BlueAngel Community Health Grants
At Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, our vision is to improve health and well-being by leading access to high quality, affordable, and equitable care. The BlueAngel Community Health Grant program – an annual, competitive grant program – allows us to further our vision by addressing critical health issues in Rhode Island. We achieve this by partnering with community–based agencies that are trying to improve the health of Rhode Islanders. This funding program is the cornerstone of our community investment activities at BCBSRI, and we are proud of the organizations we have worked with, and the results achieved since it began more than 20 years ago.
BCBSRI is proud to partner with the Brown University School of Public Health on the RI Life Index, an annual statewide survey which captures Rhode Islanders’ perceptions of social determinants of health and well-being. Since its inception in 2019, the RI Life Index has consistently demonstrated that access to safe and affordable housing is a significant barrier to Rhode Islanders’ ability to live healthy lives.
BCBSRI is committed to supporting the myriad of ways community- based organizations are responding to our statewide need for safe and affordable housing. By investing in safe and affordable housing, we hope to address inequities and improve health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders.
How to apply
The grant cycle is currently closed and will reopen in July 2023.
If you have any questions, please email BlueAngel.News@bcbsri.org.
We’re grateful to partner with these organizations for our 2023 grant program:
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a BlueAngel Community Health Grant (BACHG)?
Organizations are eligible for grants from Blue Cross if they have qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or are public instrumentalities (e.g., a government entity). Grants are not awarded to individuals. Private foundations [as defined by Section 509(a) of the Code] are not eligible for funding.
Does Blue Cross fund existing programs or just new or expanding programs?
Blue Cross provides funding for existing, new, and expanding programs.
Does Blue Cross fund personnel expenses?
Yes, as they relate to a specific program. For instance, we would be unlikely to fund ABC nonprofit’s executive director position, but more likely to fund personnel costs associated with a program (such as a counselor to provide nutrition classes).
Can agencies apply for more than one grant during the year?
An organization may not apply for more than one BlueAngel Community Health grant during the year. Applicants who receive a grant may not submit another letter of intent or proposal for funding the same program within the same year. Applicants who are not approved for funding are welcome to reapply in the next grant cycle.
Do we provide multiyear grants?
Blue Cross is not currently making multiyear grant awards. However, applicants who receive funding may apply for second-year transitional funding.
Does Blue Cross consider requests from faith-based organizations?
Yes, as long as the proposed effort is not for religious purposes.
Would Blue Cross fund 100 percent of a program’s costs?
Yes. However, we prefer to be a funding partner along with other sources of revenue. We believe an application is strengthened by seeking multiple sources of support (as this is a key indicator of sustainability).
Does Blue Cross fund capital—either equipment or construction?
Blue Cross will fund acquisition of equipment as it relates to a specific program, but is unlikely to fund equipment alone. Please note that we typically do not fund construction (e.g., bricks and mortar).
What other eligibility restrictions should I know about?
Blue Cross will not fund projects or programs of fraternal or religious organizations where the primary beneficiaries are members of these organizations. We also do not contribute to organizations seeking contributions for advertising space, tickets, or sponsorship of dinners, fundraising events, or promotional materials. Additionally, the BACHG program does not fund requests from hospitals.
Does Blue Cross fund individuals?
No, but we fund agencies that can help individuals.
Does Blue Cross fund indirect costs?
While Blue Cross does not have a strict policy against indirect costs, we do not look favorably upon applications that request excessive costs in this area. Projects requesting funding for direct service or program-related costs (e.g., supplies, education materials, salaries) are viewed more favorably.
What is the range of grant amounts?
There is no maximum or minimum grant amount. Historically, funding amounts have ranged from $25,000 per year to $75,000 per year.
A youth development specialist from Adoption Rhode Island will be located at Copley Chambers, an affordable housing project of 26 newly developed units for youth and young adults with past foster care experience who are facing homelessness or housing insecurity. The specialist will be part of an integrated approach to supportive service delivery for residents in collaboration with other co-located partners.
DARE’s Tenant and Homeowner Association (THA) conducts door-to-door and other in-person outreach to low-moderate income tenants and homeowners living in Providence and Rhode Island’s communities of color, offering legal and support services to prevent evictions and displacement, ensure healthy housing conditions, and build community ownership and control of land and housing.
The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) will deploy a Housing Organizer and Community Relations Specialist to continue to build the capacity of Homes RI, a multi-sector collaborative effort to increase the supply of safe, healthy, and affordable homes across Rhode Island.
The center will renovate three of the 15 to 19 units of service-enriched housing it plans to offer to local, low-income families experiencing unstable and/or unaffordable housing. [The Center acquired five multi-unit buildings from two other nonprofits in the area in 2021].
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley will deploy a full-time resident services coordinator to work one-on-one with 686 Woonsocket residents, developing a clear plan for their time in NeighborWorks housing and a trusted ally to connect them with necessary resources.
ONE|NB will advance Steeple & Stone, an affordable housing development in Cumberland, as well as provide critical support for collaborations with direct service providers to create supportive housing for special populations.
PCF Development will continue their Housing Equity Homeownership Program, which seeks to close the racial wealth equity gap by increasing the homeownership rate and by providing financial education for BIPOC families. This two-faceted approach combines in depth Financial Fitness/Homeownership Education classes with affordable home construction to create first time homebuyers that are prepared and living in affordable homeownership housing.
The Coalition will implement the state’s first social impact bond, Pay for Success (PFS); as well as continue work in policy, advocacy, and building Medicaid billing infrastructure. Through this work, RICEH will work to address housing and healthcare system reform in order to improve the health, safety and well-being of Rhode Islanders.
Funding will pay for materials for a project to build a neighborhood of seven single-family Habitat homes in Hopkinton. CharihoTech students will take part in construction for an experiential education opportunity outside of the classroom.
Funding will be used to increase the agency’s capacity to offer homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention services in Providence to monolingual Spanish speaking first-time homebuyers and homeowners at risk of foreclosure. The curriculum being used to facilitate the course was developed by the Housing Network of Rhode Island and approved by HUD.
Westbay will expand upon its Hoarding Intervention Response and Evaluation (HIRE) program, which provides services to Kent County residents who are at-risk for engaging in hoarding behavior or who are already engaging in hoarding behavior. The goal is to prevent long term health and safety hazards and evictions.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a BlueAngel Community Health Grant (BACHG)?
Organizations are eligible for grants from Blue Cross if they have qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or are public instrumentalities (e.g., a government entity). Grants are not awarded to individuals. Private foundations [as defined by Section 509(a) of the Code] are not eligible for funding.
Does Blue Cross fund existing programs or just new or expanding programs?
Blue Cross provides funding for existing, new, and expanding programs.
Does Blue Cross fund personnel expenses?
Yes, as they relate to a specific program. For instance, we would be unlikely to fund ABC nonprofit’s executive director position, but more likely to fund personnel costs associated with a program (such as a counselor to provide classes or housing navigation support services).
Can agencies apply for more than one grant during the year?
An organization may not apply for more than one BlueAngel Community Health grant during the year. Applicants who receive a grant may not submit another letter of intent or proposal for funding the same program within the same year. Applicants who are not approved for funding are welcome to reapply in the next grant cycle.
Do we provide multiyear grants?
Blue Cross is not currently making multiyear grant awards. However, applicants who receive funding may apply for second-year transitional funding.
Does Blue Cross consider requests from faith-based organizations?
Yes, as long as the proposed effort is not for religious purposes.
Would Blue Cross fund 100 percent of a program’s costs?
Yes. However, we prefer to be a funding partner along with other sources of revenue. We believe an application is strengthened by seeking multiple sources of support (as this is a key indicator of sustainability).
Does Blue Cross fund capital—either equipment or construction?
Blue Cross will fund acquisition of equipment as it relates to a specific program, but is unlikely to fund equipment alone. Please note that we typically do not fund construction (e.g., bricks and mortar).
What other eligibility restrictions should I know about?
Blue Cross will not fund projects or programs of fraternal or religious organizations where the primary beneficiaries are members of these organizations. We also do not contribute to organizations seeking contributions for advertising space, tickets, or sponsorship of dinners, fundraising events, or promotional materials. Additionally, the BACHG program does not fund requests from hospitals.
Does Blue Cross fund individuals?
No, but we fund agencies that can help individuals.
Does Blue Cross fund indirect costs?
While Blue Cross does not have a strict policy against indirect costs, we do not look favorably upon applications that request excessive costs in this area. Projects requesting funding for direct service or program-related costs (e.g., supplies, education materials, salaries) are viewed more favorably.
What is the range of grant amounts?
There is no maximum or minimum grant amount. Historically, funding amounts have ranged from $25,000 per year to $75,000 per year.