Ralston Institute request for proposals: Momentum grants in behavioral health and developmental disabilities

The Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities seeks proposals for momentum grants that advance Georgia's capacity to serve people with disabilities and behavioral health challenges.

Grants will support short, focused projects that can be completed within a limited timeframe.

Examples of appropriate projects include rapid pilot studies, development of training or technical assistance resources, community partnership development, preliminary data collection to support external funding proposals, or synthesis of existing data to inform policy or program development.

Priority Areas

Proposed projects must align with one or more of the following priorities.

1. Behavioral Health Workforce Development: Efforts that expand or strengthen the workforce serving individuals with behavioral health and developmental disabilities.
2. Recovery, Inclusion, and Community Supports: Activities that improve recovery, independence, stability, and community participation
3. Youth and Adolescent Well-Being: Early identification and intervention for children and youth.
4. Rural Access and Equity: Improving availability and coordination of services in rural or underserved communities.
5. Justice-Involved Supports: Addressing the needs of individuals involved in the criminal legal system.

Eligibility

The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a UGA employee who holds a faculty, research, or other appointment that is eligible to serve as PI under UGA policies and has the appropriate training and experience to oversee the project. Postdoctoral scholars and graduate students may participate as Co-Investigators or project personnel.

Award Information

• Number of awards: 5
• Amount: Up to $15,000 each
• Project start: May 1, 2026
• All funds must be spent by June 30, 2026. Awards can be used for operating costs and/or summer salary for May and June 2026.
• All project activities final report must be submitted no later than December 11, 2026.

Required Application Components

1. Project Summary (1 page)

Briefly describe the need, the population to be served, proposed activities, and the expected benefit to Georgia communities.

2. Project Narrative (2 pages)

Address the following:

• Significance and impact: What need will be addressed and who will benefit?
• Design and feasibility: What will be done and how will it be completed within the timeline?
• Team and inclusion: Who will conduct the work? How is the team qualified? How will individuals with behavioral health and developmental disability needs be represented within in the team?
• Pathway to next steps: What is the final product and the next steps that the proposed project will produce (products, policy guidance, grant submission, or program expansion)?

3. Project Timeline (1 page)

Provide an outline of project activities. Identify key tasks, responsible team members, and expected completion dates.

4. Budget and Justification (1 page)

Include a project budget that outlines all requested funds. Include a brief justification explaining how each cost supports the proposed activities and project goals.

5. Letters of Commitment (if applicable)

Include any letters from partnering organizations, collaborators, or stakeholders confirming their role in the project.

Key Dates

Application deadline: April 20, 2026

Notification: April 27, 2026

Start date: May 1, 2026

Submission Process

Proposal documents should be single spaced, 0.5” margins or larger, and font size 11 point or larger.

Incomplete and incorrectly formatted submissions will not be reviewed.

Upload all proposal documents, in one PDF file, here.

Review Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

1. Relevance to priority areas
2. Feasibility within the timeline
3. Potential for meaningful impact in Georgia
4. Likelihood of producing a clear next step (e.g. products, policy guidance, grant submission, or program expansion)