Deadline: 30-Jun-25
The MSD for Mothers is now inviting nominations for the annual Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity.
MSD for Mothers is a global initiative by MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) dedicated to creating a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Launched in 2011, the program applies MSD’s scientific and business expertise to address the complex challenges of maternal mortality and improve the quality of maternity care worldwide.
MSD for Mothers
Through strategic partnerships with over 195 collaborators across more than 70 countries, MSD for Mothers has reached over 30 million women with programs promoting safe, high-quality, and respectful care. The initiative focuses on strengthening health systems, advancing high-quality maternity care, and catalyzing solutions that respond to local needs. By leveraging innovations and fostering cross-sector collaborations, MSD for Mothers aims to ensure that every woman has access to the care she needs during pregnancy and childbirth.
The initiative has primary focus on four countries: India, Nigeria, Kenya and the United States.
Award Information
- Awardees will be eligible for a one-time grant of up to $250,000 USD.
Ineligible Activities
- Activities or organizations that directly influence or advance MSD’s business (commercial) or marketing interests, including purchase/influence of purchase of MSD products
- Engagement/payments of government officials and city agencies (which in many cases could include hospital employees in government-run facilities)
- Payments/incentives/benefits going to health care providers
- Purchase of computers or other durable goods. This also includes any equipment with a lifespan beyond the end date of the project.
- Capital expenses, including construction and renovation of facilities or endowments
- Purchase of supplies or equipment unrelated to this project or program
- Payment of staff salaries or other costs not involved in this project or program
Eligibility Criteria
- The Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity will provide one eligible not-for-profit organization per year to support its work to advance maternal health equity.
- Nominated organizations may be located anywhere in the world and must have made a demonstrated and distinctive impact in advancing maternal health outcomes with a strong preference for organizations led by individuals representative of the focus population served.
- An organization is eligible to receive the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity only once. Organizations led by individuals representative of the focus population served are strongly preferred. MSD for Mothers is only able to fund not-for-profit organizations through this grant award.
- MSD for Mothers cannot provide funding to city or state health departments, other government entities, hospitals or health systems.
- MSD for Mothers also cannot provide funding to political organizations, campaigns and activities or to organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, national origin, veteran’s status or disability.
Application Requirements
- To nominate an organization for the award, complete this form to respond to the following questions:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Name of organization being nominated
- Website of organization
- Location of organization
- Does the organization hold 501(c)(3) nonprofit status?
- Does the organization hold international nonprofit status?
- Name and email of organization’s point of contact?
- How is this organization reflective of the community it serves?
- Why do you believe this organization is advancing maternal health equity?
- What evidence can you share to demonstrate impact?
- How would receiving the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity enhance the organization’s capacity to improve maternal health equity?
For more information, visit MSD for Mothers.