UnitedHealth Group/PacifiCare to Provide New Grants to Benefit California Health Care Consumers
Deadline: February 20, 2009
UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare have announced that they will fund $25 million in total new grants over the next three years to benefit health care consumers and improve the delivery of healthcare services in California . These new grants are part of PacifiCare/UnitedHealth Group's commitments to California made in association with UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of PacifiCare. The $25 million in UnitedHealth Group/PacifiCare grants fall under several different categories, including technology improvements for safety-net providers; medical education programs in traditionally underserved communities; population-based preventive health strategies; support for coordinated care initiatives (i.e., research and informational activities about health care delivery within the coordinated care model in California); and cash or in-kind contributions to help establish and support healthcare information-technology initiatives designed to improve healthcare delivery. Copies of the Request for Proposal, which includes complete instructions and information on qualifications, are available at the UnitedHealth Web site.

OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN OR ROLLING DEADLINES

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Invites Research Proposals on Disparities Issues
Deadline: Rolling
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and/or depression. To that end, RWJF invites research proposals that offer solutions toward reducing healthcare disparities. The foundation will consider projects of up to $75,000 with a one-year time frame that address one or more of the following issues: quality of care, health information technology, differences in quality of care, patient-centered care. Visit the RWJF Web site for details on these issues, application procedures, and program updates.

Substance Abuse Policy Research Program Invites Applications
Deadline: Various
An initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program is designed to encourage experts in public health, law, political science, medicine, sociology, criminal justice, economics, psychology, and other behavioral and policy sciences to address issues related to substance abuse. Projects supported are expected to increase understanding of public and private policy interventions to prevent, treat, and reduce the harm caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs - including the advantages, disadvantages, and potential impact of these policies. For complete program details, eligibility criteria, application requirements, and information on funded projects, visit the SAPR Web site.

Proposals Invited for Aetna Foundation Regional Community Health Grants Program
Deadline: Various
The Aetna Foundation is inviting proposals for its Regional Community Health Grants Program. The program provides funding focused on reducing disparities in health care among racial and ethnic populations in eligible geographic areas. In 2005, Aetna will devote up to $2.6 million to regional initiatives to address this issue. Grant requests ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 that address one of the following areas will be considered: 1) Cultural Competency, 2) Disease prevention, awareness, and delivery of culturally sensitive care and services related to dental care, diabetes or depression. See the foundation's Web site for complete program guidelines, eligible geographic areas, regional deadlines, and application procedures.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Offers Proposal Development Grants
Deadline: Open
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation has allocated $35,000 for a Proposal Development Awards program. The program will contribute up to $3,500 per award to help Michigan-based nonprofit community organizations get the resources they need to develop grant proposals. The awards can be used to obtain grant writing resources, including technical assistance, freelance proposal writers, and related proposal development costs. Proposals already completed are not eligible for funding. Awards are not intended to support any type of project activity or to supplement operational expenses. Complete program information and an application form can be downloaded at the foundation's Web site.

Chiron Corporation Establishes Foundation
Deadline: Open
The Chiron Corporation, a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Emeryville, California, has established the Chiron Foundation to focus grantmaking and initiatives in: 1) Improving lives through better healthcare. The foundation supports organizations engaged in disease prevention and treatment, patient education, health policy dialogue, and advocacy on behalf of those with serious medical needs. 2) Enriching lives through better communities. The foundation supports organizations in communities near Chiron that are working for positive social change and providing health and human services to those in need, particularly at-risk children and youth. For further information about the foundation and its funding guidelines, visit the company's Web site.

Kansas Health Foundation: Recognition Grants
Deadline: March 15 and September 15, annually
The Kansas Health Foundation Recognition Grants Program is designed to fund unsolicited requests and is specifically targeted for grassroots groups doing innovative and meaningful work that fits within the foundation's mission to improve the health of all Kansans. The program awards grants of up to $25,000 per organization. Any tax-exempt nonprofit organization using the funds for charitable purposes and proposing a project that meets the foundation's mission is eligible to apply. For further information, view the RFP on the Kansas Health Foundation Web site.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Offers Quality of Life Grants
Deadline: April 1 and October 1, annually
The Quality of Life Grants Program offers grants to nonprofit organizations that address: the needs of persons living with spinal-cord injuries, their families, and caregivers or health promotion of paralysis caused by spinal-cord and other injuries as well as diseases and birth defects, including, but not limited to, stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Health-promotion grants are intended for programmatic activities and not solely for the purchase of equipment for use by individuals. For more information visit their Web site.

AHRQ Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation
Application Receipt Dates: February 17, June 15, and October 15 annually through 2006.
AHRQ continues its support for the health services dissertation research small grant program. This program supports research undertaken as part of an academic program to qualify for a doctorate. The dissertation should focus on areas relevant to HSR, with emphasis on methodological and research topics that address the mission of AHRQ. For more information, visit the NIH Web site.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Offers Grants to Expand Faith in Action Volunteer Healthcare Program
Deadline: Open
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is offering grants to expand
Faith in Action, an interfaith volunteer caregiving program that helps to better the lives of people with long-term health needs. The program provides start-up grants of $35,000 for a thirty-month period to help communities organize new coalitions for volunteer caregiving; technical assistance on coalition building, board development, program management, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and training, communications, and fundraising; and the support of a nationwide network of Faith in Action coalitions. See the RWJF Web site for complete program information and application instructions.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Local Initiative Funding Partners Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will award up to $7.5 million in 2005 to support community-based healthcare partnerships through its Local Initiative Funding Partners (LIFP) program.

Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) is an initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® (RWJF) that supports policy analysis, research, evaluation and demonstration projects. It is administered by AcademyHealth, which serves as the National Program Office (NPO). Funded projects should provide public and private decision leaders with usable and timely information on health care policy and financing issues. Two sizes of grants are available: small grants for projects requiring up to $100,000 and projected to take 12 months or less; and large grants for projects requiring more than $100,000 and/or projected to take longer than 12 months. Guidelines for grant applications with complete instructions are available at hcfo.net.
Grants are awarded on a rolling basis.

GRANTS.GOV
The federal government recently unveiled a comprehensive Web site with information on all federal grant programs, making the application process vastly simpler for state and local governments. The site, developed in conjunction with state and local officials, has details on more than 800 grant programs from 26 federal agencies. Features include a search feature to "Find Grant Opportunities" and downloadable applications in the "Apply for Grants" section. The site is located at www.grants.gov.

Blue Shield of California to Increase Giving 200 Percent in 2004
Blue Shield of California has announced that it has contributed $30 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. The infusion of funds will allow the foundation to increase its grantmaking to approximately $24 million in 2004, an increase of 200 percent over the $8 million it distributed in 2003. Press Release 01/06/04.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH ON ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS
COST RESEARCH ON ALCOHOL TREATMENT AND PREVENTION SERVICES
SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF EXISTING HEALTH SERVICES DATA SETS
ADOPTION OF ALCOHOL RESEARCH FINDINGS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

AHRQ's Scholar-in-Residence in Child and Adolescent Health Program
This scholarship will give a senior child and adolescent health services researcher an opportunity to develop and enhance areas of investigation that integrate research related to: (1) health outcomes; (2) quality measurement and improvement; (3) costs, financing, and organization of care; (4) access; and (5) capacity building in child health services research. AHRQ, supported by its partners APA, AAN, AAP, AMSPDC, and SAM, invites applicants to submit applications for this exciting program. Link to announcement.

General Funding Resources