UPDATES FROM FPTR REGARDING COVID-19

Important Grants and Other Funding Announcement for 2020

FPTR Trustees have announced that there will be no disruptions in the funding cycle. However, they have elected to postpone releasing 3 grants originally planned for 2020. The organization plans to award over $800,000 in grant and scholarship funding in 2020.

This is a time truly unlike any other. The COVID-19 crisis has created extreme challenges for all of us in the physical therapy community, both personally and professionally. Like many nonprofits, FPTR has been affected by the current market disruptions. Further, our major fundraising efforts – the student-led Marquette Challenge and President’s Sustaining Fund – have also been disrupted with anticipated less operating funds secured. Together, these fundraising programs represent 40% of our annual development budget. FPTR is acting to ensure the strength of the organization and its mission.

With an eye towards the future, the FPTR Board of Trustees has been closely monitoring the organization’s operating and financial status and has made prudent decisions to protect the long-term viability of the organization. Trustees have made the decision to postpone releasing 3 grants originally planned for 2020. FPTR plans to award over $800k in grant and scholarship funding in 2020.

Our partners and individual donors make our research grants, scholarships, and annual fellowship possible. Current scholarship applications submitted for 2020 are under review and FPTR will accept 2020 grant applications beginning April 10, 2020. Our all-volunteer Scientific Review Committee will continue to uphold the integrity of our review process and maintain our scheduled timeline. This will ensure that there are no disruptions in accepting applications.

Important information for grant seekers and scholarship applicants:

• FPTR will distribute all grants that have been awarded to date.
• FPTR will award research grants, scholarships, and a fellowship in 2020.
• The FPTR scholarship earliest notification date is June 30.
• FPTR grant applications open on April 10, 2020. The list of grants to be offered will be available on our website.
• As researchers face new challenges, FPTR is working with current funding recipients to adjust timelines for research that has been placed on hold.
• For additional questions, contact Liz Jackson, Sr. Specialist Research and Grants.

Many of FPTR’s investments in research are made possible through endowments – the bedrock that provides funding for our grants and scholarships each year. Growth of FPTR funds depends on investment returns and individual donations and is guided by a balanced investment policy. FPTR’s spending plan balances 2 goals – providing judicious annual research funding and growing endowment balances to ensure continued research funding for years to come.

As with many nonprofits, FPTR was impacted by the volatile market and has made adjustments. However, years of support from the physical therapy community will help FPTR weather the current economic climate.

Looking Towards the Future

Now in our 4^th decade, the long term health of the organization is strong thanks to individual and partner support.  The FPTR Board of Trustees will continue to steward the organization’s operational and financial assets prudently.

Current FPTR endowment funds, wise investments, partnership support, and future gifts will ensure that FPTR will fund research and researchers for many years to come. For those that are able to give to provide the funds needed during this unpredictable time, we are grateful for your continued support.

Grants that have been postponed for 2020 will be available when investment returns allow, a factor that is dependent on the success of financial markets. However, these funds will remain restricted to advance specific areas of research in the future.

To learn more about our current research grant opportunities, visit Foundation4pt.org/grants.

2019-2020 VCU-Marquette Challenge Postponed

April 6, 2020

Dear Participants of the Marquette Challenge,

This is a time truly unlike any other. The COVID-19 crisis has created extreme challenges for all of us in the physical therapy community. Regrettably, we must suspend our annual student fundraiser, the 2019-2020 VCU-Marquette Challenge. With the cancellation of the APTA NEXT conference, the Foundation Awards Luncheon is also cancelled.

Due to the suspension of the Challenge, FPTR will announce no winners or prizes. However, all donations received for the 2019-2020 Challenge by the May 31 deadline will be counted toward school totals for the 2020-2021 VCU-Marquette Challenge. We greatly appreciate all of the funds raised to date.

We are deeply saddened to have to make this decision, because you – our students and faculty – have been our staunch supporters for more than 30 years. Funds raised through the Challenge represent nearly a third of our annual fundraising efforts. We’re so thankful for your commitment to supporting physical therapy research. Our sincere hope is to launch this effort for the 2020-2021 academic year in the fall as we always have.

We want to personally thank all of the students, faculty members, and programs for steadfast support of this annual fundraising effort. This is a difficult time for our patrons and the profession. We will stand together through this and continue looking to the future of the profession.

In good health and with our sincere gratitude,

A Message from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Board of Trustees

March 30, 2020

Dear Foundation Supporters,

We hope you, your family, your friends, and your colleagues are safe and healthy during these difficult and challenging times. This current crisis impacts all of us – personally and professionally. The circumstances are unprecedented compared to anything we have faced in our lifetimes.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) leaders – including our Board of Trustees and our CEO, Barbara Malm – are monitoring our operations and financial status closely. Like many nonprofits, our investments are not immune to current market trends. Our major fundraising efforts, such as the Marquette Challenge and the President’s Sustaining Fund, will also be affected. We face difficult decisions to continue our mission to fund research and develop researchers to optimize movement and health.

At this difficult time, we will keep you informed and strengthen our pledge to make prudent decisions to maintain the viability of FPTR for years to come. We will keep you apprised of our work at Foundation4pt.org/COVID-19.

May you have good health, and again, THANK YOU for your support.

Best wishes,

Paul Rockar, Jr., PT, DPT, MS
FPTR President

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) 2020 funding cycle will continue on schedule.

March 26, 2020

The 2020 FPTR Promotion of Doctoral Studies I & II scholarships and the New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI) will be awarded as scheduled with earliest notification of June 30, 2020. These applications are currently under scientific review.

The Foundation will open the applications for grants on schedule for 2020. Applications will open April 10, 2020. At this time, no disruptions in the review schedule are anticipated. As many institutions have required adjustments in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the Foundation is working with current grant recipients to ensure that accommodations are met for those who have had to pause or modify research. For questions and support, email Liz Jackson. In these unprecedented times, the Foundation remains committed to funding research and researchers to improve movement and health. Foundation announcements will continue to be communicated via email, web, and social media.

During this challenging time, we are thankful to our Scientific Review Committee and Board of Trustees. These volunteers are working to ensure that we are able to continue work towards our mission.