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BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation

Contact information:
4800 Deerwood Campus Parkway, DC3-4

Jacksonville, FL 32246
Phone: 1-800-477-3736, ext. 65321

Website: http://www3.bcbsfl.com/wps/portal/bcbsfl/bluefoundation

Type of foundation: The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. It is a 501(c)(3) private foundation, created in 2001.

Types of grants: Project, equipment, capacity-building, operating

Description: The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation supports community-based solutions that address the many different health care challenges facing Florida both today and in the future. The foundation has expanded its mission to include a focus both on the health and well-being of Floridians and on the health of their communities.

As of 2011, the foundation expanded its giving to include five primary areas:

  • Improving Access to Health Care (IMPACT): The purpose of this program is to increase access to quality, health-related services for Floridians, especially those who are uninsured and/or underserved. The foundation defines “health-related services” very broadly to include health services as well as outreach, awareness and education. IMPACT grants can be used to support expenses associated with delivering programs and projects focused on increasing access to quality, health-related services including salaries, consultants, equipment, travel, capital costs and more.
  • Improving Consumer Health: For the past three years, this program area has focused on addressing childhood obesity. This program area includes funding for community engagement projects as well as projects that apply research. The foundation intends to work with communities to identify the most pressing health concerns and develop ways to address them.
  • Improving Quality of Life: (New giving area; guidelines are forthcoming). The foundation will partner in communities to improve human and social services; community development and diversity; education and literacy; arts and culture; and disaster preparedness and relief.
  • Improving quality and safety of patient care: The foundation has partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Florida Center for Nursing to study ways to enhance nurse education through the use of simulation. The foundation is also working on other nurse workforce issues.
  • Improving the Health Care System: This is an award program for organizations that have demonstrated excellence in improving health outcomes for at-risk communities in Florida.

Sample grants:

  • $100,000 to Alachua County Health Department to support its mobile outreach clinic to provide more underserved residents with access to primary care, well woman care, health screenings, monitoring and referrals for specialty care (2010).
  • $100,000 to Institute for America’s Health for The Florida Initiative, which integrates five programs to educate fourth and fifth graders, their teachers and parents about marketing strategies that promote consumption of unhealthy foods and sedentary lifestyles among children (2008).
  • $100,000 to MicheLee Puppets for EXTREME Health Challenge, live performance before children between kindergarten and fifth grade featuring puppet characters who, along with the students, learn the answers to questions regarding nutrition and physical activity (2008).

Fit for public broadcasting: While no past grants to public broadcasting were found, the foundation’s mission (especially its new and expanded mission) is in line with public media’s work. The foundation has a stated interest in education and awareness related to health. It has funded outreach and education activities in schools. Several other public broadcasters have successfully secured funding from health-focused foundations for work in their communities.

Eligibility: Grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations and public institutions including public K-12 schools, colleges, community colleges and universities; county health departments; county libraries; etc.). Applicants must be located in Florida and must serve Floridians.

Deadline: Deadlines vary by program, generally following a Winter and a Summer cycle. The next deadline for IMPACT grants is September 28, 2011.

How to apply: Applications must be submitted online. Guidelines for the IMPACT program are available here.

Giving range: IMPACT grants range from $10,000 – 100,000.

Assets: $86,834,191 (as of 12/31/2010)

Total giving: $2,876,120 (2010)