Through Community Grants, the CF Foundation funds community-led projects designed to support and empower people with CF and their loved ones. From art and music to fitness and career counseling, these free programs help foster connection, personal growth, and overall well-being across the CF community.
Programs For People With CF
| 65 Roses Art Club Hosted by Stephanie Carlstrom, an adult with CF, the 65 Roses Art Club provides classes for children and adults with CF to explore various therapeutic creative projects. Virtual classes will encourage stress management, socialization, and connection while developing new creative skills. To register, complete an interest form. |
| BreatheStrong CF Exercise Grants BreatheStrong CF provides recreational sponsorships of up to $750 that give children and adults with CF access to exercise activities that build strength and support overall wellness. |
| CF Senior Saturday Meet and Greets Led by Kristina Robinson, an adult with CF, this program provides a virtual meeting space for people with CF ages 40+ to connect, exchange experiences, and access age-specific resources; encouraging them to become leaders in their communities, promote positive aging, and help inform policies and programs that meet the needs of older adults with CF. |
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Founded by professional performer and adult with CF, Rebecca Shook, this group of comedic actors creates personalized skits with music and storytelling to provide emotional support for children with CF during hospital and clinic visits. Parents can request customized videos through the DistrActors website. |
| Pipes for the People Created by Keshav Harpavat, a teenage CF Foundation volunteer, Pipes for the People is a weekly, virtual music program where children and adults with CF will learn how to play the chanter — a smaller, beginner-friendly version of the bagpipe — as well as incorporate exercises to support breath control. |
| sINgSPIRE Private Lessons by Breathe Bravely Founded by professional vocalist and adult with CF, Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, this 10-week program focuses on combating CF through the art of singing. Virtual lessons are taught by a cohort of professional voice instructors and focus on building self-awareness, self-confidence, and respiratory strength. |
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sINgSPIRE Virtual Choir by Breathe Bravely Individuals who have completed at least one session of the sINgSPIRE Private Lessons program are invited to participate in the sINgSPIRE Virtual Choir. Students participate in group rehearsals where they interact with each other, build community, and work through music that is commissioned and arranged specifically for them. |
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The Familiar Pinch — Cystic Fibrosis Chronicles Led by Rowan O’Bryan, an adult with CF, The Familiar Pinch is a yearlong creative photography and writing course for teens with CF ages 13 to 19. Participants will use daily photo-taking and journaling to document their everyday lives, reflect on their identities, and explore the complexities of living with the disease. To enroll, complete this interest form.
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| The Salty Pen: A CF Writing Group Led by Cynthia Baldwin, a published author and adult with CF, this virtual program is for all writers with CF who want to achieve their personal writing goals and have the opportunity to collaborate, find support, and solicit feedback on their writing. |
Programs For People With CF and Loved Ones
| Practical Skills for Healthy Eating for Children With CF and Their Families Produced by the Integrative Health team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, this virtual cooking series is tailored for families of people with CF. Interactive classes will provide practical strategies for nutritious cooking featuring recipes that meet the dietary needs of the CF community and appeal to the whole family regardless of budget or busy schedules. |
| Spit it Out (A CF Storytellers Training) Led by Katherine Russell, a specialist in storytelling and adult with CF, and the team at BreatheStrong CF, this virtual public speaking program uses trauma-informed training to help people with CF and their loved ones share their stories. Speakers will learn how to familiarize themselves with their own story, structure their story to connect with others, and deliver their story with power. |
| From Claire's Place Foundation, the Work Proudly Program provides adults with CF and caregivers with job training and equipment to advance their professional skillsets and acquire flexible, work-from-home employment. Referrals for the program must be submitted by a member of the patient’s care team through the Claire’s Place Foundation website. |
Programs For Parents and Loved Ones
| Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures is an online space where primary caregivers of newly diagnosed infants can build community, empower their families with tools to live full lives, and feel hopeful about their children's futures. This two-part program includes a series of self-guided informational modules and live workshops. For registration information and portal access, contact the Bright Beginnings team. |
| Prioritizing You: A Wellness Program for Those Who Love Someone With CF Developed by Nicole DeBraal, parent of a teen with CF, Prioritizing You is a 12-week wellness coaching group designed to support the unique needs of CF caregivers and loved ones. The program provides tools and education for managing stress, building healthy habits, regulating the nervous system, and more. |
About Community Support Grants and Impact Grants
As part of our longstanding commitment to people with cystic fibrosis and their families, we are evolving our approach to community grants. Our focus is on supporting the priorities that matter most to the CF community and investing in community-informed ideas in ways that are sustainable, meaningful, and impactful.
As we redesign this approach, we have made the decision to conclude the Impact Grants program and will not hold an application cycle in 2026. This pause allows us to build something that tailors support for the community’s evolving needs and optimizes the Foundation’s programs in the future. During this time, we will continue to invest in other community grant efforts already underway.
For questions, please email communitygrants@cff.org.