Healthy Active Communities
Please note:
- Grants within this focus area are typically one-year and one-time only. When writing your proposal, indicate the timeframe and cost for achieving a specific level of health gains for your target population. We understand that your project and the long-term health gains it will produce may be on-going but the results sought from this investment should not extend significantly past one year of work.
- There are two grant cycles per year within the Healthy Active Communities focus area; the application deadlines are February 15 and August 15. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm.
- There is a separate application for the equipment requests.
- With the exception of the $5,000 maximum for Equipment Requests, there is no maximum limitation for this focus area. However, the BCBSNC Foundation pays close attention to the gain relative to the cost. Average grants are $60,000 with grants ranging from $10,000 - $100,000.
How To Apply – Step by Step
1. REVIEW THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA (BCBSNC) FOUNDATION'S ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
2. REVIEW THE DETAILED FOCUS AREA DESCRIPTION.
Be sure that your program can achieve the results sought in this focus area.
3. SUBMIT A PROPOSAL.
The proposal must be completed using the provided application form. You may find it useful to review sample responses from current and past grantees as you write your own proposal. Each organization may submit no more than one proposal per grant cycle. Please note that the proposal should be typed in 12-point font.
If you are interested in applying for equipment only (up to $5,000), please complete our Equipment Request.
Submit one signed original proposal (including the budget spreadsheet), along with one copy of the required attachments to the mailing address listed below. Please also submit one electronic copy of the proposal and budget spreadsheet (but not the attachments) via email to jennifer.macdougall@bcbsncfoundation.org.
Send these documents to:
BCBSNC Foundation
Grant Review - Jennifer MacDougall
5901 Old Durham Chapel Hill Rd.
Durham, NC 27707-0718
919-765-2128
Proposals must be received at the Foundation office by 5pm on the established cycle deadline. The proposal deadlines for this focus area are February 15 and August 15 of each year. If you are interested in confirming that your proposal was received, you must send your packet using a method that allows for tracking (e.g., return receipt, FedEx). NOTE: If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, grant proposals will be due the following business day.
4. RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION.
The BCBSNC Foundation sends an acknowledgement e-mail within 10 business days of receipt of the proposal.
5. PROGRAM INVESTMENT AND APPROVAL.
BCBSNC Foundation staff will review the proposal to ensure the required information is included. All proposals that meet the minimum eligibility requirements are reviewed and discussed by Foundation staff and may be discussed with subject matter experts and other grantmakers with relevant expertise. The review committee makes investment recommendations to the BCBSNC Foundation Board of Directors. Following approval from the Board of Directors, all organizations are notified of the final decision in writing. Organizations that do not receive a grant may contact the BCBSNC Foundation to discuss the decision and opportunities for future investment.
6. OUTCOMES WORKSHOP.
All new grantees (except for equipment grants) are required to attend a full day workshop at the BCBSNC Foundation offices in Durham before starting their projects. The fall workshop is scheduled for December 2, 2008. Up to three of your staff including, as appropriate, the organization director, program director, program staff and your grantwriter should plan to attend. The organizations that benefit the most bring a team of people who are familiar with the project and the target population and have the authority to make decisions about the direction of the project and its evaluation. Please have the appropriate staff hold the date on their calendars now if you intend to submit a proposal.
CHECKLIST FOR PROPOSALS TO THE HEALTHY ACTIVE COMMUNITIES FOCUS AREA:
- Confirm organization meets eligibility criteria.
- Be sure that your program can achieve the results we are seeking in the Healthy Active Communities focus area.
- Complete the proposal and compile the required attachments.
- Save the date for our "New Grantee Outcomes Workshop."
- Submit one electronic copy of the proposal (including the budget spreadsheet) via email to jennifer.macdougall@bcbsncfoundation.org.
- Submit one signed original with the required attachments to:
BCBSNC Foundation
Grant Review - Jennifer MacDougall
5901 Old Durham Chapel Hill Rd.
Durham, NC 27707-0718
919-765-2128