Independent Research Awards
The Children's Heart Foundation's Independent Research Awards will fund up to $150,000 per year for two (2) years.
2026 Process and Schedule
Researchers seeking funding for any RFA must submit an initial Letter of Intent (LOI). The Children’s Heart Foundation made this change to reduce the initial time and effort required by applicants, their collaborators, and administrative research staff to apply for funding. The deadline to submit LOIs is May 20, 2026. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application no later than June 12, 2026.
Timeline:
- April 10, 2026 – Call for Research Proposals opens
- May 20, 2026 – Letter of Intent due by 5:00 pm CDT
- June 12, 2026 – Applicants notified as to whether or not they may submit a full application
- September 9, 2026 – Full Application (invite only) due by 5:00 pm CDT
- December 14, 2026 – Applicants notified as to a decision regarding funding
- January 2027 – Funds released for awardees
Guidelines
Click here to submit a Letter of Intent for the Independent Research Award during the 2026 funding cycle.
For details about our timeline and process, along with a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs), please visit our Research Grant FAQs.
Questions? Please email us at ResearchGrants@childrensheartfoundation.org
LOI guidelines can be found here. Additional research program guidelines can be found here.
