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Applying to the Foundation

The Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund is now accepting applications. Learn more here

We seek partners willing to offer solutions designed to strengthen the safety net system in Montgomery County. We invest in organizations and ideas that strive to improve their operations and impact the system as a whole.

HealthSpark's Grantmaking Process

HealthSpark Foundation accepts grant applications through two mechanisms: an open call for grant applications through our Safety Net Initiative, and by inviting applications from a single nonprofit or set of community partners to meet a defined community need. More information on each process is listed below.

Safety Net Initiative Process

Since 2017, our efforts have focused on building a more just and effective safety net through our 10-year Safety Net Initiative. HealthSpark seeks applications for project or general operating support that reflect the vision, guiding principles, and goals that were originally developed with input from more than 200 Montgomery County community partners and service providers, and that are detailed in the Safety Net Initiative Framework

The Foundation is focusing its Fall 2022 grantmaking on requests for innovative projects or general operating support that focus on at least one of the six focus areas of the Safety Net Initiative. The Spring 2023 grantmaking program will invite applications to the Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund.

Full details on the Safety Net Initiative, including examples of past Innovation Lab RFP's and funded projects, can be found here.

We announce our grant program's here on our website as well as through our newsletter, LinkedIn page, and through the nonprofit networks.

Invited Application Process

Informed through our work with the community, HealthSpark occasionally identifies specific opportunities and invites proposals from community partners. As examples, in 2017 HealthSpark's community partners defined the need for creating an advocacy coalition that would bring together the safety net system to collectively advocate for more robust and just public policy. HealthSpark convened a community action team to develop an RFP process, identified potential applicants with advocacy expertise and invited those organizations to apply. With additional community input, HealthSpark awarded an initial grant to Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) that began this work in 2019. In 2020, HealthSpark again invited PHAN to submit a proposal to continue this work, now called the Here for Us Advocacy Coalition.

Similarly, in 2020 our community partners identified the need for a comprehensive, multi-year curriculum to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the social safety net.  HealthSpark explored this concept with the leaders of Bucks Mont Collaborative, Tri-County Network, and Inter-County Network. HealthSpark funded a planning grant to support this work in 2020, and subsequently provided initial funding to support the first two years of implementation for this project, now called the Racial Equity Learning Community.

Application Submission

HealthSpark Foundation uses an online grant application called Foundant. Applicants are required to use this portal to apply for grant support. In order to use Foundant, the applicant must create an organization profile. Organizational profiles are linked to an EIN, and therefore only one profile can be created per organization. If you are unsure of whether your organization has a profile created within Foundant, or if you need to update the contact information in your organization's Foundant profile, or if you have other questions about Foundant, please contact Clare Strenger at cstrenger@healthspark.org or 215-716-5400 and she will be happy to assist you.

To access Foundant, please click here.

 

What The Foundation Does Not Support

  • Individuals or for-profit organizations, firms or companies
  • Disease-specific charities
  • Endowments
  • Debt reduction
  • Clinical or academic research
  • Academic projects
  • Athletic recreational clubs or alumni activities
  • Replacement of lost government-funds or supplementation of private/public insurance

Please know that we do not respond to requests for annual support, events or other general solicitations.