The connections between diet and health remain a basic and primary priority, and consideration has always been given to projects that benefit nutritional programs in the areas of education, training, and research. Low priority has traditionally been given to proposals that help solve immediate or emergency hunger and malnutrition problems. The foundation does not under any circumstances sponsor professional conferences, seminar tables, discussion panels, or similar events. The foundation welcomes proposals that develop and advance: (1) the inclusion of mandatory courses in nutrition in medical schools; (2) bringing the promise of nutrigenomics or nutritional genomics to realization; and (3) the promotion of environmentally sound, economically viable, socially responsive, and sustainable food and agricultural systems.
Academic research under an Allen Foundation grant must be conducted under the leadership of a principal investigator (PI) who is a full-time regular faculty member with tenure or on tenure track. Research projects that are pre-clinical or translational in nature, i.e., utilizing animal models, as well as human/clinical studies are eligible for consideration for possible funding.
An application requires the following:
- an abbreviated curriculum vitae for the PI;
- a short statement of the performance and leadership qualifications of the PI to undertake the project and the suitability of the environment in which the project will be conducted;
- the name with full contact information (mailing address, email, and fax number) of the person or office in charge of institution internal review of all proposals for sponsored projects that are submitted to external agencies prior to their submission; and
- full contact information, if applicable, regarding institution oversight of projects involving humans or experimental animals. If the board of trustees desires further documentation or additional materials, it will contact the office or person named in the application.
All projects should have the potential for budgetary self-sufficiency (direct and indirect costs) or show evidence that special funds will not be needed to continue the program after completion of the grant period. The Allen Foundation Inc. imposes a cap of twenty percent (20%) for overhead costs collected (on top of direct costs of completing the project) by colleges and universities. Applicants are thus requested to plan their budgets accordingly in order to avoid any problems with their institution’s administration or development foundation.
Deadline: January 15, 2025