Projects to Advance Integrative Health Equity throughout the Osher Center FY25-26

Crowd-sourcing innovative ideas to support and improve access to integrative health through cross-program collaboration to benefit the Osher Center for Integrative Health community.

Overview 

FY26 Osher Center Integrative Health Equity Small Grants  

We invite broad input and ideas from everyone at the Osher Center--staff, learners, faculty--to advance the Integrative Health Equity Initiative through projects across all program areas. This open, online, project idea submission system provides a tangible way for the Osher community to contribute to the Integrative Health Equity Initiative to advance our efforts to address inequities in health and healthcare with integrative medicine through cross-program collaboration.  

We define integrative health equity as optimal health for all through a whole-person approach that explicitly recognizes cultural, social, and structural determinants of health.  Projects that support integrative health access for people living in poverty and people who identify as a member of a minoritized population (e.g., racial and ethnic identities, sexual orientation and gender expression, immigrants, or non-native English speakers) will most closely meet the goals of this funding opportunity.

Eligibility 

The project must be led by a current member of the Osher Center and directly benefit the OCIH community at Mount Zion.  Current members are defined as staff, learners, and faculty with at least 50% FTE at OCIH, or OCIH core or affiliated faculty members.  

  • Collaboration across Osher Center programs (clinic, education, research, and administration, including finance) is encouraged. 

  • The review committee will prioritize projects proposed by Osher Center members who have not been funded through this mechanism. 

 

Proposal Format  

Phase 1 (March 31 – April 18) 

Please include the following information in your submission:  

Project Title

Names of Project Lead(s) and Key Team Members

Brief Project Description (no more than 150 words)

Brief Statement of Project Feasibility and Anticipated Impact (no more than 150 words)

Deliverables

Impact on Osher Center Community

Total Budget Requested 

 

Phase 2 (May 5 – May 30), by invitation only.

If you are invited to submit a proposal for Phase 2, expand the previously provided Project Description (1 page maximum) to address Forum comments and include: 

  • Project Significance and Innovation 

  • Timeline 

  • Name of the supervisor who has provided release time.

Upload a simple budget as a Budget attachment. The budget will only be visible to the author, the IHE program manager, and reviewers. 

 

 

 

Award Budget 

  • Budgets should be in the $12,000-20,000 range. Total funding available for all awarded projects is $50,000. 

  • Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. 

  • Funding is not renewable. 

  • Funds may be requested for salary support for project team members. Make sure to confirm potential release time with your supervisor and/or program director in advance.   

  • Equipment expenses are ineligible.  

  • Funds will be managed by the project advisor, unless the project lead is PI eligible.  

 

Review Criteria 

Proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:   

  • Significance. Does the project focus on an area that will help to advance integrative health equity?  

  • Innovation. Is the project original and creative? Is it not yet being worked on at the Osher Center?  

  • Feasibility. Can the project be completed by June 30, 2026?  

  • Impact. Does the project have potential to have ongoing impact, beyond the funding period?   

  • Collaboration. Does the project include team members from more than one Osher Center program?   

 

Selection 

A panel of Center members with expertise in integrative health equity will review all submissions. 

Requirements of Awardees 

Attend a kick-off meeting in early July 2025. 

Submit final report by June 1, 2026 to Marliese Warren, Integrative Health Equity Initiative Program Manager, marliese.warren@ucsf.edu. Final reports must include:   

  1. Activities conducted, including who was served by the project (e.g., target population, number of individuals served).  

  1. Contributions to integrative health equity efforts at the Osher Center.   

  1. Project sustainability (i.e., opportunities for continuation of current project and/or plans for future support to expand or extend the project).  

 

Examples of Projects  

Prior Integrative Health Equity Small Grant Awards:  

Timeline

  • Open OP Forum for submissions: March 31, 2025 
  • Phase 1 submissions (March 31, 2025 - April 18, 2025) 
  • Phase 1 comments open (March 31 – April 25, 2025) 
  • Phase 1 review (April 21, 2025 - May 2, 2025) 
  • Phase 2 submissions (May 5, 2025 - May 30, 2025)  
  • Phase 2 comments open (May 5 – June 6, 2025) 
  • Phase 2 review (June 2, 2025 - June 13, 2025)

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