Overview of The Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research (The O&P Foundation)
The O&P Foundation is the only independent national 501(c)(3) nonprofit solely dedicated to advancing orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic care through research, education, and professional development funding opportunities.
Our purpose is to advance the quality of orthotic and prosthetic care by investing in the education, research, and professional development of the clinicians and researchers who serve OP&P patients, ensuring a future of continual improvement and innovation in the field.
We seek to empower the OP&P profession by fostering clinical innovation, supporting early-career researchers, and equipping professionals at every stage with the tools and opportunities to improve patient care through evidence-based practice.
Our Ask
Immediate Ask: We are currently seeking to raise $550,000 to reach $1million for a match challenge that has been put forward by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics which expires on November 30th 2025.
Medium and Long Term Ask: 1) ongoing unrestricted support for our programs, organizational sustainability, and growth. 2) restricted contributions to support/sponsor current and new programs 3) exploring partnerships and collaboration in offering innovative funding programs to accelerate growth and clinical innovation in the Orthotic and Prosthetic sector.
Core Programs
We are committed to the continual pursuit of sustainable growth for the professionals who drive value in OP&P rehabilitation. Through thoughtful and innovative funding programs, we seek to drive meaningful change and improvements in OP&P patient care.
We provide funding opportunities in three program areas: Research (grants), Education (scholarships and awards), and Professional Training Awards (funding awards).
Needs
Collaborations are needed to sponsor and or pool funding to support research funding opportunities (100-250k+) to catalyze clinically relevant research in O&P. Larger sponsorships ($250-500+k) are also needed to support multi year, multi site projects to advance O&P patient care in order to offset the federal funding cuts to the DoD OPORP and CDMRP programs.
Partnerships are needed to reduce the financial barrier to entry into a field with a higher growing demand than other healthcare professions which already has a shortage of clinicians. Scholarships and internship opportunities are in very high demand.
Collaboration with industry to invest into the clinicians/clinical community that bridges the gaps between technology and consumer in the healthcare space. Providing critical education, training, support and validation to the providers that serve as the interface with the patient and healthcare system to provide rehabilitative and restorative technologies.