American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Grants for Mental Health

OVERVIEW: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention funds research on suicide prevention with the ultimate goal of reducing the rate of suicide in the U.S.

IP TAKE: According to its strategic plan, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention expects to increase its funding for research and emphasize underrepresented populations, implementation science and survivors of suicide loss. It also aims to “attract new and diverse talent into suicide research, including researchers from underrepresented populations.”

Individual grant programs are designed to support researchers at various career stages, and guidelines, eligibility and due dates vary by program. Overall, this is an accessible funder for researchers working in the field of suicide prevention, but grantmaking is highly competitive. The foundation accepts letters of inquiry for all of its grant programs. Full applications are accepted by invitation only.

PROFILE: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) was established in 1987 by a group of “caring individuals” in response to a dramatic rise in suicide rates among young people. The foundation is based in New York City, but since its founding, chapters have sprung up in more than 70 locations across the U.S. AFSP’s mission is to “save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.” Its strategies include funding research, increasing public awareness, advocating for public policy related to mental health and suicide prevention and supporting “survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide.”

Grants for Mental Health

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s grantmaking funds research grants to support studies aimed at increasing and improving “our understanding of suicide or test treatments and other interventions that save lives.” Current grantmaking priorities include the “evaluation of technological tools for suicide prevention,” studies on “the impact of suicide loss” and diversity. In its statement on diversity and inclusion, AFSP invites “individuals, communities, organizations, and thought leaders to join us in our efforts to create long-lasting changes in mental health equity and to prevent suicide amongst underrepresented communities.”

The foundation runs the following annual grantmaking programs:

  • Focus Grants support “targeted, innovative and potentially high impact studies” on topics and issues related to suicide prevention. While specific areas of focus change from year to year, recent funding has prioritized short-term suicide risk, factors that may help to reduce the national suicide rate by 20% by 2025 and new ideas and strategies for suicide prevention. Focus grants are awarded in amounts of up to $500,000 a year for up to three years, and letters of intent are generally due in early August.

  • Linked Standard Research Innovation Grants are intended for researchers of any career level who are conducting research “involving two or more unique sites with each site contributing unique expertise, as well as data collection.” These grants are awarded in amounts of up to $450,000 over a two-year period. Letters of intent for this program are due in mid-September of each year.

  • Distinguished Investigator Innovation Grants support the work of researchers “at the level of associate professor or higher with an established record of research and publications.” Grants are awarded in amounts of up to $150,000 over two years. Letters of intent must be received by November 15.

  • Standard Research Innovation Grants are capped at $125,000 for two years and support the work of “individual investigators at any level.” Letters of intent must be received by November 15.

  • Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants offer an annual salary of $56,000 for two years, plus an annual stipend of $7,000 a year for the investigator’s mentor. These grants support researchers “below the level of assistant professor” who work with “a suitable mentor.” Letters of intent must be received by November 15.

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow Innovation Grants support Ph.D., M.D. or other doctoral degree holders who earned their degrees “within the preceding six years and have had no more than three years of fellowship support.” Fellows earn a salary of $56,000 per year for two years, plus an “institutional allowance” of $14,000. Letters of intent must be received by November 15.

  • Pilot Innovation Grants support researchers at any career level with grants of $50,000, disbursed over a two-year period. These grants “provide seed funding for new projects that have the potential to lead to larger investigations.” Letters of intent must be received by November 15.

Recipients of AFSP's research grants have held positions at research institutes, hospitals and universities including Virginia Commonwealth University, Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Massachusetts General Hospital, McGill University, Kaiser Permanente, Yale University School of Medicine and the Geha Mental Health Center in Israel, among others.

Important Grant Details

This funder’s grants are generally awarded in set amounts per program. Awards range from $50,000 to $225,000 a year for two- to three-years.

  • Grants generally go to individual researchers working at universities, hospitals or other relevant research institutes.

  • This funder makes over 30 grants per year.

  • Recent grants have supported studies of psychiatry, biological markers for suicide risk, implementation science and social and emotional factors that increase suicidal behaviors, among other topics.

  • This funder does not place geographic limitations to its work, but most grants go to researchers based in the U.S.

  • For information about past funded research, see the foundation’s publications from our research page.

This funder accepts letters of inquiry for all of its grantmaking programs, although guidelines, eligibility and due dates vary by program. Before submitting materials, read the foundation’s research grant information page, including the section of research grant types, as well as its General Grant Policies document. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only. Submit general inquiries to the foundation’s staff via email.

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