The High-Priority Health Services and Policy Research Grant deadline is off-cycle and varies by year. See the open Funding Opportunity Announcement for each grant program to identify available application dates for each grant program in the current year based on funding availability.
Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) forecast when funding is available for specific AANA grant programs. FOAs provide guidance on deadlines, scope, eligibility, budget, application procedures, review procedures, and award administration. Consultation with the AANA Foundation Research Director and Grants & Program Administrator about available funding opportunities and fit with your research is available and encouraged.
Applications are to be received electronically, with deadlines and processes tailored to each grant program, as described in the Funding Opportunity Announcements. Applications are reviewed for compliance with program requirements and Foundation policies (e.g., eligibility, budget limits, required documentation).
Applications go through two levels of review: primary peer review and programmatic review.
In primary peer review, applications are typically reviewed by 3 reviewers (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) with discussion coordinated by a Chair. Additional ad-hoc reviewers may be considered when specialized knowledge is needed. Applications are reviewed according to three factors: (1) Importance, (2) Rigor and Feasibility, and (3) Expertise and Resources. An overall impact score is also issued. A Summary Statement is generated from this review, compiling overall scores, strengths, and weaknesses.
In programmatic review, the Research and Scholarly Activities Committee and the AANA Foundation Board of Trustees review results of the primary peer review. Members consider scientific merit as judged by primary peer review and match with Foundation priorities in making funding decisions. The Foundation Board of Trustees makes the final funding decision. Applications may be Accepted, Accepted with Conditions/Stipulations, or Rejected. A funding decision memo is issued to applicants by the Foundation CEO and Research Director. Applications that are rejected are permitted to have one resubmission.
During pre-award, Foundation staff work with applicants to address any conditions/stipulations made to support acceptance of funding, ensure compliance with human subjects/animal research regulations, and establish the payment schedule and processes.
Grant recipients are issued a Notice of Award that provides the funding amount, budget period, and terms and conditions of award. Terms and conditions include information about human subjects/animal research requirements, ethical conduct, release of funds, prior approval processes, dissemination expectations, data ownership and inventions, and reporting requirements.
Processes for invoicing and payment to investigators and/or institutions will be established based on grant type, funding amount, and applicant type.
Recipients are required to report on progress and provide appropriate documentation for payment as negotiated at time of award. For grants extending beyond 12 months, recipients are required to submit annual progress report within 30 days of the end of the grant’s budget year/project period. Progress reports are expected to include accomplishments, products, a summary of collaborating organizations, impact, challenges encountered, and budget update.
Recipients are required to submit a Final Progress Report within 90 days of the end of the final budget year/project period. Progress reports are expected to include accomplishments, products, a summary of collaborating organizations, impact, challenges encountered, and outcomes. Recipients are required to submit a Final Abstract and Relevance Statement that summarizes the project and project outcomes that can be distributed through Foundation communication channels (e.g., website, social media). The Relevance Statement should include anticipated benefits to the field and anticipated next steps for research and practice.
Recipients are required to submit a Final Expenditure Report and Invoice within 90 days of the end of the grant’s final budget year/project period. The Foundation will distribute any remaining funding and closeout the award. Participation in the Reviewer Corps is strongly encouraged among grant recipients to support service and mentorship principles.