There are several options an institution can pursue for funding the initial startup costs for a mobile unit that have been successful in the past. These can include federal, state, and private sources of funds. Many institutions with successful mobile lung cancer screening programs have received funding from some combination of the three sources. 

Community Project Funding (Congressional Earmarks): Institutions can pursue federal funding through earmarks, a process where community projects are directly funded through the federal budget by way of their member of Congress. These funds can be used for capital investments, such as purchasing the mobile screening unit. This process is available for non-profit organizations and can be initiated and handled by your institution’s government relations staff. Find additional information on Community Project Funding.  

Here is the information you’ll need to successfully submit a project request. 

 

What Is an Earmark? 

An “earmark” — formally known as “Community Project Funding” in the House and “Congressionally Directed Spending” in the Senate — directs federal funding to a specific project in a congressional member’s district. Earmarks allow Congress to allocate funding for specific projects or programs. Advocates for earmarks argue that they provide critical funding for local projects, enabling communities to address specific needs and priorities that might otherwise be overlooked in broader budgetary processes. 

Successful Earmark Examples:  

  • Atrium Health Floyd (Rome, GA): $1.8 million in FY24 to purchase a mobile low-dose CT screening unit that will serve residents of Floyd, Polk, Chattooga, Bartow, Gordon, and Walker counties, particularly in rural areas.   

  • University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville, TN): $2.3 million in FY25 for UTMC to create a mobile lung cancer screening unit. This funding was successfully earmarked through the agriculture appropriations bill.  
     

Getting Involved for FY 2026 

After securing institutional buy-in, a successful earmark request can provide the essential funding needed to finalize a mobile unit initiative. Unlike other federal funding sources, earmarks typically do not impose cost-matching requirements and are usually granted as 100% grants. The funding amount for each earmark is typically set by the chair and ranking member of the appropriations committee and will be announced at a later date. 

If your institution is prepared to submit an earmark request, STS recommends contacting your representative and senators as soon as possible to familiarize them with your proposal(s). The best way to do this is through your Government Relations team.  

  1. Call the main office phone number of the representatives and senators for the community your project will benefit. 

  1. Tell the person who answers that you want to send an earmark request for a mobile lung cancer screening unit in FY 2026 appropriations. 

  1. Ask if the office’s form for earmark requests is available yet and how to access it. 

  1. Ask for the name and contact information of the staff members in their office who will handle the earmark request. Reach out to set up a preliminary meeting before submitting your request form. This meeting will ensure they know the project's value to the community when they receive your submission. 

To increase the likelihood of your project getting accepted, coordinate with as many community partners as possible to demonstrate the broad support behind your project. Each congressional office can only submit a limited number of requests annually, aiming to make the greatest impact possible. Projects with wide-ranging benefits are most likely to be selected. 

Official deadlines and request forms for House and Senate offices are not yet available, but we anticipate deadlines from late February to early April. Given the quick turnaround, preliminary conversations with staff for your representatives should start as soon as possible. 

A sample funding proposal can be found here: Sample Funding Proposal .docx 

  • Grants from Private Foundations: Many local or regional foundations offer funding opportunities for community-based health initiatives. For example, the Rich Mauti Cancer Fund recently contributed $500,000 towards a mobile lung cancer screening unit for the St. Tammany Health Foundation. Similarly, Indiana University Health recently received a $4.5 million gift from the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation to help bring a mobile lung cancer screening unit to the community. We recommend contacting your hospital’s administration to brainstorm potential charitable partnerships.  

  • State and Federal Health Grants: Grants may be used to cover both the capital costs and operational expenses for mobile screening units. Some additional resources that might help: 

    • Federally Funded Grant Opportunities: Search for healthcare-related grants, including those for cancer screening and mobile health programs. Filters are available for specific areas of interest. 
    • Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Grants: HRSA provides funding to improve access to healthcare services, including rural health and mobile health units. It frequently offers grants for underserved populations and healthcare initiatives, like mobile screening units. 
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Funding: CDC offers grants for programs aimed at reducing the burden of diseases like cancer. Check CDC’s National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) or other specific funding opportunities for cancer screening. 
    • National Cancer Institute (NCI) Grants: NCI provides funding for research and community outreach efforts related to cancer, including screening programs. Their community outreach and research grants can support mobile lung cancer screening programs. 
    • State Departments of Health: Many state health departments offer grant opportunities specific to cancer prevention and screening. Visit your state's department of health website to explore available funding or contact them directly. 
    • American Lung Association: The ALA supports community-based lung health programs and may offer funding for lung cancer screening initiatives. It also offers grant funding for programs aimed at improving lung health and addressing disparities in access to care. 
    • Rural Health Information Hub: This portal is dedicated to improving healthcare in rural communities and includes information on funding for mobile health programs. They offer a database of funding opportunities for healthcare programs, including lung cancer screenings in rural areas. 

Additionally, we recommend your government relations team reach out to your state representatives and/or governor to explore funding options available from your state government.  

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