Community Grants Program

Current funding priorities include programs that have a strong medical mentorship and/or public health education focus and/or reach prospective DO, MD or PA students (especially those from underrepresented in medicine backgrounds, underserved rural or urban populations, undergraduate pre-med/health majors and/or middle- and high-school students) to encourage them to pursue a career in healthcare.  

A complete application will include:

• Cover letter summarizing your proposal, addressed to the OMEF Board.
• Detailed outline of your program/project including specific goals, timeline and how you will measure success.  Please also quantify the anticipated impact on your target community.
• Amount requested and proposed use of funding.
• Line-item program budget and summary of other funding (including pending requests).
• If granted, how you propose to recognize OMEF's contribution.

If your proposal meets our current goals, we will contact you for an interview.  We welcome your questions at any time:  

Carin Mateyko, Executive Director carin@theomef.org | 503-619-8126

Our preference is to work directly with the organization delivering the proposed project, rather than fund an intermediary who administers the project.  We have found this makes it easier to build a relationship with our grantees; often there are other ways we can help.  

Grant applications that can demonstrate a positive and measurable impact for healthcare/medical education in Oregon are accepted year-round for funding decisions in approximately April, July or October.  Funds are limited and this is a competitive process, so we encourage you to plan ahead and apply early. Regretfully, we cannot fund all requests.

With few exceptions, recent grants have not exceeded $5,000.

• $70,000 over multiple years to Area Health Education Center of Southwest Oregon in Roseburg, to establish and grow the ReConnect Gap-Year Fellowship
• $12,000 to OHSU's Nourish program, supporting 2nd year medical students with tutoring, mentorship and wellness in preparation for their Step 1 exams
• $12,000 to OHSU's Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP) for a webinar series focusing on culturally-competent and trauma-informed healthcare and support for survivors of sexual & relationship violence
• $5000 to COMP NW in support of an emergency medicine track of an inter-state conference
• $3600 to the American Medical Women's Association (OHSU branch) for a "Strength Through Stories" virtual conference for women physicians
• $2000 to Southwestern Oregon Medical Society in support of a new public health education event in Coos Bay
• $10,000 to the Lane County Medical Society Foundation in support of a Physician Wellness Program
• $1000 to the OMA Alliance towards the first Western States Coalition Medical Alliance Meeting in San Diego
• $4000 to Salem Hospital for two community domestic violence conferences
• $11,400 to OMA and OMAA to underwrite production of localized resource cards for physicians and patients and other domestic violence awareness efforts