Grants

Thank you for your interest in the Foundation’s Grant Program. The Foundation proudly offers several annual research grants in an effort to stimulate innovation and discovery within the profession. Please refer to the table below for information on the focus of each of our named research grants. The Foundation’s ability to provide research grants is determined by investment activity and fundraising efforts.

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts applications for most research grant funding on an annual basis. Any person may apply for Foundation grants and will be given fair and protected-class-neutral consideration for an award. The ability to provide research grants is dependent on fundraising efforts and investment activity.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for most named grants within the Foundation’s external, online application platform, linked below. All currently available research grant applications are due by 5:00 pm CT on Monday, February 24, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically, within the platform, for consideration. Emailed and hard-copy versions of applications will not be accepted.

Applications for the Foundation’s CDR Emerging Researcher Grant and CDR Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant were due on November 18, 2024. Applicants will be notified of the Foundation’s funding decisions in January 2025.

Please contact Elisha Reichling, MS, RDN, LDN, Foundation Program Manager, at grants@eatright.org with questions.

Allene Vaden Memorial Grant for Foodservice Management Research
Grant amount: $5,000

This grant is given to encourage young academics to enhance and stimulate research in foodservice management.

Unavailable in 2025

Amy Joye Memorial Research Award
Grant amount: $5,000

Applicants are required to work with a mentor whose projects involve human research and focus on: Dietary assessment methodology to investigate/enhance accuracy of dietary reports*, Obesity prevention/weight control, or Fruit/vegetable gardens.

*Accuracy of dietary reports requires validation or comparison of dietary reports by study participants to actual dietary intake. Such validation does not simply compare two self-report methods by study participants because with that study design, actual dietary intake is unknown. Instead, validation requires comparison of dietary reports by study participants to a method that does not rely on another self-report method by study participants.

Ann A. Hertzler Memorial Research Grant
Grant amount: $15,000

This grant serves to support research aligned with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Research Priorities. An annual research question is developed to solicit proposals. 

2024 Topic: Proposals should investigate ambulatory RDN staffing ratios to support medical nutrition therapy and other nutrition services.

Unavailable in 2025

Colgate Palmolive Fellowship in Nutrition, Oral Health/Dental Education
Grant amount: $15,000

This grant is given to support research in nutrition and oral health or dental education by doctoral students seeking a doctorate in nutrition and oral health or dental education, Masters thesis research on nutrition and oral health/disease or RDNs with advanced degrees doing research in the area of nutrition and oral health. Non-US residents may apply.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Emerging Researcher Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

This grant supports researchers with limited to no track records of extramural funding from competitive research grants and/or no first-authored, peer-reviewed research publications to conduct research that aligns with CDR’s Strategic Plan.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant
Grant amount: $5,000

This grant supports faculty members or program directors of ACEND-accredited educational programs who oversee ongoing research within their programs that relates to CDR’s Strategic Plan and engages nutrition and dietetics students who are completing their eligibility requirements to take the registration examination for dietitians.

Diabetes (DDPG) DPG Karen Goldstein Memorial Grant for Diabetes MNT Application
Grant amount: $20,000. Available every other year.

This grant is given to provide financial support to a Diabetes DPG member for outcomes research in diabetes medical nutrition therapy.

Unavailable in 2025

Jean Hankin Nutritional Epidemiology Research Grant
Grant amount: $20,000

This grant is given to provide financial support to a doctoral student working on a dissertation in the area of nutritional epidemiology.

Julie O’Sullivan Maillet Research Grant
Grant amount: $3,000

This grant is given for a research project that aims to demonstrate the value of dietetics professionals on the health of the public or demonstrate the evolving role of dietetics professionals in the profession.

McCormick Science Institute Research Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

The purpose of the McCormick Science Institute Research Grant is to fund research that explores the potential health benefits of whole culinary herbs and spices; extracts are not allowed.

Molly Kellogg Grant for Advancement in Nutrition Counseling
Grant amount: $3,000

This grant is given to advance counseling skills excellence in the dietetic profession by providing financial support to RDs and DTRs to pursue research in the nutrition counseling process.

Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group Research Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

This grant is given for innovative research relating to vegetarian nutrition to an individual who is an RDN, DTR or Dietetic Student member of the Academy. Preference will be given to members of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group.

Unavailable in 2025