Special Grant Opportunities – Montana Only – Call for Proposals – Montana Healthcare Foundation

The Montana Healthcare Foundation http://www.mthcf.org is pleased to announce the availability of grants to address some of Montana’s most pressing health problems. The Foundation expects to issue more than $1 million in grants under this call. The Foundation will offer grants in three major focus areas:

1. Behavioral Health: Behavioral Health (including mental illness and drug & alcohol use) is one of the Foundation’s three main areas of focus for these grants. Health experts and community members consistently rank behavioral health problems among the issues in greatest need of attention in Montana. A recent survey of behavioral health problems and services ranked Montana 44th among 50 states, and 49th for youth. These grants will support innovative projects and evidence-based strategies to address behavioral health needs, and emphasize those that can become self-sustaining over the long term.

2. American Indian Health: American Indian people in Montana die at a median age of 50 years (more than 20 years earlier than the state average), and rates of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems, injuries, and suicide, are often higher than the statewide numbers. Through these grants, the Foundation seeks to work in partnership with tribal governments and non-profits to identify specific needs and advance effective solutions.

3. Partnerships for Better Health: Many communities, particularly in rural Montana, have a hard time recruiting health professionals, and funding challenges can limit access to health services and disease prevention programs. These grants will focus on inter-agency partnerships designed to deliver more accessible and effective care; expand the use of evidence-based approaches such as care coordination; and strengthen efforts to prevent disease through addressing the upstream risk factors.

Timeline

* May 5 & May 12 – Webinars for prospective applicants

* June 30, 2015 – Letters of Interest due

* July 15, 2015 – Decisions on Letters of Interest (full proposals invited from successful applicants)

* September 15, 2015 – Full proposals due

* October 15, 2015 – Applicants notified of final funding decisions

* November 2015 – Anticipated start of funded projects

Information about how to apply can be found at the Foundation’s website, http://www.mthcf.org and directly at Call for Proposals http://mthcf.org/grant-opportunities/2015-call-for-proposals/

Native Nonprofits:

The Montana Healthcare Foundation is committed to working in partnership with Montana’s Native people to help address current health challenges and support healthy, vibrant communities. This year, the Foundation will focus on establishing partnerships with tribal organizations and agencies and identifying promising opportunities for longer-term investments in the future. We will also fund pilot projects to strengthen the funding and administration of tribal health systems and services, and other projects that seek to address specific health needs.

For more information about these grants, interested organizations can visit the Foundation’s website, http://www.mthcf.org, or call the Foundation at (406) 451-7050. Foundation staff are happy to discuss any questions about our work with Montana’s tribes.

The Foundation will also host a call for people interested in applying under the American Indian Health area, on Thursday, May 14th. We invite eligible applicants from tribes, tribally-run non-profits, and urban Indian health centers to join us on this call. We will go over the details of the call for proposals and how to apply. We will also leave plenty of time for questions and comments: our goal is to make the application process as easy as possible, and to help applicants develop strong proposals. To register for this call, please email us at [email protected] or call our office at (406) 451-7060.