Discover Funding Opportunities

SPARK is a SFARI initiative intended to recruit, engage and retain a community of 50,000 individuals with autism, and their family members, in the United States. This research cohort includes children and adults who span the full autism spectrum and individuals of all socio-demographic backgrounds. Through this RFA, SFARI supported additional U.S.-based clinical sites for the purpose of recruiting individuals with ASD and their family members to participate in SPARK. Selected sites received funding on an annual basis and were responsible for recruitment planning, outreach and recruitment, return of results, data entry, and tracking progress over time. SPARK participants contribute medical and behavioral information online, collect and mail in saliva samples for DNA analysis, and have the opportunity to participate in additional research studies through the study's research match program. Individuals who enroll in SPARK have access to both aggregate and individual behavioral results from their participation, and can elect to receive genetic results should a genetic cause of their autism be identified.

SFARI is accepting applications for funding of Patient Advocacy Group Family Conferences, with a focus on groups in the Simons Searchlight community. This funding is intended to support and enhance the research component of conferences, from scientist presentations to in-person research opportunities for families. It is open to both patient advocacy groups (PAGs) with well-established conferences as well as those in early years of convening families and connecting to science. As they plan their conferences, SFARI encourages PAGs to connect with the SFARI science team who may be able to facilitate connections to scientists with whom to explore possible conference involvement. Funding is offered in three tiers: Tier 1 ($2,500) for groups just getting started planning to mobilize their community; Tier 2 (up to $7,500) for groups planning a significant scientific component with multiple in-person scientist presentations; and Tier 3 (up to $15,000) for groups planning the most significant scientific component featuring both in-person presentations and participatory research for families. The funding is provided as a one-year gift to support conferences scheduled between January 2026 and February 2027.