Bright Ideas Grants (2026–2027)

Apply by March 10, 2026 (11:59 pm ET) for funding to support community‑based projects, quality improvement initiatives, or scholarly activity led by Pennsylvania osteopathic medical students, residents, and physicians. Typical awards are $1,000–$2,000, with a maximum of $5,000. Decisions are issued in May 2026, with projects running July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Start your application through the Foundation’s grant portal (access code: POMAF)

> Download the RFP

> APPLY

Bright Ideas Grants – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For Osteopathic Medical Students, Residents, and Physicians in Pennsylvania

About the Program  |  Eligibility  |  Timeline & Deadlines  |  Grant Types & Focus Areas  |  Application Requirements  |  Selection & Review  |  Reporting & Responsibilities  |   Support & Contact

About the Program

What are Bright Ideas Grants?
Bright Ideas Grants support innovative projects led by Pennsylvania osteopathic medical students, residents, and physicians. Projects must align with osteopathic principles and focus on community-based work, quality improvement, or scholarly activity.

Who administers the program?
The grants are offered by the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation (POMAF), the charitable arm of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA).

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:

• Osteopathic medical students (OMS) in Pennsylvania
• Osteopathic residents in Pennsylvania
• Osteopathic physicians in Pennsylvania
• Nonprofits, individuals, or for‑profit entities such as medical practices

Do applicants need to live in Pennsylvania?
Yes — applicants must be located in Pennsylvania or propose a project with clear applicability to the Commonwealth.

Are nonprofit organizations required?
No. Individuals and for‑profit entities may also apply. If the applicant is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the grant funds may be considered taxable income.

May the same project receive funding from both Bright Ideas and Community Enhancing Grants?
No. A project cannot receive funding from both programs during overlapping grant periods.

Timeline & Deadlines

What is the proposal deadline?

• March 10, 2026 (11:59 pm ET) — this is a hard deadline.
• Technical assistance with the online platform is available until 4:00 pm ET that day.

When are funding decisions made?
Funding decisions are expected May 2026.

What is the project period?
Projects must run July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Grant Types & Focus Areas

What types of projects are supported?
The program funds three categories:

• Community-Based Programs – direct service projects benefiting communities
• Quality Improvement/Education Projects – practice-level improvements and trainee skill development
• Scholarly Activity – research aligned with osteopathic principles and practice

What strategic themes must projects address?
Projects must align with at least one of the Foundation’s focus areas:

• Wellness
• Technology
• Osteopathic philosophy
• Medical education
• Public health

Funding

How much funding can applicants request?

• Typical award: $1,000–$2,000
• Maximum possible award: $5,000
• Expected grants: 5–7 awards per category (community, QI/education, scholarly)

What can grant funds be used for?
Allowed uses include:

• Project staff salaries/benefits for new project work
• Consultant fees
• Data collection and analysis
• Project‑related travel
• Supplies and meeting expenses
• Publication fees only when part of a broader project budget

What expenses are NOT allowed?
The Foundation will not fund:

• General operating expenses
• Ongoing programs or existing staff (unless redirected to new work)
• Equipment or capital purchases
• Memberships to professional associations
• Endowments or fundraising activities
• Lobbying or political activity
• Tuition or fees for undergraduate medical education or residency training
• Litigation, arbitration, or dispute-related activities
• Activities inconsistent with 501(c)(3) rules

Application Requirements

How do I apply?

1. Log in to the Foundation’s grant portal.
2. Enter access code POMAF.
3. Complete all required fields.
4. Upload all required attachments, including your program budget.
5. Submit by the deadline.

Is an IRB approval required?

• If the proposed project requires IRB approval, applicants must include the status of their IRB submission in the application.
• How will you de-identify patient data or protect PHI? You are responsible for obtaining IRB approval or exemption, as required by your institution when collecting patient data.

What must be described in the proposal?
Applicants must clearly describe:

• The problem or need being addressed
• The project’s approach or intervention
• Expected outcomes
• Evaluation plan and measurement methods

Things to consider when writing project descriptions:

• Community-based programs: Identify the target community or population, and explain how you will engage the community/population in project design and/or implementation. What is your implementation plan? Are you using evidence-based methods and tools? Explain your communication strategy with your implementation team, service providers, partners, and target population. What data will you collect to ensure continuous improvement and fidelity to the implementation plan/model? How will you sustain or scale up?
• Quality improvement/education: Specify members of the QI team. Are you using outcomes or process measures, are these measures already collected in the EHR? How will you engage effected members of the practice staff, how will you sustain buy-in? When/how will you collect baseline data? Specify the number of PDSA cycles and the number of data points you expect on your run chart(s). Who will analyze the data? How will you communicate ongoing data analysis to the practice team to inform new PDSA cycles? How will you share results with your institution? Do you have plans to publish your findings?
• Scholarly activity: Who will serve on your research team? Specify your topic and research question. Summarize current knowledge and identify gaps. Define your methodology (literature review, case studies, etc.). What sources of data are available? What model will you use for analysis? How do you plan to share your findings?

Selection & Review

What criteria do reviewers use?
Reviewers evaluate:

• Impact on Pennsylvania communities
• Alignment with osteopathic principles
• Relevance to one or more Foundation focus areas
• The project’s urgency, uniqueness, or relevance to a persistent challenge
• Potential for broader impact or replication

Are there additional track-specific criteria?
Yes:

• Community-Based Projects:
• Must be led by a PA-based OMS or DO
• Must identify a community/population and its needs
• Should involve community members when applicable
• Must include a measurable evaluation plan
• Quality Improvement / Educational Projects:
• Must be led by a DO in Pennsylvania
• Must identify quality measures and use them for practice improvement
• Should help trainees build continuous improvement habits
• Should improve safety, individual needs, and human-centered care
• Scholarly Activity Projects:
• Must be led by an OMS or DO in Pennsylvania
• Must address a research gap or question
• Must demonstrate interest or experience with scholarly work
• Must show relevance to osteopathic medicine

Reporting & Responsibilities

Are grantees required to report progress?
Yes. Grantees must submit:

• An interim report
• A final narrative report
• A final financial report

Do grantees need to acknowledge the Foundation?
Yes. Projects must acknowledge the POMA Foundation in publications and include the Foundation’s logo on grant-related materials.

Support & Contact

Who can applicants contact with questions?

Program questions:
Angie Halaja‑Henriques, Director of Foundation Affairs
[email protected] | 717‑939‑9318 x150

Technical questions:
Skylar Brown
[email protected]