USA
Shots 4 Meningitis: using sport in meningitis advocacy – John B. Grimes
Launched in 2024, the Advocacy Fund was created to support members of the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) in delivering innovative, high-impact projects for World Meningitis Day.
With an initial investment of £20,000, the Fund supported six member initiatives, helping them broaden their reach and amplify their impact.
Each year, we offer several grants to empower members to take action in the three months surrounding World Meningitis Day.
The Fund helps turn ideas into meaningful change. With previous projects reaching hundreds of thousands of people, we hope to grow its impact every year.
In 2024…
-
6CoMO member projects were funded.
-
£ 20,000was invested in advocacy projects around the world.
Questions you might have
- The World Meningitis Day Advocacy Fund is open for applications between May and June.
- All applications are reviewed by a panel of CoMO/Meningitis Research Foundation employees and Meningitis Research Foundation trustees.
- Successful applicants are announced in July.
- Funded activities must take place between 1st August and 31st October.
- Reports on activities must be submitted by the grant recipients by 30th November.
We welcome applications from anyone who has been a CoMO member for at least nine months. They may hold any level of membership (Full Member, Associate Member or Friend) and have any level of existing income.
Applicants are not required to disclose personal income. However, all applicants must report any external funding received for meningitis advocacy activities.
Previous Advocacy Fund recipients must wait three years before reapplying. For example, recipients of a 2025 Advocacy Fund grant will be eligible to apply again in 2028.
We welcome applications from all regions and countries and encourage all CoMO members to apply.
Every application is scored on various criteria, including:
- A focus on meningitis advocacy.
- A clear connection to World Meningitis Day.
- Defined and achievable goals, with good plans for executing, communicating and evaluating the project.
- Clear and proportionate budgeting.
- The ability to reach a significant audience in a meaningful way.
- The applicant’s track record of World Meningitis Day engagement or meningitis advocacy.
In cases where applications receive the same score, we will prioritise:
- Applicants with lower existing income (where applicable).
- Applications that incorporate the three key World Meningitis Day actions.
Before starting to plan your application, see what you can learn from other Fund recipients by reading the World Meningitis Day Advocacy Fund case studies.
You can also read our blog to find out what made previous successful applications stand out.
Then read our applicant instructions carefully. Here you can find everything you need to know to make a successful application.
The Fund is not currently open to applications, but feel free to download the application documents for your reference. Please note that these may be changed in future years.
What impact has the World Meningitis Day Advocacy Fund had?
In 2024, we invested £20,000 in six advocacy projects to support CoMO members around the world to broaden their reach and amplify their impact. Here are the results.
Côte d’Ivoire
Dialogues to defeat meningitis: from community to policymakers – Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS)
Nigeria
Educating health workers about meningitis in Nigeria – Care and Development Centre (CADEC)
Japan
Beacons of hope: using light to raise awareness – Japan Child Meningitis Organisation (JaCMO)
Ghana
Collaboration puts meningitis on the national agenda – Concern Health Education Project (CHEP)
Tanzania
Uniting healthcare professionals and survivors to raise meningitis awareness in Tanzania – Dr. Spensa’r Fulgence