The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas anticipates awarding approximately $1 million in grants annually to non-profit or governmental organizations and programs that positively affect the health of Arkansans. Particular emphasis will be given to projects affecting health-care delivery, health-care policy and health-care economics. (List of Grants Awarded)

Projects must demonstrate strong community, regional or statewide support, such as co-funding by other community, regional, or statewide organizations or groups. Projects should also demonstrate operational and financial viability that will survive and continue after funding from the Foundation ends.

Grants awarded will generally range from $5,000 to $150,000.

The Blue & You Foundation will accept proposals for its grants through July 15, 2008, with awards being announced by December 31, 2008. Foundation grants will be made to non-profit or governmental organizations only and not to individuals. In addition to these grants, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield expects to continue its support of Arkansas charitable organizations through direct corporate contributions.

Grant Eligibility Criteria

Organizations eligible to receive grants from the Blue & You Foundation:

• Must be an Arkansas-based organization or governmental agency (or if the applying organization is located outside of Arkansas, the project to be funded must specifically benefit Arkansans)
• Non-governmental organizations must hold a current designation as tax exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Cannot be a private foundation under IRC § 509(a)
• Primary grantee cannot have a contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, its subsidiaries or affiliates
  
  A "contractual relationship" is defined as an arrangement whereby an organization has a contract to provide a service or product to the corporate entities of Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries or affiliates (in the nature of a "vendor" relationship). Such a relationship would make the organization ineligible for a foundation grant.
  
  Organizations whose sole relationship is that of purchasing health insurance for its employees from Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries or affiliates (in the nature of a "customer" relationship), and do not provide a service or product to these corporate entities, are not considered to have a "contractual relationship" within this definition, and therefore are eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
  
  Also, an organization that has a contractual relationship to provide a service or product to individuals or groups that have health insurance through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries or affiliates (in the nature of a "provider" relationship), are eligible to receive grants, if other eligibility criteria are met. For example, participating providers (physicians or hospitals) are not considered ineligible simply because they provide a service to individuals insured through Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries or affiliates.
  
  An exception to the "provider" guideline above involves those several hospitals which have a joint venture contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross, its subsidiaries or affiliates. A grant application from a joint venture hospital would be ineligible. However, a qualifying Foundation of such a joint venture hospital could be eligible to apply for a grant, if other eligibility criteria are met.
  
  In summary, "vendors" are ineligible, but "customers" and "providers" as defined above are generally eligible for grants, if other eligibility criteria are met.
  
  
• Grants will not be made to: individuals; fundraising events or celebrations; political or lobbying organizations; fraternal, athletic or social organizations; organizations that do not directly serve Arkansas; religious organizations for religious purposes; capital or endowment of organizations; proposals that are principally for facilities and/or equipment; or for attendance at conferences.
• In making grants, please note that the Foundation disfavors funding of “indirect costs.” Therefore, when applying, please omit “indirect costs” from your request and budget.
• Because of the availability of funding in Arkansas from the Tobacco Settlement, the Foundation will not fund proposals that are principally tobacco-related.
• Any organization that has received Foundation funding for a specific program for a total of two years is not eligible to reapply for subsequent funding for the same program.

Grant Application Deadline

For calendar year 2008, the Blue & You Foundation will conduct a round of grant-making to be completed before December 31, 2008. The deadline for receipt of applications in 2008 is July 15, 2008. (Please note that July 15, 2008, is not the postmark date, but the latest date the application must be in our hands.)

Grant Evaluation Criteria

Criteria used in evaluating grant applications include:

• Relevance to Blue & You Foundation priorities
• Project design and feasibility
• Documentation of need
• Evidence of broad-based community involvement
• Innovativeness/learning opportunity
• Portability (usefulness in other locales)
• Leveraging potential

Grant Application Requirements

A grant application submitted to the Blue & You Foundation must include the following five elements:

1. Cover Pages
   • Please use the specific Cover Pages (62 KB PDF) form, found in this Web site link. The form may be filled out online, then should be printed, signed and included with the descriptions and materials listed below.
   • The Cover Pages are designed to provide information about your organization and a summary of your grant proposal, in a brief and consistent format (two pages). It is important that the project summary presented on these cover pages be a clear and concise statement that captures the essence of your proposed project. Treat the Cover Pages as your "Executive Summary", and include your most compelling points on why your project should be funded.
   
   
   
2. Project Description (3-5 page narrative)
   • Goals and measurable objectives
   • Workplan or activities undertaken to achieve the goals
   • Expected results and timeline
   • Assumptions on which the project is based
   • Barriers to success
   • Financial and human resources to be applied to the project, including expected support from the community or other organization
   • Geographic area to be served
   • Target population to be served (age, gender, etc.)
   • Likelihood of project continuing after the grant period (including other potential funding sources)
   
   
   
3. Evaluation of the Project (1 page)
   • How success will be measured
   • Measurement tools or process
   • Timeline for conducting and reporting evaluation(s)
   • How project problems will be identified and corrected
   
   
   
4. Project Budget
   • Detailed list of all project expenses and all revenue sources. (Please note that grants will not be made to proposals that are principally for facilities and/or equipment. In making grants, please note that the Foundation disfavors funding of "indirect costs." Therefore, when applying, please omit "indirect costs" from your requests and budget.)
   • Requested dollar amount of grant
   • A budget sheet that itemizes all of the expenses that add up to the requested dollar amount of the grant
   • Commitment of sponsoring organization (in-kind contributions during and after the grant period)
   • Other organizations to which you have applied for funding of this project (and amount requested)
   
   
   
5. Attachments
   • Brief history of the sponsoring organization
   • 501(c)(3) tax exemption letter from IRS
   • Most recent independent audit
   • Current annual operating budget for sponsoring organization
   • Most recent IRS Form 990
   • Current Board of Directors, including their business or professional affiliations, and frequency of board meetings
   • Most recent Annual Report
   • List of other major business or foundation supporters for the last three years
   • Resume of Project Manager or Director
   
   
   

Submission of Applications

The original and one (1) copy of the application and attachments should be mailed or delivered (to be received by July 15, 2008) to:

Blue & You Foundation
Patrick O'Sullivan
USAble Corporate Center
320 W. Capitol, Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201

Please note that July 15, 2008, is not the postmark date, but the latest date the application must be in our hands.