Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about AZ Blue Foundation grant funding. If you have questions not covered here, please email them to [email protected].
- Non-profit organizations and academic institutions are eligible for AZ Blue Foundation grant funding.
- Foundation staff will communicate directly with organizations (nonprofits, academic institutions, and recognized government entities) that qualify for these funding opportunities.
Grant opportunities are available for Arizona-based organizations that are seeking funding related to the Foundation’s focus areas. The AZ Blue Foundation offers grant opportunities for programs and applied research projects, and supports a select number of charitable events each year.
- 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.
Yes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona funds a select number of corporate memberships each year. Visit the AZ Blue corporate website for details.
In 2025, the Foundation will offer grant cycles by invitation only in February and later in the year as available funding allows. The application window for the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant will open in February, which will address maternal mental health. Applications for charitable events are accepted beginning the first week of January.
Click here for dates and details.Awards for invitation-only grant cycles will be determined as part of the application review process, and in alignment with the Foundation’s annual budget. A single Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant will be awarded in the amount of $100,000 in 2025. The Foundation prioritizes requests up to $25,000 for charitable events.
Invitation-Only Grants
Funding opportunities will be offered to Arizona-based nonprofits and academic institutions by invitation only during 2025. The application, funding, and grant term dates will be posted on the Grants Overview page. Those invited will be provided with a link to the application on the ACF website.Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant
The Momentum Maker Grant application window opens February 27 and closes March 27, 2025, at 4 p.m. Arizona time. The application will be available on the ACF website on February 27.Charitable Event Grants
Apply via the ACF website.Dates and other details are available here.
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.
The timeline is:
Grant Cohort 1
Application Opens: Feb. 1
Application Deadline: Feb. 24, 4 p.m. AZ Time
Funding Dates: April 15
Grant Cohort 2
Grant Cohort 2 August 1 August 26, 2025 4:00 P.M. AZ TimeThe timeline is:
Application Opens: Feb. 27
Application Closes: Mar. 27, at 4 p.m. AZ Time
Funding Dates: June 16
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.
The Foundation has limited funding, so organizations may want to consider focusing efforts on one application so as not to compete against themselves.
- Yes. Active grantees may apply for the Momentum Maker Grant (if qualified) and/or invitation-only grants (if invited) as long as the request is for a separate project.
No. Foundation funding for competitive and discretionary grants is provided on a 12-month grant term. Charitable event funding is for the specific event.
All Foundation programmatic and applied research grants have a 12-month term. Specific dates can be found on the Grants Overview page.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. All selected projects will be funded in one block sum.
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.
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!
- The AZ Blue Foundation prioritizes resources to address Arizona’s most pressing health-related needs. Applicants should provide detailed data showing the needs of target populations and service gaps.
- There’s no limit on the number of applications submitted per organization, but it’s recommended that organizations prioritize submitting proposals that describe the greatest need to avoid competition during the selection process.
- Organizations do not need to be based in Arizona, but all grant funds must remain in Arizona and benefit its residents.
- Yes, partnerships are allowed and encouraged. Applicants should detail how partners will contribute to the project and outline all expenses in the budget section. It’s recommended that applications provide the status of current partnerships, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or other documentation.
- All eligible organizations can apply without preference to past recipients.
- Goals are overall achievements, outputs are activities, and outcomes are results on the target population.
- Applicants can request feedback from AZ Blue Foundation staff after funding decisions are made.
- The panel includes AZ Blue Foundation staff, subject matter experts, clinicians, and partners representing the Foundation’s four health focus areas.
- Grant applicants and recipients are permitted to request an indirect cost rate of no more than 20% for grants funded by the AZ Blue Foundation. The Foundation reserves the right to change this indirect cap at any time after considering all relevant facts and circumstances.