Opportunity Overview
The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) is accepting letters of intent for its 2027 Community-Led Momentum Grants. The program supports eligible community and Medical College of Wisconsin academic partnerships implementing innovative projects to advance health and health equity in Wisconsin through public and community health improvement or health workforce education and development.
Funding and Deadline
Applicants may request up to $250,000 for a project period of up to 24 months beginning July 1, 2027. AHW expects to invest approximately $6 million across meritorious Community-Led Momentum projects. The required letter of intent is due October 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT through the online application form. Full proposals are invitation-only and are due February 22, 2027.
Eligible Applicants
Every application must be submitted by a community-MCW academic partnership. The primary community partner must be a Wisconsin-incorporated 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization, or a Wisconsin government-based entity or organization, and serves as fiscal agent for the community portion of the award. At least one community representative must contribute at least 5% FTE for the full award period. Every project must also include an eligible MCW academic partner who is a full-time or full-professional-effort MCW faculty member at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor rank and who contributes at least 5% FTE.
Program Priorities
Eligible projects may implement evidence-based community health interventions, evaluate and disseminate community-driven health improvement work, conduct community-focused health systems or needs-assessment activities, or develop, adapt, and pilot workforce strategies for community health workers, school nurses, public health professionals, peer support specialists, and other Wisconsin health workforces. Projects must be distinct from prior or existing funded projects and must demonstrate a long-term positive effect on health and health equity in Wisconsin.
Budget and Cost Rules
AHW uses a cost-reimbursement model and supports direct, project-specific expenses. Funds may not be used for projects conducted outside Wisconsin, indirect or routine operating costs, debt reduction, entertainment or alcoholic beverages, lobbying, reimbursement solely for patient care or clinical service delivery, general publishing costs, certain mature educational-program implementation expenses, stipends or flat fees/rates, or supplanting other available resources. Applicants must certify that AHW funds do not supplant other resources.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 86/100. The opportunity is broad, well-funded, Wisconsin-specific, and directly aligned with public health and health workforce development. The required MCW partnership and project-specific innovation requirement are the principal qualification gates.
N9+ Fit: 35/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100. Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. The Nonagon N9+ remote physical examination platform may be a legitimate component of a qualifying community-driven project involving rural access, school health, remote physical examination, telehealth-enabled workforce development, or another evidence-based Wisconsin health intervention, but N9+ is not automatically eligible and must be tied to the funded project objective and budget rules. Dr. Miltie, LLC is not eligible to serve as the primary community applicant, although the RFA permits optional collaborators that are not subject to the primary applicant eligibility rules.
Application Process
AHW encourages pre-application consultation. Applicants seeking AHW feedback on a draft LOI should submit it by October 12, 2026. Eligible community organizations that need help connecting with an MCW academic partner may request AHW partnership assistance by October 12, 2026. The LOI is submitted online, with required electronic signatures collected through an AHW-initiated DocuSign process after submission. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.
Source and Verification
The controlling source is the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment 2027 Community-Led Momentum Grants Call for Applications, issued September 2026. No separate solicitation number is stated in the controlling RFA. Applicants should use AHW’s live 2027 Community-Led Momentum Grants page and current RFA as the controlling materials.