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In 2023, VCU Massey Cancer Center will continue investing in community-led initiatives that aim to improve the health outcomes for Virginians.

The cancer center will award $5,000 seed grants as part of the Community Grant Initiative; launched in December 2021, the initiative helps community partners expand programs focused on the promotion of health, health equity, person-centered care across the cancer continuum (from prevention through survivorship) and reducing suffering from cancer. 

The cancer center announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for seed grants on November 29, 2022. Massey will announce the awards on February 3, 2023. 

Brad Williams, MSPH, senior program coordinator for Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at Massey, explained the seed grants are part of an ongoing 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 seed grants bridge gaps in our communities by allowing both new and experienced grant-funded organizations to work side-by-side with our cancer center,” said Williams. “The COE team meets with each awardee to guide them through the process, from crafting a roll-out plan for their idea to the actual implementation. The partnership creates opportunities for innovation in spreading awareness about cancer and connecting them with Massey resources.” 

Organizations must meet the following criteria for seed grants eligibility:

1. Organizations in the state of Virginia recognized by the IRS as a non-profit, being either a government agency, or recognized house of worship.
2. Organizations in the state of Virginia exempt from income tax with a 501(c)(3) public charity designation including:

1. Community and faith-based organizations
2. Advocacy groups
3. Coalitions
4. Neighborhood associations
5. Service providers

“Community organizations have creative strategies to address community needs,” said Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., associate director for COE at VCU Massey Cancer Center. “We want to provide support for them to do so and learn from their best practices. Our grant initiative supports projects at various stages to facilitate bi-directional learning and ultimately move the needle on reducing the cancer burden.” 

Massey awarded seven $5,000 seed grants in 2022. Recipients include

1. World U.P. Foundation (Richmond)
2. Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (Richmond)
3. Vance Street Missionary Baptist Church (Danville)
4. Saving Pennies 4 A Cure / Trials of Color (Petersburg)
5. Northern Neck Middlesex Free Health Clinic (Kilmarnock)
6. Fifth Baptist Church (Richmond)
7. Ebenezer Baptist Church (Richmond

“The first round of seed grants has already allowed us to learn from our community partners and support their priorities with additional resources,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman chair in oncology at Massey. “The Community Grant Initiative is indicative of the cancer center’s mission to create a 21st century community-to-bench model for others to adopt.”

The deadline for qualifying organizations to apply for Massey seed grants is January 20, 2023. Massey will score the applications on merit and notify the winners. Guidelines concerning the criteria and process can be found within the RFA.

In 2023, Massey will begin the second phase of the Community Grant Initiative by awarding $20,000 cultivate grants. The third phase of the program will roll out in 2024, offering one $50,000 harvest grant to a selected applicant.

Written by: Amy Lacey