How to Apply

The 2026-2029 ICATCH grant application is now closed. The 2027-2030 cycle will open in October/November 2026.

General Application Information

ICATCH Grant Cycle

Each year, our annual call for proposals opens in October or November. All applicants must complete a brief preliminary application, and the highest-quality proposals are invited to submit a full application. At this stage, an application advisor is available to each applicant to provide brief feedback on the full application prior to submission. The full application is due in February or March, awards are announced in late spring, and funds for the first year become available in July.

What does ICATCH fund?

Funds can be used to implement or expand a program that provides clinical care to children or adolescents, health education for children and/or their caregivers, or training for health care providers. ICATCH does not fund research projects, surveys, or assessments.

We limit our call for proposals to three to six designated areas of child health each year. These program areas may vary from year to year and will be announced in the annual call for proposals. Topic areas may include neonatal health, school health, adolescent health, mental health, infectious diseases, acute care, nursing care, developmental pediatrics, public health (child-focused), nutrition, telemedicine, or specific diseases.

You can find a list of previously funded programs here.

What is the grant amount and duration?

Grants are $2500 per year for 3 years. The funds are distributed each July pending approval of a brief annual report after years 1 and 2. We also require a final report at the end of year 3. We do not allow all the funds to be taken at the start of the program.

Who can apply?

Grants are awarded to those working in child health care in low-income and low-middle-income countries (according to current World Bank designation). A project director and co-director must work together to carry out the program. The director must live in or near the community where the program takes place; the Co-Director can live in any country as long as he/she is very involved in the design and implementation of the proposal over the 3-year period.

We welcome applications from pediatricians, other doctors, nurses, midwives, social workers, dentists, community health workers, physical therapists, health educators—anyone who is involved in child health care, or child health education in low-income and low-middle-income countries.

How are applications evaluated by reviewers?

Proposals are judged based on:

• Their fit with the ICATCH mission of helping local health workers or educators improve child health in their communities, using collaboration with at least one other community agency or partner group.
• The potential of the project to make a significant difference in the health and well-being of children in the local community.
• How clearly the application questions are answered, particularly descriptions of project goals, activities, and evaluation measures.
• The project’s potential for sustainability beyond the 3-year grant cycle and scale up or replication in other communities to impact more children and families.
  

Questions?

Contact our ICATCH staff at ([email protected]) the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for any additional questions.

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