Community Health Matching Grant Program

This program supports nonprofit community organizations that develop, implement and evaluate new approaches to health care issues by addressing health care access, quality and cost.

The award offers up to $25,000 per year for two years.

Potential grantees are required to submit a concept form (PDF) to foundation@bcbsm.com for feedback before submitting a full proposal. We also encourage potential grantees to review the Community Health Matching Grant Evaluation and Reporting (PDF) to understand how to write the evaluation and expected impact sections of the proposal.

Concept papers should be submitted at least 60 days before the application deadlines listed below. It is through the concept paper submission process that we learn more about the goals of your program.

Senior Program Officers review concept papers throughout the year as the first step in the BCBSM Foundation grant process. If your organization is under consideration, you'll be asked to submit a full proposal. A Senior Program Officer will provide instructions on how to submit a proposal package. 

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations based in Michigan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees and their immediate family members are ineligible. Employees of any BCBSM affiliate and their immediate family members also are ineligible.

Matching funds are required based on the size of the organization’s budget as well as the percent of Medicaid and uninsured patients served. Please note the applicant organization cannot serve as its own match.

For nonprofits with a budget of less than $10 million:

• If less than 30 percent of your organization's patient population is on Medicaid or uninsured, we require a 25 percent match.
• If more than 30 percent of your organization's patient population is on Medicaid or uninsured, we require a 10 percent match.

For nonprofits with a budget of more than $10 million:

• If less than 30 percent of your organization's patient population is on Medicaid or uninsured, we require a 60 percent match.
• If more than 30 percent of your organization's patient population is on Medicaid or uninsured, we require a 25 percent match.

Deadline

We accept concept papers at any time. However, if you're targeting a specific grant deadline, the concept paper must be received by that date. If your organization is asked to submit a full grant proposal, it will be reviewed at one of our three board meetings. See our table for upcoming deadlines and review dates. All deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. After the application is reviewed at our board meeting, applicants will receive an email with the funding decision within 10 business days.

We'll email applicants a funding decision within 10 business days of our board meetings.

Proposals packages must include:

A narrative that provides a description of the following:  

a)     Purpose of project

b)     Description of the need

c)     How this work addresses the need

d)     How this work addresses health equity and social determinants of health

e)    Program activities description

f)     Evaluation/methodology

g)    Description of potential problems/obstacles in project and plan to overcome

h)    Expected impact/outcomes-include measurable outcomes and what impacts and outcomes you expect the target population to experience as a result of the project

i)     Implications to cost, quality, and/or access to healthcare

j)     Sustainability plan

k)    Potential for replication

Other materials, include the following:

• Signed Terms and Conditions of the Grant
• Planned Participant Enrollment Table
• Detailed budget and budget justification documents, including:
  • Funds requested, anticipated or provided by other sources for the same or similar project must be described in detail on an attached sheet and referenced in a cover letter.
  • The Foundation does not pay for indirect costs except for limited fringe benefits, including health, person and/or medical benefits. The allowable fringe benefit expense may not exceed the lesser of 25 percent of the salary subtotal figure or the actual cost of the fringe benefits.
  • The Foundation does not pay for tuition expenses or continuing education units for the PI, project staff, or students.
  • The following are not supported by this funding program: computer equipment, including hardware and software; one-time use consumables, such as medical and office supplies; furnishings; and capital expenses, such as phone, rent, building insurance.
  • Conference travel is limited to $1,000.

• Letters from Co-funder(s)
• Project Timeline
• If applicable, figures and tables
• Resume of the Project Director(s) and other key personnel/staff
• Copy of the organization’s mission, history, and services
• Copy of most recent Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) tax determination letter
• Copy of organization’s most recent tax return or audited financial statement