CIGNA FOUNDATION

Contact information:
P.O. Box 2248
Princeton, NJ 08543-2248
Phone: 866-865-5277

Website: https://secure17.easymatch.com/cignagive/applications/agency/default.aspx?Skip=MultiLanding

Type of foundation: Company-sponsored

Types of grants: Project grants, general operating grants, sponsorships

Description: Headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Cigna is one of the largest health service companies in the U.S. market. The Cigna Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and work.

The Cigna Foundation makes grants in four main “impact areas”:

• Promoting Wellness: Building awareness, helping people manage their health challenges and making health services available and affordable for all.
• Expanding Opportunities: Reaching across barriers – be they based on gender, ethnicity or physical condition – to tap the talents of every person.
• Developing Leaders: Supporting the type of community service that gives talented individuals the experience to become future leaders.
• Embracing Communities: Connecting neighbors to create networks that will address the complex social and environmental challenges we all face.

Grants are made for a single year only.

Sample grants:

• $29,000 to American Indian College Fund (2012).
• $25,000 to Water for People (Denver, CO) (2012).
• $20,000 to Water for People (Denver, CO) (2010).
• $10,000 to Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta, GA) (2012).
• $10,000 to Hartford Symphony Orchestra (2012).
• $10,000 to Society for the Arts in Healthcare (2010).
• $10,000 to Partnership for a Drug Free America (New York) (2010).
• $10,000 to Denver Public Schools (Denver, CO) for promoting wellness (2010).
• $10,000 to National Conference for Community & Justice of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (2010).
• $10,000 to Greater Hartford Consortium for Higher Education (2010).
• $10,000 to Bloomfield Access Television (Bloomfield, CT) in continuing support (2003).
• $5,000 to Postgraduate Medicine Community Outreach Program (Berwyn, PA) (2010).
• $3,500 to Education Works (Lawrenceville, NJ) (2010).
• $2,500 to New Hampshire Humanities Council for promoting wellness (2010).
• $2,500 to Mountain Area Health Education Center (Ashville, NC) (2010).
• $2,500 to Women’s Fund for Health Education and Research (Houston, TX) (2010).

Fit for public broadcasting: While the Foundation appears to have only minimal media giving history, its interest in raising awareness around health and connecting communities around key concerns may be a match with public media. There is no indication that the Foundation does not fund media.

Eligibility: All organizations requesting funding must be current 501(c)(3) public charities. The Foundation will review applications from anywhere within the U.S., but preference is given to communities where Cigna has a significant presence. The Foundation will not make grants to:

• Individuals or to organizations established to benefit one individual or group.
• Capital campaigns (unless approved by the Cigna Foundation Board of Directors).
• Organizations or programs whose mission includes a substantial element of social, religious or political advocacy.
• Groups or projects that discriminate or restrict services based on factors of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, domestic partner status, genetic information or citizenship status, except where those activities support Cigna's commitment to diversity and elimination of health disparities.

Deadline: Applications are considered throughout the year. However, programs applying for a grant after October 15 cannot expect to receive funding until the next calendar year.

How to apply: Applications are submitted online. The Foundation prefers not to receive phone calls, though it does list a helpline phone number for assistance with the application (866-865-5277). Response time is, on average, four weeks from receipt of application, though this can vary.

Giving range: There is no maximum grant, but a typical first-time grant is $5,000. The Foundation encourages applicants to see this as a target ask.

Assets: $5,352,890 (year ended 12/31/2010).

Total giving: $1,888,993 (year ended 12/31/2010).