Health Innovation Grants are projects or programming proposals that are new or expanding, innovative and could be replicated by others if found successful. These grants are not intended to simply support current mission work or programming.

A Health Innovation Grant could include, but is not limited to:

  • Implement homeless and behavioral health prevention services through care coordination
  • Expanding farm-to-school program providing access to local fresh foods, hands-on learning and a space to grow a positive relationship with food
  • Launching a recovery education program to reduce stigma

Key dates:


Please note: If you miss a deadline you will need to wait for the next grant cycle.

Objectives:

  • Invest in community-based initiatives that will support access and opportunity leading to improved habits and healthier lifestyles
  • Strengthen capacity for effective collaborations, coalitions and partnerships to improve health status and outcomes
  • Expand efforts by local leaders and communities to improve health access and opportunities

Grant details:

  • Amount: $15,000 to $50,000
  • Six to eight Health Innovation Grants are awarded annually
  • Letters of intent accepted: Jan. 1 to 31, July 1 to 31

Restrictions:

  • Grant dollars cannot directly fund a full-time or part-time employee position at your organization or capital campaign.
  • If your organization already received dollars from the BCBSND Caring Foundation during the current calendar year, you are ineligible to apply for additional funding for that year.

Application process:

These grants are awarded through a competitive, two-step process: 1) a Letter of intent, 2) a Grant application.

SPARK Grant Cycle

Those interested in applying for a grant must first submit a letter of intent by 5 p.m. on Jan. 31 to be considered for our spring funding cycle or 5 p.m. on July 31 for our fall funding cycle.

Eligible organizations must be North Dakota based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, municipal entities (i.e. park boards, public health) or school systems in order to submit a letter of intent. Once a letter of intent is submitted to the BCBSND Caring Foundation, you will hear back within 4 to 6 weeks of receipt whether your organization will be invited to submit a grant application. Health Innovation grant applications are invitation only. Submitting a grant application does not guarantee funding. If invited to apply, grant applications should be filled out and sent back to the Foundation by Feb. 28 (spring cycle) or Aug. 31 (fall cycle). Once your application is submitted, our Foundation staff will advise you of your application’s status by March 15 (spring cycle) or Sept. 15 (fall cycle).

Submission process

All letters of intent and grant applications must be electronically submitted to caringfoundation@bcbsnd.com.

Ready to spark innovative change?