Blue & You Foundation Arkansas
Contact information:
USAble Corporate Center
320 W. Capitol, Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-378-3300
Fax: 501-378-2051
Website: www.BlueAndYouFoundationArkansas.org
Type of foundation: Corporate (wholly funded by Arkansas Blue Cross)
Types of grants: Project
Description: The Blue & You Foundation Arkansas works to achieve a healthier Arkansas population, where citizens have timely access to useful information and needed health care services that enable them to lead healthier lives. Particular emphasis is given to projects affecting health care delivery, health care policy and health care economics. 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.
In addition to its “regular grants,” the Foundation also offers mini-grants of $1,000 to support health improvement projects in Arkansas.
Sample grants:
- $149,018 to Great Rivers Education Service Cooperative for GRESC Wellness project serving 4th and 5th grade students in Crittenden, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, and Saint Frances counties with health and wellness education (2007).
- $107,510 to Arkansas Educational Television Network Foundation to enhance the monthly program, Fighting Fat, by adding Fitness Witness and Crazy, Busy, Fit! (2006).
- $76,400 to Pulaski Technical College Foundation for Using Distance Education. Project will improve health care delivery in Arkansas by training future health-care professionals (2012).
- $70,522 to Arkansas Educational Television Network Foundation for Fighting Fat monthly television program addressing health issues, healthy living tips and fitness ideas (2005).
- $60,182 to Chicot Memorial Hospital Foundation for Kids for Health program presenting curriculum that targets disease prevention and health promotion. The program reaches 4,000 K-6 grade students from Chicot and Desha counties but hopes to serve an additional 4,000 students from Arkansas and Ashley counties (2010).
- $57,150 to Community First Wellness for Healthy Howard County to provide direct health education and awareness programs for at least 1,000 youth and adults, encouraging healthy nutrition, promoting physical activity and increasing health literacy (2012).
- $40,341 to Parenting and Childbirth Education Services for the Healthy Babies Project to educate 22,000 students and individuals in Northeast Arkansas about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome and prenatal drug and alcohol use by making presentations in schools, childcare facilities and at community events (2012).
Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation is a prospect for (and has funded some) public media in Arkansas. Many of the Foundation’s grants have supported education and awareness initiatives. Grants have funded projects targeting children as well as adults. Public media is well positioned to raise awareness, advance education and engage communities around health issues.
Eligibility: Applicants must be based in Arkansas or specifically benefiting Arkansans. Any 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, governmental agency or nonprofit hospital in Arkansas is eligible to apply. The primary grantee cannot have a contractual relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, its subsidiaries or affiliates. The Foundation will not make grants for capital, endowment or equipment. The Foundation does not want to fund "indirect costs,” so these costs should be omitted from the grant request and budget. Any organization that has received Foundation "regular grant" funding for a specific program for a total of two years is not eligible to reapply for subsequent "regular grant" funding for the same program.
Deadline: The 2012 deadline for regular grants is July 16. Applications for mini-grants are accepted in February, April and June.
How to apply: Interested applicants should review the detailed guidelines here. Applications must be submitted online. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Giving range: Regular grants typically range from $5,000 – $150,000. Mini-grants are $1,000 each.
Total giving: Approximately $1.5 million annually
