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VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is excited to announce that the proposal process is underway for the 2027 Community Grant Initiative.

The Seed to Harvest Community Grant Series, which provides funding to strengthen the capacity of local partners to collaborate with cancer center investigators and reduce the burden of cancer for all Virginians, is launching its sixth year of the program. The grant initiative is focused on the promotion of health and person-centered care (from prevention through survivorship) and reducing suffering from cancer for citizens in Virginia, particularly for the most impacted communities.

This year, opportunities for interested organizations include the following awards:

• Eight (8) $5,000 Seed Grants
• Four (4) $20,000 Cultivate Grants
• Two (2) $50,000 Harvest Grants

"We are privileged to offer these opportunities for our community and faith-based partners to develop lasting collaborations with Massey investigators,” said Kim Rhoads, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., associate director of community outreach and engagement at Massey. “The Seed, Cultivate and Harvest grants will fuel community-driven cancer education, screening and research initiatives, strengthening the community-based networks needed to keep the people of the commonwealth healthy and thriving."

• Seed grants award eligible organizations $5,000 for a one-year project period. This funding is designed to support community partners and nonprofit organizations in addressing person-centered care across the cancer continuum, from health promotion and prevention through survivorship.
• Cultivate grants ($20,000/one-year) will provide an opportunity for community partners to develop research skills, as well as a working relationship with a Massey investigator. Cultivate award recipients will participate in a tailored training curriculum to help community partners expand their capacity to participate in community-academic partnered research that aligns with Massey’s mission and priorities.
• The Harvest grant award ($50,000/two-years) will fund community partners to co-lead a community-engaged or community-based participatory research project with a Massey investigator as a collaborator.

The Community Grant Initiative is part of an effort to foster organizational collaboration across Massey’s catchment area, defined as the 66 contiguous localities in central, eastern and southern Virginia served by the cancer center.

The proposal submission deadline for Seed ($5,000) and Cultivate ($20,000) grants will be no later than Dec. 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm. Seed projects selected for funding for the upcoming year will be expected to launch July 1, 2027. The Cultivate Learning Curriculum series will also begin with a first session in July 2027.

For those interested in submitting Seed or Cultivate grant applications, there will be optional virtual technical assistance webinars on Oct. 15, 2026, via Zoom. The seed grant webinar will take place at 5 p.m., followed by the Cultivate informational session at 6 p.m.

Click here to register:  

• Seed Grant Tech Assistance Webinar on Oct 15 at 5pm
• Cultivate Grant Informational Session on Oct. 15 at 6pm

Organizations that wish to apply for a Harvest award ($50,000) with their Massey investigator partner(s), will have until Feb. 26, 2027 at 11:59pm to submit full applications and can expect notification of awards by April 1, with funding for selected projects to begin July 1.

For more information, contact the Massey COE at engagemassey@vcu.edu or (804) 628-0896.

View more on the Seed to Harvest for full submission guidelines or to submit an application.