The BCBSNC Foundation invests in organizations and programs that align with our mission and focus areas.

In determining which programs to invest in, we typically look for the following characteristics:

• Programs and/or services designed to produce measurable, long-term impact
• Programs that are sustainable and designed to be ongoing, rather than one-time or sporadic events
• Programs and/or services that are replicable; organizations must be willing to share information and results with other communities

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:

• Organization is located within North Carolina
• Organization is a 501(c)(3) organization or an educational or governmental entity with tax-exempt status, that is not a private foundation or Type III supporting organization
• Organization must be able to provide its most recent IRS Form 990
• Depending on the type of grant and the size of the organization, an audit may be required as part of the submitted proposal. Please refer to the eligibility questions listed under our Frequently Asked Questions page for further specifications.

The BCBSNC Foundation typically does not provide grants for:

• Annual campaigns
• Political campaigns
• Religious purposes
• Individuals
• Endowments
• Purchase of advertisements
• Sole purpose of receiving goods or entitlements from a charitable organization

HIV/AIDS

Organizations seeking grants for programs related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment should contact the North Carolina Community AIDS Fund which is supported by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Contact Beth Stringfield, Beth.Stringfield@duke.edu or 919.613.5431.

Health Information Technology

Organizations seeking funds for Health Information Technology (HIT) including Electronic Medical Records are advised that BCBSNC Foundation will not make funding recommendations for this type of project until a state plan for HIT is fully developed. Please do not apply through our responsive grant cycle but feel free to contact us for more information.

Screening Programs

Screening programs are considered on a limited basis. The most competitive proposals engage in highly targeted participant selection that identifies high-risk individuals who are not otherwise eligible for free or low-cost screenings. In addition, screening programs should refer participants to a primary care medical home for ongoing screening or treatment of chronic risk factors and engage partners for ongoing treatment of medical conditions identified by screening. Letters of commitment from relevant partners should indicate the services they will provide and the extent to which they will be engaged in the operations of the program.