AFSP Focus Grants: Blue sky research grant

AFSP Focus Grants: Blue sky research grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Amount: Up to US $500,000
Last Updated: October 20, 2025

Summary

The AFSP Focus Grants: Blue Sky Research Grant supports innovative and high-risk projects aimed at suicide prevention. Offering up to $500,000 annually for three years, it encourages groundbreaking studies that advance understanding in this critical area. Applicants should demonstrate the project's innovative nature and potential impact on suicide prevention. Collaboration with experienced researchers and healthcare partners is encouraged, and the studies are not limited to the U.S., promoting global insights into suicide research.

Overview

Focus Grants Each year we invite applications for innovative, high-risk, potentially high-yield projects that focus on specific areas of suicide prevention. These areas have been determined by AFSP and its Scientific Council, and are reviewed and updated annually. Blue sky research grant Supports an innovative, impactful study in an area of suicide research that will achieve significant goals. This mechanism is intended for studies that, by their very nature, are clearly beyond the financial scope of our Innovation Grants. Goal Innovative projects in new areas of investigation with potentially high impact for the understanding and prevention of suicide. Open to all fields of inquiry. Funding Up to $500,000 per year for up to three years. Requirements The study must be highly innovative.The impact for suicide prevention must be clearly described. If impact will not be in the near term, please describe the path from discovery to implementation.The study is clearly beyond the financial scope of our Innovation Grants for reasons other than only increased sample size.The study must be grounded in a conceptual model.Evidence for the feasibility of data collection must be provided.The outcome must include suicidal behavior.This is not a mechanism for local program evaluation.Not limited to studies conducted in the U.S. We encourage collaborative projects with investigators experienced in suicide research. Matching funds or partnering with a large healthcare system is encouraged.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.