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The foundation awards grants through a competitive application and review process.
To be considered for funding, an organization must meet all eligibility criteria for the specific funding opportunity, as outlined in its guidelines; and prospective grantees must complete an online application, including all required documents.
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Open funding opportunities are announced on this website and through the Blue & You e-newsletter. We encourage you to sign up for the e-newsletters using the link at the bottom of the page to receive funding alerts and learn more about the Foundation and the work of our grantees.
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Programs and projects should address community issues related to health, well-being, and/or education and offer a solution to the issue(s) by bringing together and working with community partners and funders. The Blue & You Foundation’s funding focuses are behavioral health, maternal and pediatric health, and social determinants of health. Programs and organizations should also demonstrate operational and financial viability.
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- Capital campaigns or endowments
- Large construction projects or large equipment purchases
- Organizations that have previously received two years of funding for a project must apply for something outside of that scope of work.
- Health fairs, conferences or conference attendance fees
- Sponsorships or fundraising events
- Programs that are specifically tobacco related. Because of the availability of funding in Arkansas from the Tobacco Settlement, the Foundation will not fund proposals that are principally tobacco related.
- Indirect costs for programs or the organization
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- Organizations or governmental agencies must be Arkansas-based (or if the applying organization is located outside of Arkansas, the project to be funded must specifically benefit Arkansans). Check your organization’s status here: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/corps/search_all.php
- Any 501(c)(3) public charity
- Public schools, colleges and universities
- City, county and state governmental agencies
- Religious organizations are eligible, but the program cannot support theological functions or religious purposes.
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- Individuals
- Organizations cannot be a private foundation under IRC § 509(a)
- Political or lobbying organizations
- Athletes or athletic teams
- Beauty Pageants
- Greek or fraternal organizations
- Organizations cannot be in a contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
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A “contractual relationship” is defined as an arrangement whereby an organization has a contract to provide a service or product to the corporate entities of Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “vendor” relationship). Such a relationship would make the organization ineligible for a foundation grant.
Organizations whose sole relationship is that of purchasing health insurance for its employees from Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “customer” relationship), and do not provide a service or product to these corporate entities, are not considered to have a “contractual relationship” within this definition, and therefore are eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
Also, an organization that has a contractual relationship to provide a service or product to individuals or groups that have health insurance through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “provider” relationship), are eligible to receive grants, if other eligibility criteria are met. For example, participating providers (physicians or hospitals) are not considered ineligible simply because they provide a service to individuals insured through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
An exception to the “provider” guideline above involves those several hospitals which have a joint venture contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. A grant application from a joint venture hospital would be ineligible. However, a qualifying Foundation of such a joint venture hospital could be eligible to apply for a grant if other eligibility criteria are met.
In summary, “vendors” are ineligible, but “customers” and “providers” as defined above are generally eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
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For more information on deadlines and cycle dates, please visit our Apply for Funding page.
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The Evaluation Committee considers the following categories when evaluating grant applications.
- Relevance to Blue & You Foundation priorities
- Project design and feasibility
- Documentation of need
- Evidence of broad-based community involvement
- Innovativeness/learning opportunity
- Health Equity
- Leveraging potential
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Mini grants are grants ranging between $500 and $2,000. The application for a mini grant is simpler and has a much shorter decision timeline. Applications for mini grants are accepted January 1 – February 15, and organizations are notified of award decisions by March 15. There is no advantage to applying early.
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Mini grants aim to support three categories of projects:
- Food pantry support
Only food pantries are allowed to apply for this category. - Health initiatives in public schools, colleges and universities
Only schools are allowed to apply for this category. - Emergency response equipment
- Food pantry support
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- Organizations or governmental agencies must be Arkansas-based (or if the applying organization is located outside of Arkansas, the project to be funded must specifically benefit Arkansans). Check your organization’s status here: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/corps/search_all.php
- Any 501(c)(3) public charity
- Public schools, colleges and universities
- City, county and state governmental agencies
- Religious organizations are eligible, but the program cannot support theological functions or religious purposes.
-
- Individuals
- Organizations cannot be a private foundation under IRC § 509(a)
- Political or lobbying organizations
- Athletes or athletic teams
- Beauty Pageants
- Greek or fraternal organizations
- Organizations cannot be in a contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
-
A “contractual relationship” is defined as an arrangement whereby an organization has a contract to provide a service or product to the corporate entities of Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “vendor” relationship). Such a relationship would make the organization ineligible for a foundation grant.
Organizations whose sole relationship is that of purchasing health insurance for its employees from Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “customer” relationship), and do not provide a service or product to these corporate entities, are not considered to have a “contractual relationship” within this definition, and therefore are eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
Also, an organization that has a contractual relationship to provide a service or product to individuals or groups that have health insurance through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates (in the nature of a “provider” relationship), are eligible to receive grants, if other eligibility criteria are met. For example, participating providers (physicians or hospitals) are not considered ineligible simply because they provide a service to individuals insured through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
An exception to the “provider” guideline above involves those several hospitals which have a joint venture contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. A grant application from a joint venture hospital would be ineligible. However, a qualifying Foundation of such a joint venture hospital could be eligible to apply for a grant if other eligibility criteria are met.
In summary, “vendors” are ineligible, but “customers” and “providers” as defined above are generally eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
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Grantees are paid via electronic funds transfer after the grant agreement is received. Physical checks are no longer mailed by the Foundation.