GRANT GUIDELINES

The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) awards grants to organizations and institutions that respond to its strategic objectives and directly impact Connecticut residents. CT Health also accepts discretionary grant proposals periodically that are responsive to the foundation's mission of improving the health status of people in Connecticut.

These grant application guidelines describe the types of projects we do and do not fund; help you determine if your project idea is a good match with our strategic grant-making objectives; and explain how to apply for grant funding.

PLEASE NOTE:
Incomplete grant applications (those missing significant required information in the narrative or appendix) and those received after the due date will not be reviewed in the cycle for which they were submitted.

The applicant can resubmit a completed application at the next grant cycle.

PRIORITY AREAS

• Children’s Oral Health:  The goal of the children’s oral health initiative is to improve the oral health of children covered by Medicaid.  Over the next 10 years, the foundation will invest in projects that: 
  • Objective 1.  Increase use of preventive and treatment visits to the levels achieved by children insured in the private sector;
  • Objective 2.  Identify and promote models of care that improve oral health outcomes for children covered by Medicaid in our funded communities.
• Children’s Mental Health:  The goal of the children’s mental health initiative is to reduce the number of at-risk children ages 6-14 entering intensive treatment and/or the juvenile justice system due to mental health problems.  Over the next 10 years, the foundation will invest in projects that: 
  • Objective 1.  Promote a community-based system of early identification and intervention for children at risk of mental health problems;
  • Objective 2.  Support developing and disseminating knowledge in early identification and effective interventions relating to children’s mental health.
• Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities:  The goal of this initiative is to decrease racial and ethnic health disparities that exist in the state of Connecticut.  Over the next 10 years, the foundation will invest in projects that: 
  • Objective 1. Create public will to decrease racial and ethnic health disparities in access and treatment;
  • Objective 2. Improve the quality of systems that enhance patient-provider interactions in order to promote health equity.
• In addition to the foundation’s goals and objectives, several other points will guide the work of the foundation as stated below:
  • The foundation will actively keep issues associated with health data and sustainable resources on its radar screen to inform its three priority areas.
  • Responsiveness to opportunity will be considered a value of the Connecticut Health Foundation.  If specific criteria are met, the foundation may respond to opportunities that arise outside its three priority areas and their associated goals and objectives.

WHO WE FUND

Each applicant must meet one of the following criteria to be considered eligible for a Connecticut Health Foundation grant:

• Tax-exempt under Section 501 ( c  ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
• Recognized as a public entity of state/local government

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND

• Construction, alteration, maintenance of buildings or building space, unless specifically allowed in the instructions for the applicants
• Tuition or awards to individuals
• Billable services provided by physicians or other providers
• Capital projects, endowments or chairs associated with universities and medical schools
• Projects that do not benefit Connecticut residents
• Lobbying or influencing the outcome of specific municipal, state or federal legislation of electors
• Indirect cost for general operating support grants or discretionary grants

TYPES OF GRANTS

Solicited Grants:
Solicited Grant Proposals that respond to an announced Request for Proposals (RFP) which are specific to one of CT Health’s three program priorities.  Click here to view current open Request for Proposals.  

Unsolicited Grants:
Unsolicited Grant Proposals that:  

• Respond to strategic goals and objectives 
• Support the overall mission to improve the health status of the people of Connecticut
• Promote systems change 

For instructions to apply click here for the application guidelines.

Discretionary Grant:
Discretionary Grant Proposals support the foundation’s priority areas. These small grants – not to exceed $25,000 – are made at the discretion of CT Health’s president & CEO and/or the chair of the board of directors and/or the chair of the program committee. 

For instructions to apply click here for the application guidelines.

GRANT REVIEW PROCESS

With the exception of Discretionary Grants, the foundation’s application review and approval process includes the following steps:

1. An internal audit of all submitted applications ensures that all required documentation is present and that each section of the application is complete.
2. A review by both internal program staff and external experts ensures that an application adds value to one or more of the foundation’s three priority areas; is programmatically sound and fiscally responsible; and presents methods that can be measured and evaluated. 
3. Reviewer comments and opinions are incorporated into recommendations to the foundation’s board program committee.
4. The program committee reviews applications, considers reviewers’ comments and makes its recommendations to the full board for a final vote.
5. During quarterly meetings, the board of directors votes to either approve or reject grant applications.
   

NOTIFICATION PROCESS

Generally speaking, the grant review process takes about three months from the application submission deadline date.

Upon receiving an application, the foundation’s grants manager will send an email to the organization’s identified contact person acknowledging receipt of the application and explaining the grant review and notification process along with specific dates for notification. 

If staff does not recommend an application to the program committee, the applicant will be notified in writing or by phone within seven (7) business days following the internal review meeting.

If the program committee does not recommend an application to the board of directors, the applicant will be notified in writing or by phone within seven (7) business days following the program committee meeting.

All applications that are considered by the board of directors will receive written or verbal notification of the status of the application within seven (7) business days following the board meeting.

For additional information, please contact the vice president of program & evaluation at vpprogram@cthealth.org.