Area of Greatest Need
Unrestricted funds provide the power to make great things happen. AAFP Foundation leaders gratefully use these flexible gifts for top priorities. Your gift might help provide a grant for a free clinic through Family Medicine Cares USA; help the underserved in Haiti through Family Medicine Cares International; encourage a medical student to choose Family Medicine through the Family Medicine Leads program; or provide a grant to a generate practice-based research for the specialty through Family Medicine Discovers.
Support the Organization
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund provides critical funding for AAFP Foundation programs in the areas of humanitarian, education, and scientific research. Your donation to the Annual Fund indicates your broad support of the Foundation's entire portfolio of work, and allows us to use your contribution wherever it's needed most. Initiatives such as Family Medicine Cares, Family Medicine Leads, and the almost $500,000 donated annually to various AAFP programs are funded in part by the Annual Fund.
Membership Renewal Donation
It's the easiest and fastest way for AAFP members to support your AAFP Foundation and Chapter programs! It's as easy as checking "yes" on your dues statement or donating when you renew online. Donations with membership renewals are the largest single source of contributions to the Foundation each year. Your participation matters!
General Endowment
Sustaining the long-term viability of the AAFP Foundation and the continuation of its work, the General Endowment Fund provides a solid financial core with income earned annually from interest on the Fund corpus. This income provides support for programs and core operations.
With its long-term growth nature, the AAFP Foundation General Endowment has grown through generous gifts from contributors and from excellent management by the Foundation Board of Trustees and its professional advisors. Donations to the General Endowment ensure an ongoing revenue stream to support the work of your Foundation both now and in the future.
Give to a Restricted Fund or Endowment
Center for the History of Family Medicine (CHFM) Endowment
Established in 1992 to preserve the historical value and evolution of the specialty of Family Medicine, the Center for the History of Family Medicine Endowment ensures that the Center will survive for generations to come. The CHFM collection includes decades of documents, photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia that are professionally cataloged and preserved in a climate-controlled environment.
The CHFM Endowment, a long-term growth fund, has grown since its establishment in 1998. Your contribution and the endowment’s continued growth will help the Center for the History of Family Medicine become self-supporting and self-sustaining.
Robert Graham Fund
The Robert Graham Fund honors the service of Robert Graham, MD, and supports the Robert Graham Center (RGC) in Washington, DC. The Robert Graham Center exists to improve individual and population health by enhancing the delivery of primary care. "The endowment ensures perpetual support for the Center to do the analytic work needed to clarify issues that matter to family physicians," says Larry Green, MD, Founding Director of The Graham Center.
Ruth Ostergaard Children's Fund
The Ruth Ostergaard Children’s Fund is a named endowment established by an anonymous couple. The donors were inspired by Ruth Ostergaard’s work and dedication to children through the Physicians With Heart Children’s Project, through which clothes, mattresses, bedding, shoes, and toiletries are supplied for orphanages and special-needs schools within the selected country. Spearheading these efforts with love and commitment, Ruth has improved living conditions for hundreds of children in the former Soviet Union – children at orphanages who have very little if anything to call their own.
This endowed fund is used each year to support philanthropic work with children here in the U.S. and around the world. As this fund grows, more children can be helped.
Sandra L. Panther Fund
The Sandra L. Panther Fund was established in honor of the AAFP Foundation’s executive director, Sandra Panther. Sandy dedicated more than 20 years of service to the Foundation and continues to stay involved even after retirement. The fund will support the Sandra L. Panther Fellowship in the History of Family Medicine.
The Lopez Funds
Carolyn C. Lopez, MD, a Chicago-based family physician, created three funds in 2000 to honor her family and her local AFP chapter:
- The Joseph and Angela Lopez Fund pays tribute to the parents of Dr. Lopez and their respect for the Family Medicine specialty by supporting the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute.
- The Carmen Lopez Pollina Fund was created to honor Carolyn's sister who died from cancer at age 39. This fund supports research that has direct, immediate and visible impact on the area where family physicians are most focused: patient care. In addition, the fund was established to help physicians understand the needs of patients and families, especially those who are facing grave diseases.
- A third endowment fund supports the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians Summer Externship Program.
The Dr. Paul S. McCord Fund
The Rev. Dr. Donald and Mrs. Ann McCord created this fund to honor their son, Dr. Paul S. McCord, who died in rural Alaska while on his way to provide patient care. Dr. McCord was a young physician who had just finished residency at Cook County Family Practice Residency in Chicago.
This generous, endowed fund supports resident-related programming, honoring Dr. McCord's dedication to Family Medicine and serving those in high-need areas of the country. Through the donations of the McCords and others, the AAFP Foundation's Resident and Student Initiatives fund is able to provide 220 Family Medicine Leads Scholarships for the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students. This conference is held annually in Kansas City, MO.
David and Karen Smith Humanitarian Fund
The David and Karen Smith Humanitarian Fund was established by the namesakes as an extension of their commitment to philanthropic endeavors and humanitarian work. This endowment provides the financial means for a family medicine resident to participate in the Family Medicine Cares International Delegation to Haiti, share the experience at National Conference, and ultimately foster humanitarian work as part of a new physician’s career.
Donate to a Program
The AAFP Foundation's mission is to improve the health of all people. Whether through humanitarian, educational, or scientific means, our programs have a direct impact on people's lives. Help us continue this important work by supporting one or more of our programs.
Want more information about the different ways you can donate? Visit our Ways to Donate page. Also, no matter which program you support, know that you can make your gift in honor, memory, or support of an individual. Just provide the name of the person you'd like to honor in the "Tribute Gift" section of the donation form.
Humanitarian Programs
Family Medicine Cares
Helping those in need, at home and around the world. Family Medicine Cares (FMC) was created by the AAFP Foundation to address the health care needs of the underserved, both domestically and internationally. To direct your donation in support of FMC, donate to the FMC program as a whole, or choose one of the program components listed below.
FMC International provides patient care, delivers education and training in Family Medicine, and works to improve the health and quality of life of people in Haiti.
FMC USA provides grants to new and existing free clinics for the purchase of equipment; and provides medical volunteer opportunities.
Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®)
ALSO® provides clinicians in developing countries with techniques to handle emergencies that occur during pregnancy and delivery. This program provides the needed equipment and training to support maternity caregivers in their countries.
[ Learn More ]
Disaster Relief Program
Your AAFP Foundation helps those in need at home and around the world. During times of disaster, your Foundation ensures timely and effective aid by working with partner organizations specializing in rapid-response, on-the-ground support.
[ Learn More ]
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Education Programs
Family Medicine Leads
Family Medicine Leads focuses on ensuring the future of the Family Medicine specialty by supporting efforts to fill the workforce pipeline with both the quantity and quality of family physicians needed to improve the health of all people, as well as by supporting the development of future Family Medicine leaders. To direct your donation in support of Family Medicine Leads, donate to the Family Medicine Leads program as a whole, or choose one of the program components listed below.
Family Medicine Leads Scholarships for National Conference allow medical students and Family Medicine residents to attend National Conference, with the goal of influencing students' and residents' commitment to the specialty of Family Medicine.
The FML Emerging Leader Institute is a year-long leadership development program that brings together 30 participants following a competitive application process. It targets Family Medicine residents and medical students who display leadership potential but may or may not have served in a leadership role previously.
Center for the History of Family Medicine (CHFM)
The Center collects, organizes, preserves and provides access to the records of leading Family Medicine organizations.
[ Learn More ]
James G. Jones, MD, Student Scholarship Program
The James G. Jones, MD, Student Scholarship supports one medical student to attend the annual Family Medicine Congressional Conference (FMCC), held in Washington, DC.
AAFP Center for Global Health Initiatives
CGHI assists in the development of deliberately trained, competent, generalist physicians to meet the health needs of the community and the country.
[ Learn More ]
AAFP Healthy Interventions: Tobacco and Nicotine
This enhanced comprehensive prevention program uses office based tools and community programs (e.g., Tar Wars) at the community and national level to fight tobacco and nicotine.
[ Learn More ]
Scientific Programs
Joint Grant Awards Program (JGAP)
Annual grants of up to $50,000 help investigators research clinical questions in Family Medicine. There are two award cycles each year. Recently funded projects include "Better, Safer Care Through Clear Communication (BeST Communication)" and "ROAR: Reflecting on Abusive Relationships."
[ Give to JGAP ]
Research Grant Initiatives
Your donation to the Research Grant Initiatives will support the following grant programs:
- Practice Based Research Network (PBRN) Stimulation Grants
- Resident Research Grants
- Research Stimulation Grants