Access to Health Care
The Northwest Health Foundation is working to ensure that everyone living in Oregon has coverage for a basic level of health care as a first step toward quality, affordable health care for all.
2008 Request for Proposals #2: Increasing Health Care Access through Grassroots Engagement and Policy Advocacy to Reform the Health Care System
Proposal deadline: July 16th
At the Northwest Health Foundation, we believe that all people have the right to access quality, affordable health care. And access starts with health care coverage.
With approximately 600,000 Oregonians lacking health insurance and the recent passage of the Healthy Oregon Act—which mandates a plan to cover the uninsured—there is a historic opportunity to expand health care coverage. The Northwest Health Foundation supports organizations working to increase access in Oregon and southwest Washington, both within the current health care system and through a process of grassroots engagement in health reform.
2008 Grant Cycle #2
In 2008, the Foundation is releasing two RFPs focused on access to health care. For this second RFP, we are seeking proposals on innovative ways to increase access to health care through reform of the health care system achieved through grassroots engagement and policy advocacy.
The Foundation is most interested in projects that propose creative, innovative ways to develop and mobilize effective constituencies that will advocate for health care reform through grassroots engagement and public will-building.
The most competitive projects will propose one or more of the following:
- Incorporating grassroots activities that engage and build leadership within underserved populations (specifically, communities of color and/or low-income communities);
- Advocating for policies that address the unique circumstances or needs of underserved populations (for example, health disparities or preventive dental or mental health care);
- Promoting a public health perspective—that is, promoting community-based preventive strategies—within health reform efforts;
- Creating or enhancing innovative collaborative partnerships that support health system reform; and/or
- Involving the business community in health reform activities.
Requests for general operating support or capital campaigns will not be considered.
Grant Amounts and Duration
Projects will be funded for one to two years. Grant requests may not exceed $40,000.
Proposal Instructions
Seven sets of the complete application and one copy of the financial statement must be received at the Foundation office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Postmarked, faxed or e-mailed proposals will not be accepted. Please send or deliver your application sets to:
Northwest Health Foundation
221 NW Second Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97209
A complete application is comprised of the following proposal sections presented in the following order:
A. COVER SHEET (MS Word document)
B. PROJECT NARRATIVE (5 pages total)
- Problem / Issue / Need to be addressed
- Purpose of project
- Description of project, including target population(s), health care reform goals, and proposed strategy to reach these goals
- Other organizations, if any, that will be collaborating with you to achieve your goals
- Amount requested
- Proposed timeline for reaching defined benchmarks
- Anticipated impact of the project, and how that impact will be evaluated
- How the benefits of the project will be sustained beyond the grant period
- Background and qualifications of the organization(s) applying for funds
C. APPENDICES (15 pages maximum)
- Itemized project budget, including anticipated expenses and revenue sources
- Letters of commitment of support
- List of Board of Directors
D. OTHER REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS (one copy)
- Audited financial statements or other statement of financial activities
Please limit the project narrative to 5 total pages, using 12-point type and one-inch margins.
Please limit appendices to a maximum of 15 pages. This page limit includes the required appendices listed above, but excludes the IRS tax-exempt letter and audited financial statements.
Please use a binder clip to secure each copy of the completed application. Do not use staples, notebooks, presentation folders or other binders.
Please do not include any other additional materials, such as annual reports or informational brochures.
When preparing your budget, please note that it is the policy of the Northwest Health Foundation to pay a maximum rate of 10% of the indirect costs associated with a funded project. Indirect costs apply only to project-related personnel costs (salary and benefits of regular employees, not contractors) and must be included in the overall request for funding. Only project budgets that include personnel costs will be eligible for indirect cost support.
Questions? Please contact Chris DeMars by e-mail or phone (971-230-1292) if you have any questions about the application process.