Grant FAQs

This FAQ provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about Foundation grant funding. If you have questions not covered here, please email them to info@azbluefoundation.org.

What organizations are eligible to apply for Foundation grant funding?

Non-profit organizations and academic institutions are eligible for Foundation grant funding.

What types of projects qualify for Foundation grants?

Grant opportunities are available for Arizona-based organizations that are seeking funding related to the Foundation’s focus areas. The Foundation offers grant opportunities for programs and applied research projects, and supports a select number of charitable events each year.
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Chronic health conditions — working to reduce the impact of chronic health issues by expanding access to screenings, medication and medical care, unmet social needs, and lifestyle management.
Health equity — addressing the social determinants of health in order to increase health equity and amplify every Arizonan’s chances of well-being.
Mental health — expanding statewide resources, reducing stigma about mental health, and connecting people to care that promotes positive mental health and saves lives.
Substance use disorder — investing in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery in order to reduce overdose-related deaths.

Funding priority is given to projects that expand publicly-available resources, are scalable or increase systems-level capacity, and have a measurable impact. Note: to qualify for Foundation grant funding, services provided may not be otherwise billable.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona provide philanthropic funding separate from the Foundation?

Yes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona funds a select number of corporate memberships each year. Visit the BCBSAZ corporate website for details.

When are Foundation grant opportunities available?

This year, the Foundation will have one competitive and two discretionary grant cycles for programs and applied research, plus the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant which annually funds a specific mental health-related need. Applications for charitable events are accepted beginning the first week of January through December 1.

Click here for dates and details.

Is there a maximum to the funding amount available per grant?

Yes. Awards are up to $125,000 for mental health competitive grants.

The Foundation’s goal is to fund a wide variety of projects to increase collective impact. The Foundation prioritizes requests up to $45,000 for discretionary grants, $75,000 for the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant, and $25,000 for charitable events.

What is the application process?

‍Competitive Grants
Our competitive cycle opens on February 6, 2023 and closes on March 6, 2023. The application will be available on the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) website on February 6.
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Discretionary Grants
There are two discretionary grant cycles in 2023. Cycle 1 applications are accepted June 1 through June 29. Cycle 2 applications are accepted August 21 through September 15. The applications will be available on the ACF website.

Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant
The Momentum Maker grant cycle opens July 10, 2023 and closes on August 10, 2023. The application will be available on the ACF website on July 10.
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Charitable Event Grants
‍Apply via the ACF website.

Dates and other details are available on the grants overview page.

Where do I apply?

All interested organizations are required to have an active grantee account with Arizona Community Foundation (ACF). The Foundation works with the ACF to manage grant interest and applications. Applications are submitted online via ACF.

What is the timeline for discretionary grants?

The timeline for the discretionary grant process is:
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Application Opens

Application Deadline

Funding
Dates

Aug. 31

June 29

June 1

Cycle 1

Nov. 30

Sept. 15

Aug. 21

Cycle 2

What is the timeline for the competitive grant cycle?

The timeline for the competitive grant cycle is:

Application opens

February 6, 2023

Application closes

March 6, 2023 at 4 p.m. MST

Finalist presentations

April 11-13, 2023

Grant funded

May 31, 2023

Can organizations apply for multiple types of funding?

Yes. The Foundation provides flexibility to organizations interested in seeking funding. Multiple applications are accepted — both in the same focus area and different focus areas. Note that each funding request must be for a separate project.
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The Foundation has limited funding, so organizations may want to consider focusing efforts on one application so as not to compete against themselves.

Can active Foundation grantees apply for additional grant funding, either in the same or a different focus area category?

Yes. Active grantees may apply for additional grant funding as long as the request is for a separate project.

Do you accept applications for multi-year funding?

No. Foundation funding for competitive and discretionary grants is provided on a 12-month grant term. Charitable event funding is for the specific event.

What is the grant term and start date?

All Foundation programmatic and applied research grants have a 12-month term. Specific dates are:

‍Competitive Grant: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
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Discretionary Grants‍

Cycle 1: Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2024
Cycle 2: Dec. 1, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2024

Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant: September 15, 2023 – September 14, 2024

Are there limitations on how grant funds can be used?

Grant funds must be used for direct project-related expenses. Foundation funding may not be used to fund lobbying or capital expenditures, including buildings, construction, and/or renovations. In addition, Foundation funding may not be used to provide services that are otherwise billable.

Can Foundation grants be used to pay for personnel?

Foundation programmatic and applied research grants are designed for projects that can be sustained without dependence on ongoing grant funding. That said, we understand that staff are required to complete the work described in many proposals.

To maximize grant proposal success, we recommend detailing any staff resources in one of two ways:

FTE allocation and description of proposed activities. Example: A .5 FTE diabetes educator providing 500 individual sessions and three cohorts of 16 group sessions; or
Calculation by service unit. Example: 500 individual sessions at $20 per hour plus three cohorts of 16 groups sessions for a total of 48 sessions at $210 per session, including prep time.

Are Foundation grants available for capital expenditures?

No. Foundation grants are not available for rent, utilities, or building payments/expenses related to a capital expenditure.

Is reporting required as part of Foundation funding?

Yes. Outcomes reporting is a requirement for all Foundation programmatic and applied research grants. Reporting is critical to measuring results and for leveraging promising practices to strengthen statewide activities and resources.

Reporting requirements vary based on type and amount of grant funding. Details will be provided when grant awards are announced

Is funding provided in a single block?

Yes. All selected projects will be funded in one block sum.

What support does the Foundation provide to grantees?

Foundation staff support grantees who receive programmatic and applied research funding via progress calls. Grantees who receive a competitive grant will have quarterly check-ins. Discretionary grantees will have either a twice-annual or annual review, depending on grant amount and project.
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In addition, the Foundation will create opportunities for grantees to learn from one another and other experts, so that they can build their capacity. Our Community Collective capacity-building series will provide informative, insightful, and actionable webinars!

Frequently Asked Questions

Cycle 1

Nov. 30

Sept. 15

Aug. 21

Cycle 2

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