GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is your mission?

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians. This mission is achieved through programs and services funded in response to grant requests, as well as through funding or proactively developing initiatives supporting needs identified by the Foundation.

What are the Foundation’s Focus Areas?

Our focus areas include: Health of Vulnerable Populations - improving health outcomes of populations served by safety net organizations; Healthy Active Communities - increasing physical activity and encouraging healthy eating habits; and Community Impact through Nonprofit Excellence - increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations.

What is the history of BCBSNC Foundation?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina established the BCBSNC Foundation as a separate, independent, nonprofit entity in November 2000 to ensure that resources would always be available to contribute to improving the health of North Carolinians, regardless of the company’s financial performance.

While the two organizations share a similar commitment to the health of North Carolinians, the Foundation’s board of directors and staff function, and make decisions, independently from the corporation. 

Since 2000, BCBSNC Foundation has distributed more than 245 grants to organizations across the state, valued at more than $33.5 million.

How is the Foundation governed?

The Foundation operates under the direction of its own board of directors. The Foundation’s board of directors is comprised of executive-level employees within Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, in addition to one medical community representative who also serves on the BCBSNC corporate board of trustees.

What is a Signature Program?

In addition to our responsive grant cycles and multi-year partnerships, the Foundation has developed, and continues to support several Signature Programs. These include: Be Active Kids^®, the Breast Health Project, Community TIEs Awards Program, 5 Good Ideas Make them Great, and Healthy Community Institute for Nonprofit Excellence.

QUESTIONS RELATED TO GRANTMAKING

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for a grant from your foundation?

Organizations are eligible for grants from the Foundation if they have qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or are public instrumentalities (i.e., a government entity). Individuals, private foundations [as defined by Section 509(a) of the Code], and Type III supporting organizations are not eligible for a grant.

If my organization does not have its 501(c)(3) designation, can another organization apply for the money for my organization?

Grants are not awarded to an organization to be used as pass-through funds for another organization that is not a 501(c)(3) public charity or governmental entity.

Will my organization be required to submit an audit with its proposal?

• Organizations with $500,000 or more in annual revenues are required to submit a certified public accounting audit.
• Organizations with at least $100,000, but less than $500,000 in annual revenues are required to submit financial statements reviewed by an independent certified public accountant.
• Organizations with annual revenues less than $100,000 are required to submit financial statements certified as accurate and complete by the organization's chief executive officer. Financial statements should include at a minimum a Statement of Financial Position (or Balance Sheet) listing assets and liabilities and a Statement of Activities (or Income Statement) listing revenues and expenditures.
• There may be some exceptions to this general rule based on the focus area. Please be sure to check the specific requirements of the focus area for which you are applying.

If my organization is a governmental entity (such as a health department), will I need to submit our county's audit with our proposal?

Governmental organizations do not need to submit the entire county audit with the proposal. Given the size of the audits, these entities are required to submit only four components of the audit: 1) the auditor's report (cover letter); 2) the balance sheet; 3) the statement of revenues and expenditures; and 4) the auditor's notes.

Investment Priorities and Restrictions

Does the Foundation provide grants to individuals?

No, but the Foundation is able to invest in agencies that can help individuals.

Does the Foundation pay for indirect costs?

The Foundation does not fund University overhead costs. These are the costs associated with providing facilities and administrative support for sponsored activities and include operating and maintaining buildings and grounds, equipment, the libraries, and providing administration at the university, college and department levels.

The Foundation will provide funding for direct service or program related costs such as salaries, benefits, materials, supplies, etc. that can be directly associated to the project. If you have questions specifically related to budget development, please contact the appropriate Focus Area Program Manager directly.

Does the Foundation pay for capital, either equipment or construction?

The Foundation will invest in acquisition of equipment as it relates to a specific program. The Foundation typically does not pay for construction (a.k.a. bricks and mortar).

Does the Foundation pay for personnel expenses?

Yes, as they relate to a specific program. For instance, the Foundation would be unlikely to pay for ABC nonprofit's Executive Director position, but would more likely pay for personnel costs associated with a program (e.g., a nurse to provide diabetes management classes).

Would the Foundation pay for 100 percent of a program's costs?

The Foundation prefers to be one of several different sources of revenue. An application is strengthened by seeking multiple sources of support as this is a key indicator of sustainability.

Is there a limit on the duration or size of a grant award?

Yes. Grants are limited in scope and duration based on the parameters of each specific focus area. Please refer to the specific focus area investment guidelines on this Web site for specifications.

Does the Foundation invest in existing programs or just new or expanding programs?

The Foundation provides support for existing, new, and expanding programs.

Multiple Grant Requests

How often can my organization apply for and receive a grant from the Foundation?

Once the Foundation has invested in a specific program, it cannot be invested in again until after the original grant term expires. For example, if ABC nonprofit received a one-year grant for a cardiac rehab program in July 2009, the grant term would expire in July 2010. ABC could not apply for another grant for the rehab program, in any focus area, until July 2010 (once the term expired on the original grant).

Does the Foundation have restrictions on the number of applications submitted in various focus areas?

Yes, and they are as follows:

• An organization may apply for and receive a grant for different programs in multiple focus areas simultaneously.
  Different programs within the same organization may receive a grant in different focus areas simultaneously. For example, ABC nonprofit may receive a grant in the Healthy Active Communities focus areas for a cardiac rehab program and a grant in the Health of Vulnerable Populations focus area for a diabetes-screening program.
• The Foundation encourages organizations to submit only one grant application per focus area per application deadline/cycle.
  The number of applications received in each category far exceeds the amount of money available for grants. Therefore, the Foundation recommends that you determine which of your programs best meets our results sought and submit a proposal for that program.

Application / Proposal

How do I apply for a grant?

If, after reviewing the Foundation's investment guidelines, you believe that your program/project would qualify for a grant, please refer to the process and procedures for applying for a grant available under each focus area section of this Web site. Note that application procedures will vary based on the focus area to which you apply.

What are your proposal submission deadlines?

Please go to each focus area's "How to Apply" section to determine the due date, or check the Foundation calendar.

Do I need to contact the Foundation prior to submitting an application and/or may I set up a meeting to discuss my proposal?

All of the information regarding investment priorities and application instructions can be found on the Web site. However, if after carefully reviewing all information provided you still have questions, you may e-mail or call the designated team member on the contact list. Team members may help clarify the guidelines and application, but they cannot tell you whether your project will receive a grant, or how it will fare competitively against other proposals. Discussing your proposal with a team member does not guarantee an investment. In addition, team members generally do not meet with organizations to discuss proposals or investment opportunities.

My organization is a government entity, what do I need to submit in lieu of an IRS tax determination letter?

If your organization is a government entity, you must provide the BCBSNC Foundation with a statement typed on your organization's official letterhead and signed by a responsible officer or other person authorized to make such representations on behalf of the entity, certifying that the organization (i) is a government unit described in Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(v), 170(c)(1) and 509(a)(1) of the Code and (ii) agrees to use the funds granted for exclusively public purposes within the meaning of Section 170(c)(1) of the Code.

Will the Foundation invest in collaborative groups?

Yes, the Foundation encourages collaborations and partnerships; however, the application must be completed and grant reports managed by one nonprofit organization.

May I submit attachments with my request?

Please submit only the attachments requested with the grant application.

How do I know if you received my proposal?

Because of the large number of applications/proposals received in any given grant period, we recommend that proposals be sent with a return receipt, so that you can track your package accordingly. We ask you not to call the Foundation to track a proposal or to discuss the status of the proposal. You will receive electronic confirmation of receipt via email within 10 business days.

When should I call to find out the status of my request?

You will be notified in writing about the status of your grant application, regardless of whether it is accepted or declined. We ask you not to call the Foundation to track a proposal or to discuss the status of the proposal. Deadlines are posted under the calendar section of the Web site. If for some unforeseen reason the notification deadline is delayed, the Foundation will contact the grant applicants directly.

How long does it take to review a proposal?

Each focus area has its own review cycle; generally applicants are notified within three months of the proposal due date. Please refer to the Foundation calendar for specifics.

If I receive notification that I have been approved for a grant, when will I receive the actual money?

Once the grant is approved and the Foundation has all necessary materials, a grant agreement is prepared and sent to the grantee for a signature from the organization's Executive Director and president of the Board of Directors. Once the Foundation receives a signed grant agreement, a check is usually sent within 10 business days.