Engagement Award: Building Capacity for Small Organizations (United States)

The Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program supports small organizations in building capacity to participate in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). Eligible nonprofit and for-profit organizations can receive funding, technical assistance, mentorship, and peer learning support to strengthen patient, caregiver, community, and researcher engagement in healthcare research.

Funding Summary

Funding Programme: Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program
Opportunity: Building Capacity for Small Organizations To Engage in Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research (CER)
Funding Focus: Research engagement, organizational capacity building, stakeholder collaboration
Eligible Applicants: Small nonprofit and for-profit organizations
Application Stage: Letter of Intent (LOI) submission
Target Participants: Patients, caregivers, researchers, community organizations, and healthcare stakeholders

About the Programme

The Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program supports small organizations in developing the skills, knowledge, and partnerships needed to participate effectively in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER).

The programme recognizes that many smaller organizations have valuable community connections and lived experience but may have limited resources or previous experience engaging in CER activities. Through financial support, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities, the programme helps organizations become stronger partners in healthcare research.

The initiative aims to expand meaningful participation of patients, caregivers, communities, and other stakeholders throughout the research process.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme aims to:

Strengthen small organizations’ ability to participate in patient-centered CER.
Improve stakeholder engagement skills.
Build partnerships between organizations and researchers.
Increase patient and caregiver involvement in research.
Support community-driven approaches to healthcare research.
Develop sustainable organizational research capacity.

Key Focus Areas

Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research

The programme supports organizations interested in improving their ability to contribute to research that compares healthcare approaches and identifies solutions that matter most to patients and communities.

Stakeholder Engagement

Supported organizations will develop skills to:

Engage patients and caregivers.
Collaborate with researchers.
Build community partnerships.
Include lived experiences in research activities.

Organizational Capacity Building

The programme helps organizations strengthen:

Research participation skills.
Internal systems.
Partnership development.
Knowledge of patient-centered research methods.

Support Provided

Selected organizations will receive:

Financial support for capacity-building activities.
Technical assistance from PCORI staff.
Mentorship opportunities.
Participation in a peer learning network.
Opportunities to exchange experiences and best practices with other funded organizations.

The peer network allows participants to learn from one another and strengthen approaches for engaging in patient-centered research.

Eligible Applicants

Applications are open to:

Nonprofit organizations.
For-profit organizations.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

U.S.-based organizations must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Organizations must demonstrate the ability to participate in patient-centered CER activities.

Requirements for Foreign Organizations

Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may apply if they can demonstrate:

Clear benefit to the U.S. healthcare system.
Active involvement of U.S. organizations, patients, and stakeholders.
Relevance to U.S. healthcare priorities.

PCORI gives preference to awards led by U.S.-based organizations.

Organizational Eligibility Requirements

Applicant organizations must:

Have an average annual operating budget of US$1.5 million or less over the previous two fiscal years.
Be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or work through a fiscal sponsor with that status.
Have received no more than US$125,000 in previous Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award funding, excluding subcontractor funding.
Have existing relationships with researchers or research networks.
Have connections with patients and stakeholders who bring relevant expertise or lived experience.

Application Restrictions

Organizations applying under this funding opportunity:

Cannot submit applications to other Engagement Award funding opportunities during the same funding cycle.
Must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) before proceeding to the full application stage.

Application Process

The application process begins with submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Applicants should demonstrate:

Their organization’s mission and community role.
Existing research and stakeholder relationships.
Need for capacity-building support.
Plans to strengthen participation in patient-centered CER.

Organizations invited after LOI review will proceed to the full application process.

Selection Considerations

Applications may be assessed based on:

Organizational eligibility.
Commitment to patient-centered research.
Existing stakeholder partnerships.
Potential for long-term capacity development.
Ability to engage patients, caregivers, and communities.
Sustainability of proposed activities.

Tips for Applicants

Applicants should:

Clearly describe their organization’s community role.
Explain existing relationships with patients and researchers.
Highlight gaps in research engagement capacity.
Demonstrate how funding will improve participation in CER.
Show commitment to ongoing stakeholder involvement.

Conclusion

The Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award: Building Capacity for Small Organizations provides an opportunity for small organizations to strengthen their role in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. By combining financial support, technical assistance, mentorship, and peer learning, the programme helps organizations build lasting capacity to engage communities and improve healthcare research outcomes.