Leanne Storch Support Group Fund - $750 Support Group Development Grant

The Leanne Storch Support Group Fund (LSSGF), established in 2012, honors the commitment of the former Executive Director of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2003 and received a lung transplant in 2014. Leanne ran a local support group for 10 years and continued to be a passionate advocate for the PF and interstitial lung disease (ILD) community. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is sad to report that Leanne passed away in 2019, but her spirit and work will live on through the Leanne Storch Support Group Fund.

About the Grant
Groups are limited to one grant per funding year. Support group leaders can request funds to cover expenses such as site rental fees, printing costs, refreshments, honoraria, and other costs related to running a quarterly or monthly support group.

The PFF requires that grant recipients submit an official expense report and receipts to document all expenditures of this grant made during the grant year. The PFF must receive receipts by December 31, 2026. Receipts can be emailed to Molly Abrams at mabrams@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or mailed to the PFF office.

The following list includes examples of appropriate usage of LSSGF grant funds:
  • Site rental fees
  • Printing and mailing cost of brochures and flyers to promote support group meetings
  • Refreshments or treats for support group meetings
  • Coverage of costs for a holiday party, summer barbecue, or other group gathering
  • Gift baskets
The following list includes examples of inappropriate usage of LSSGF grant funds:
  • Stipends for healthcare professional speakers
  • Other payments to healthcare professionals or healthcare organizations
  • Coverage of costs related to an individual's medical care
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of expenses that cannot be covered through Leanne Storch Support Group Fund grants. Please see the LSSGF FAQ here or contact the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation for any additional questions about the acceptable use of Leanne Storch Support Group Fund grants.

2026 Grant Application Cycle
The application cycle opens on Monday, January 26, 2026 and closes on Friday, February 27, 2026. Please note: the PFF is not able to accept applications or provide grant funds outside of this application cycle timeline, regardless of circumstance. The Leanne Storch Support Group Fund is only available for support groups within the United States.
Review & Notification Process
  • All applications will be reviewed and scored by the LSSGF Review Working Group which is made up of PFF Support Group Leader Network members and PFF Staff.
  • A member of the Review Working Group will reach out to each applicant to conduct an interview to discuss the application.
  • Funding decisions will be made based on the overall quality of the application and interview.
  • Applicants will be notified about the status of their application by a member of the PFF staff. If funded, applicants will then receive a Letter of Agreement to complete via DocuSign.
  • An individual must be named on the Letter of Agreement. The PFF is not able to make grant payments directly to an institution or healthcare organization.
  • Funds will be released after the PFF has received a signed copy of the Letter of Agreement and other forms.
Click here to review the full Leanne Storch Support Group Fund Guidelines.

You may reach out to the PFF with any questions at any time by contacting Molly Abrams at mabrams@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or 312.854.1940.

Question Title

* 1. I have read and understand the Leanne Storch Support Group Fund Guidelines.

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