The Street Medicine Institute is pleased to announce the opening of its 2024 Seed Grant award process!

Award Description and Objective

SMI’s goal is to assist early stage street medicine programs in the United States – particularly in areas not currently served by street medicine – advance toward a more sustainable level of operation. Supported by the generosity of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, two successful grantees will each receive an award valued at over $14,000 to include:

• $10,000 cash award (suggested use: backpacks, supplies, medications),
• Street Medicine Consultation with SMI expert consultants(s) (valued at $3,000), 
• Free Group Membership to SMI for one year (valued at $786), and
• 3 free registrations for the 20th annual International Street Medicine Symposium scheduled for September 15-18, 2024 in Kansas City (valued at $900).

The SMI consultation will include one day on-site in the grantee’s community, along with up to 8-10 additional hours of telephone or video call support throughout the grant year. Awardees are encouraged to attend the full International Street Medicine Symposium and the Street Medicine 101 workshop as part of their consultative process.

Written reports about how the Seed Grant has impacted the development of the program will be required.

Applicant Criteria

Successful applicant programs will have moved beyond the concept phase to the early stages of program development. The Street Medicine Institute is looking for evidence of steps already taken to prepare your team for its work. For example, while street rounds are essential to every street medicine program, it takes much advance preparation to arrive at the point where a team is ready to perform rounds. Not doing rounds yet does not disqualify your program, but you must demonstrate that you will be able to begin street rounds early in the grant year.

You’ll find questions addressing the following topics in the application. Successful applicants will be able to provide evidence of progress or planning in each of these areas:

• Clinical leadership exists and is actively involved in program planning and development
• Preliminary ideas or plans for program sustainability
• Early environmental assessment steps have been taken:
  • Community Needs Assessment has been completed
  • Potential community partners have been identified
• Some program development steps have been taken. For example:
  • Team member names and professions
  • Tentative street round schedule
  • Community outreach worker identified
  • Medical and health care supply plan
• Some infrastructure has been established. For example:
  • HIPAA agreements and policies
  • Malpractice coverage
  • Medical Records plan
• 501(c)(3) application or designation
  • 501(c)(3) status is not required to be eligible for a Seed Grant, however, if you are selected for a Seed Grant, your program will need to demonstrate 501(c)(3) status before SMI distributes your grant funds.
• Letter(s) of support from parent organization or a community partner

For a full list of application questions in the Seed Grant application, please review the Application Details.

Award Process and Schedule

March 5, 2024- Grant Program Announcement and Application Released

April 30, 2024- Application Due

Early June 2024- Finalist Applicant Interviews

Mid-June 2024- Grant Awards Announced

July - September 2024- On-site Consultations Take Place

September 15 - 18, 2024- International Street Medicine Symposium in Kansas City, MO

July 2024 - June 2025- Ongoing Consultative Support from SMI

If you have any questions, please contact the Street Medicine Institute at info@streetmedicine.org.