2022 Health Equity Grant Fund 
The submission period for Round 2 is CLOSED!
We are processing submissions as we speak and will announce the winners soon.

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Translation:

• Español

  • Descripción

• Hmong

  • Kev piav qhia

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Purpose:

With the help of the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT), FCI will be offering $500,000 in grants to Wisconsin-based nonprofit organizations and initiatives that are addressing issues of health equity in 2022. We envision these grant funds will address and support your work in ways other grants deem unallowable. These much-needed funds must be deployed in providing services to Wisconsin residents in the project areas of:

• Expanding access to affordable housing

• Early Childhood Education

• Workforce Training

• Health Services While Revitalizing Neighborhoods and Rural Communities​
   

Funding Information:

• All funds will be awarded in 2022

• FCI will award 20 organizations or initiatives grants of $25,000

• FCI aims to split grant funding to urban and rural communities 50/50

• FCI aims to hold two funding rounds, one in May and the other in September. Each round will award 10 organizations or initiatives a $25,000 grant
   

​Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a 501c3 organization or a project sponsored by another 501c3. 

• Serves people of color, low to moderate-income individuals, and/or other marginalized groups.

• Not be an affiliate of a national organization.

• Actively work to improve the health and livelihood of Wisconsin residents and provide services related to the project areas listed above.

• Applicants can be involved in, but are not limited to direct service, and community organizing.

• If you received a Healthy Equity Grant in May 2022, you are ineligible.

• FCI will not fund the following

  • Individuals

  • Capital campaigns

  • Endowments

  • For-Profit entities

  • Partisan political efforts
     

Scope of Funding: 
We know that there are many grants currently available that restrict the way you use them, for this opportunity we trust your judgment in using these funds that will help you and your organization advance health equity in the project areas listed above. It is our hope that grantees can build sustainability with these funds and continue to address the issues of health equity long after these grant funds are deployed. Grant funds can be used to support new and existing work that links to ongoing sustained efforts of racial and health equity. Funds can be program-specific or organization-wide.
Examples include, but not limited to:

• Events that align health promotion and civic engagement.

• Work intended to change the narrative and/or policies/systems around health, and factors that drive health.

• Events or initiatives that support the development or advancement of collaborations between organizations looking to partner to address root causes of health disparities.

• Support for campaigns that relate to advancing racial and equity, e.g. communications campaigns (Please note that no lobbying or political activity is allowed)

• Supports funding for items that may be unallowable expenses to leverage restricted funding sources.
   

How to Apply:  

​In order to reduce the burden on organizations or initiatives applying, we have compiled a short online application. If you are unable to access a computer with internet access, please reach out to Tom Behnke at 608-204-8841 and we will send you a paper copy of an application for you to complete. ​

• Submission Period is CLOSED- We are processing submissions as we speak and will announce the awardees soon.

NOTE: The narrative questions that appear on the application are below. For each response there is a 500-character limit, so please be clear and concise with your answers. We recommend you give thought to and prepare answers to these questions prior to clicking on the link to the application.

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Evaluation Criteria & Selection Process:

Applications will be reviewed by a cohort of FCI staff, board, and members from diverse organizational backgrounds from communities throughout Wisconsin. Applicants will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Describe the organization, project, or initiative that is seeking funds? (Please limit your response to 500 characters)

• How will you advance health equity in your community? (Please limit your response to 500 characters)

• What outcomes do you anticipate achieving if you receive funds? (Please limit your response to 500 characters)

• With these funds, how will you demonstrate community engagement? (Please limit your response to 500 characters)

• How will these funds support or sustain future work? (Please limit your response to 500 characters)
   

Grantee Reporting:

If awarded, grantees will provide a one-to-two-page narrative answering the following questions no less than six months after the funds are awarded.

• How these funds advanced health equity in the community you serve.

• Describe how the funds were spent?

• What outcomes were achieved with the funds?

• How do these funds advance health equity in the community you serve.

• Quote from organization or initiative lead speaking to how these funds impacted their community.
   

Questions?

• If you have any questions regarding any of the items listed above, don’t hesitate to reach out to grants@forwardci.org

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FCI’s Mission:

• FCI is an investor, connector, and advisor for organizations and initiatives that reduce social, racial, and economic disparities in Wisconsin Communities.
   

FCI’s Vision:

• An equitable and inclusive Wisconsin built on cooperative social action. We realize our vision by supporting mission-driven organizations that are reducing racial, social, and economic disparities.
   

FCI’s Grant Making Philosophy:

• We agree to trust, be trustworthy and practice transparency.

• We are interested in building trust and identifying shared values and not in pursuing formal control mechanisms (i.e. lengthy contracts or long-term accountability systems).

• We will operate from a place of humility and curiosity.

• We recognize that people and organizations have been operating in an equity space far longer than FCI. We are committed to learning from our applicants and awardees.

• We will focus on the mission of the request.