A round of grants funded by the Texas Medical Association Foundation (TMAF) has enabled community organizations to furnish vaccines and educational programming to vulnerable populations across the state.
Now, TMA invites participants to apply to make a similar difference by May 23.
Local impact grants of up to $3,500 support vaccine clinics and related community initiatives and grassroots educational campaigns through Vaccines Defend What Matters (VDWM), a TMAF program that aims to increase access to immunization, address vaccine hesitancy, and dispel misinformation.
In 2025, a few of the latest VDWM local impact grant awardees:
- Organized a student-run clinic in Tarrant County that supplied free tetanus, hepatitis B, and flu vaccines to under-resourced and unhoused adults;
- Staged a Houston-area annual back-to-school vaccine and backpacks drive; and
- In the Rio Grande Valley, created an animated educational video on the importance of the HPV vaccine to be distributed through social media.
TMA-member physician practices, county medical societies, TMA Alliance chapters, and medical students can apply through May 23 for the current round of grants to offset the cost of hosting shot clinics and conducting other outreach events. Learn when the final round of this year’s local impact grants will open in the grant portal. Applicants can submit grant applications once per round.
Grants were distributed to 23 awardees over the past year, says Rachel Hauser, TMA senior public health policy analyst. With applications and awardees over the past few grant cycles divided evenly between new and returning applicants, Ms. Hauser is “glad to see Vaccines Defend What Matters expanding its footprint and also be of benefit to keep folks reapplying.”
Applicants whose focus is in areas of greatest need – counties with low immunization rates and high rates of conscientious exemptions – will receive priority funding. Recipients of grants have up to 12 months from receipt to use all awarded funds.
Local impact grant applicants can find examples of program budgets and final grant reports here and see additional TMA Foundation funding opportunities here.
Last Updated On
April 25, 2025
Originally Published On
April 25, 2025
Jessica Ridge
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1395