Johns Hopkins University has launched a new five-year initiative designed to support collaborative projects and programming that address the interests and needs of communities in Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; and beyond.
The Innovation Fund for Community-Academic Partnerships builds on Johns Hopkins' longstanding commitment to bolster nearby neighborhoods through financial investment, technical assistance, and legislative advocacy in tandem with support for local education, job training and creation, health and well-being, and public safety efforts by embracing the ideas and expertise of community stakeholders. Successful proposals will support "the bidirectional exchange of community-based and university-based knowledge, values, and expertise, with the goal of addressing specific community needs through collaborative efforts."
Applications for the Innovation Fund for Community-Academic Partnerships can be submitted through Jan. 31. Tenured and tenure-track faculty, and staff leaders at JHU institutes, centers, and programs are eligible to apply. More information about award criteria, eligibility, and the application process is available on the fund's website.
"At the heart of this new endeavor is our enduring belief that Hopkins and the communities of which we are a part thrive best together," JHU President Ron Daniels said. "Through the Innovation Fund for Community-Academic Partnerships, Hopkins is further deepening our commitment to partnering with our neighbors to ensure the best ideas are put in action in, with, and for our communities here in Baltimore and in Washington, D.C."
Like the JHU Pivot and Bridge grants, announced in April, the fund will include support for community-engaged faculty who have recently lost funding due to unexpected grant terminations, delays, or other interruptions. In many cases, these new grants will help sustain partnerships as they look to secure longer-term sources of funding. "Johns Hopkins has so much expertise and experience to share with its neighbors," said Alicia Wilson, vice president for civic engagement and opportunity. "At the center of this fund is a shared responsibility: to listen, to learn, and to work in true partnership with our neighbors. We know that lasting progress comes when community and university vision and expertise move forward together, and this fund strengthens our commitment to achieving those goals."
Added Denis Wirtz, vice provost for research and a member of the fund's advisory group: "This fund is an exciting new avenue to build knowledge and conduct impactful research that addresses community needs. It opens new opportunities for Johns Hopkins researchers to collaborate with, and learn from, community partners across the Baltimore-Washington region."
Applications for the Innovation Fund for Community-Academic Partnerships can be submitted in two funding categories:
- Institute, Center, and Program Grants will offer individual awards of up to $100,000 to enhance the work of JHU entities that have historically supported community-academic partnerships.
- Community-Based Projects and Research Grants will support tenure-track and tenured faculty working in collaboration with community partners. These awards will provide up to $30,000 or $80,000—depending on how long the partnership has been previously established—for JHU faculty and community partners collaborating on community-based projects and/or research, with a priority given to proposals from multiple faculty members that span more than one division of the university.
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2026, with the first round of awardees announced in spring 2026.
More information about the awards and application process is available on the fund's website. Three Zoom information sessions have been scheduled for prospective applicants:
- Wednesday, Dec. 17, 6–7 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 12, noon–1 p.m. and 6–7 p.m.
Interested applicants can register in advance. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Questions regarding the Innovation Fund for Community-Academic Partnerships can be sent to IFCAP@jh.edu.
Posted in University News, Community
