Our Grant and Sponsorship Programs: Supporting Community Efforts
The focus of our grant programs is to support organizations that promote health and wellness and/or provide access to health care for underserved Illinois residents.
Please note: we do not fund hospitals or hospital programs, individual schools or universities, political campaigns or religious activities. An organization can either receive a grant or a sponsorship, but not both.
What’s New in 2012?
In the area of grants:
The Community Affairs Advisory Board (CAAB) Grant has now been changed to the Community Partners Grant (CPG). We have also expanded our funding range with the CPG to better provide 501(c)(3), non profit organizations the opportunity to implement a successful and sustainable disease management and prevention program. In the past, awards were in the $5,000 to $25,00 range per fiscal year. Now, under the current CPG, the grant range will increase to $20,000 to $45,000 per fiscal year. The priority area of funding is disease prevention and management.
BCBSIL is not looking to fund indirect operational expenses at 100 percent. However, a portion of the CPG and Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) can be used to pay for indirect operational expenses as part of the implementation of a direct service program.
Our Community Investment Board which is made up of a number of senior level executives, will review both the CPG and the HKHF grant applications and make funding decisions.
Applications for the CPG are due no later than March 30. Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grant applications are due earlier this year- April 30. Notification of both CPG and HKHF grant awards will be made in late June – early July for the funding period of July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
In the area of sponsorships:
Requests that are made by organizations working on health and wellness with the underserved are a priority for this year’s sponsorship support.
What remains the same?
In an effort to increase the number of organizations who have access to BCBSIL community investment support, an organization can either receive a grant or a sponsorship, but not both. Funding is still for 501(c)(3) organizations.
GRANT REQUESTS
Grant funding is for program support to 501(c)(3) organizations and occurs on an annual basis through the Community Partners Grant and the Healthy Kids Healthy Families Grant. For more information regarding grant specifics, please see below.
Community Partners Grant
A Community Partners Grant supports programs implemented by 501(c)(3) organizations. BCBSIL’s funding priority areas are to:
- Improve access to care for vulnerable populations
- Reduce health disparities
- Increase quality and affordability of health care
- Promote health and wellness
- Prevent and manage diseases
- Support direct services
The online application is due March 30, 2012, and provides funding for the period of July 1, 2012, - June 30, 2013. Please submit applications by 11:59 pm CST, March 30, 2012, to be considered for funding for the period July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. A Community Partners Grant awards would fall within the $20,000 to $45,000 range. Evaluation of proposals is based heavily on:
- Alignment with BCBSIL’s funding priorities as stated above
- The organization’s ability to clearly define and measure outcomes
Grantees will be asked to report on outcomes twice a year at 6 month intervals.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Families Grants
The goal of Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) is to impact the lives of more than one million children and their families through community outreach, educational partnerships, volunteerism and direct financial support in the following areas:
- Nutrition education
- Physical activity
- Disease prevention and management
- Supporting safe environments.
Disease prevention and management is the focus of HKHF this year.
Grant funding is for program support to 501(c) (3) organizations and occurs on an annual basis. The online application is due April 30 and provides funding for the period of July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013. Awards are typically over $50,000 in the $50,000 - $100,000 range. Other than the award amount, the difference between a HKHF grant and the CPG is that the focus is on systems change work and a collaboration of organizations is required.
Evaluation of HKHF proposals is based heavily on:
- Alignment with disease prevention and management
- The organization's ability to clearly define and measure outcomes
- The organization's ability to collaborate with other organizations to meet outcomes
- Clear roles and responsibilities among the collaborative partners
- Geographic representation-programs addressing needs in under-resourced communities outside of Chicago are a focus
Like CPG, BCBSIL's funding priority areas for HKHF are to:
- Improve access to care for vulnerable populations
- Reduce health disparities
- Increase quality and affordability of health care
- Promote health and wellness
- Prevent and manage diseases
- Support direct services
The 2012 HKHF grant application cycle ends on April 30, 2012. Please submit applications by 11:59 pm CST on April 30, 2012 to be considered for funding for the period July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. Notification of the HKHF grant awards will be made in late June – early July for the funding period of July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
Apply for a HKHF grant 
.
(If you are unable to access the link on the grants page, copy and paste this URL directly into your browser: https://www.GrantRequest.com/SID_805?SA=SNA&FID=35072)
Sponsorships
BCBSIL reviews sponsorship requests throughout the year. Sponsorships are for events that offer BCBSIL an opportunity for community visibility. Requests from organizations working on health and wellness with the underserved are a priority for this year’s sponsorship support. Examples of sponsorship requests could include galas, dinners, luncheons, seminars, conferences and similar activities. Sponsorships do not require 501(c)(3) status. A two month lead time is requested. Sponsorship awards are typically in the $250 to $5,000 range.
If you have an application in process or to view a previously submitted application, please use this link to
My Accounts .
Questions? E-mail Regina High Community Investments Manager.
