Areas of Grant Funding
The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation strives to have a positive and meaningful impact on people living with spinal cord injury by supporting a diverse range of activities. Our portfolios support scientific, charitable and educational organizations conducting spinal cord injury research, training in spinal cord medicine and providing services to assist individuals and families affected by spinal cord injury. The Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS) and Psychosocial Research (PSR) portfolios support spinal cord injury research and training across the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Our Quality of Life (QOL) programs/services grants are made to enhance standards for the delivery of care, particularly in the area of rehabilitation, and to empower individuals living with spinal cord injury to live independently in the community and enjoy improved emotional and physical well-being.
Grants are awarded only to qualifying non-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada, and are not awarded to individuals. All grantees will be required to verify their tax-exempt status and eligibility for funding as detailed in the Application Guides.
Most of the Foundation’s grant competitions begin with submission of a brief Letter of Intent (LOI), submitted online through proposalCENTRAL. LOIs are reviewed by staff and external experts for relevance to the Foundation’s mission and other criteria as defined in the corresponding Application Guide. Full grant applications are accepted only from organizations invited to apply as a result of the LOI process, and are peer-reviewed by the Foundation’s review boards. Funding decisions are made by the Foundation’s review boards. Funding decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.