Special Projects Grants

Special Projects is the UF Medical Guild’s grant-funding philanthropic initiative which began in the mid 1990s.  In May, grant applications are advertised and accepted.   The Special Projects Committee accepts applications from UF, UF Health and local non-profit community health organizations for funding to support their programs.

100% of the money that is awarded is used only for the projects. The Guild does not fund administrative and overhead fees. We only fund not-for-profit (non-profit) organizations. If funded, please note that you will be asked to provide your 501C3 number and a report of how the funds were spent. Our most recent grant criteria can be found here.

In October of previous years, the grant recipients participated in a poster session where they presented their projects to the Guild members. In 2020 and 2021, the presentations switched to a Zoom teleconference format.

In October 2023, grant recipients made their presentations in-person and via Zoom teleconference. Forty-one grant applications requesting a total of almost $250,000 were reviewed by the Special Projects Committee. Thirteen grants were awarded totaling $55,000.

Typically in May of each year, the Special Projects Committee invites applications from UF Health and Gainesville/Alachua County community organizations to apply for these grants.

Coming soon this spring

2024 Special Projects Grant Application

Applications will be accepted beginning May 1 until midnight on May 31, 2024 from UF Health departments and local non-profit community health organizations.

2018 SP poster session
2018 SP poster session
Grant recipients with their poster presentations

Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2023 ($55,000)

UF Health Grants

  • Brain Cancer in Kids & Adults: Controlling CINV When All Else Fails; Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-Oncology
  • Fertility Preservation Support for Newly Diagnosed Males with Cancer; UF Health HOPE Network, UF Health OB-GYN
  • Software and Surgical Education Models for Use at UF Health Shands; Dream Team Engineering, UF Corporation/UF Health
  • Medication Compliance Tools for Chronic Dialysis Patients; UF Health Dialysis Center
  • Oral Health Promotion for Children with Sensory Sensitivities; UF College of Dentistry, Saving Smiles Program
  • Oral, Gastrointestinal, and Bloodborne Pathogen Treatment and Prevention Program; UF College of Medicine, Homeless Outreach and Street Medicine Program

UF Health Rehabilitation and UF Health Pediatrics

  • Liver Transplant Mobility Initiative – Gait and Standing Device; UF Health Rehabilitation
  • Updated Equipment for Training and Pediatric Patient Assessment; UF Health Pediatrics
  • Video Frenzel Goggles for Vestibular Evaluation; UF Health Rehabilitation
  • Innovative Biofeedback Device to Facilitate Recovery for Physical Therapy Patients; UF Health Rehabilitation
  • Medical Plaza Oncology Patient Support, Compression Garments; UF Health Rehabilitation

Community Grants

  • Nourishing Our Future: Feeding Alachua County Kids; Food4Kids
  • Alachua Area Medical Reserve Corps Free Mental Health Clinic at GRACE; Grace Healthcare Services Corporation/Grace Clinic

Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2022 ($55,000)

UF Health Grants

  • Safety & Comfort for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Bone Marrow Transplant; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • LifeGlider; Department of Pediatrics/Child Health Research Institute
  • Supporting Patients and Caregivers in the UF Health Pediatric Surgery G-tube Clinic; Pediatric Surgery Department/Pediatric Specialties
  • Butterfly Cart; Pediatric Emergency Department
  • Scooterboards for Pediatric Rehab; UF Health Rehab Center for Kids
  • Alternative Load for Functional and Isolation Training; UF Health Adult Outpatient Rehab – Magnolia Park
  • Updated Equipment for Novel Strength Training Methods; UF Health Rehab OSMI
  • Reach Out and Read Program; UF Health General Pediatrics Primary Care
  • MotionMgix Interactive Floor Games for Pediatric Burn Clinic Waiting Room; UF Health Pediatric Burn Clinic
  • From First Contact: Minimizing Children’s Emotional Trauma Through EMS; UF Health Pediatric Trauma Services/Child Life
  • Blaze Pods for Outpatient Physical Therapy; UF Health Rehab – Haile Plantation

Community Grants

  • Bridging the Digital Divide for the Developmentally Disabled; The Arc of Alachua County
  • Updating Dental Equipment for Low-Income Patients; Gainesville Community Ministry
  • AAMRC Women’s Clinic; GRACE
  • The Comfort of Food: Providing Nutrition with Familiar Foods; Forage Inc., DBA Working Food
  • Gentle Carousel’s Family and Patient Visitations; Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses
  • Foster Training Family Program; Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc.

UF Grant

  • Virtual Reality Experiences for UF Inpatients; Florida Museum of Natural History

Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2021 ($55,000)

UF Health Grants

  • Rifton Tram for Therapy Intervention; UF Heart Vascular Neuromedicine Rehabilitation
  • Pediatric Clinic Positioning and Gross Motor Equipment; UF Health Rehabilitation for Kids
  • Becoming the Best YOU Chronic Disease Self Management for Underserved Patients; UF Health Mobile Outreach Clinic
  • Utilization of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference to Diagnose Pediatric Malnutrition; UF Health Food and Nutrition
  • Phasing Out Phlebotomy Fear; UF Health Department of Pediatrics
  • Care One Clinic Financial Assistance Co-Pay Program; UF Health Care One Clinic
  • Care One Clinic Daily Diabetes Maintenance Project; UF Health Care One Clinic
  • Rapael Smart Pegboard; UF Health Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy
  • Therapeutic Horticulture Program for Patients; UF Health Psychiatric Hospital
  • Homeless Outreach and Street Medicine Program; UF College of Medicine

Community Grants

  • Girls on the Run of Alachua County; Girls on the Run
  • Helping Seniors and their Caregivers Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy; Elder Options
  • Seed-to-Plate Empowerment; Forage Inc. DBA Working Food
  • Enhancing Dental Equipment Services for Low-Income Patients; Gainesville Community Ministry
  • Art for Everyone, No Experience Needed; Gainesville Opportunity Center