← Back to the grant

Should we apply?

Limited Competition: John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program (S21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Grant professionals check the deal-breakers before writing anything, then ask whether it's worth the effort. Answers GrantMe already knows are filled in. Change any that are wrong.

Is your kind of organization eligible? Deal-breaker

The listing names: Public college or university, Private college or university.

Who can apply, from the official notice
Pursuant to Public Health Service Act section 464z-3(h), 42 USC 285t(h), as amended by Public Law 117-104, applicants for this program must include eligible public/private institutions of higher education that have current or former HRSA Centers of Excellence awards under Section 736 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act and current or former NIMHD Centers of Excellence awards under Section 464z-4 of the PHS Act. Eligible institutions must have an endowment that is equal to or less than 50 percent of the national median of endowment funds at institutions that conduct similar biomedical…

Read it all on the grant page · Official notice

Why it matters: Funders don't review applications from groups that aren't eligible. Source: Grants.gov: make sure you are eligible before writing

Do you serve the area this grant covers? Deal-breaker

GrantMe found: This is a nationwide program, so every Tennessee county is covered.

Why it matters: A grant limited to certain places can't pay for work outside them. Source: Grants.gov: make sure you are eligible before writing

Will your SAM.gov registration be active through the deadline? Deal-breaker

Why it matters: Federal agencies require an active SAM.gov registration to apply and to be paid. Source: Grants.gov: applicant registration

Does the project fit what this funder wants to pay for, without bending your mission?

Why it matters: Funders pay for their own goals. Bending your project to fit can pull you off your mission. Source: Grants.gov: ensure mission alignment before applying

Has this funder paid organizations like yours before?

Why it matters: Funders that paid groups like yours before are the likeliest to do it again. Source: Candid: find and evaluate potential funder matches

Have you managed a grant of similar size before (tracking spending and reporting)?

Why it matters: Funders expect you to track how the money is spent and report on the results. Source: National Council of Nonprofits: Managing Federal Grants, a start-up guide (2026)

Do you have someone with time to write it before the deadline?

Why it matters: A strong application takes time to write, and late ones usually aren't accepted. Source: National Council of Nonprofits: Managing Federal Grants, a start-up guide (2026)