Caring Communities

Frequently Asked Questions

Go to Safety-net Enhancement Initiative FAQs >

FAQ: Health Clinic Opportunity Fund

If I have an idea or several ideas, how do I determine if any of them fit within Kresge’s
    Health Clinic Opportunity Fund Program?
Please clarify the deadline for submissions to the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply to the Health Clinic Opportunity
    Fund?
What types of organizations are not eligible for funding under this program?
Can I apply for the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund and another Health Program grant
   opportunity as well as the challenge grant?
Is funding for the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund limited to the United States?
What exact information do you need in the budget?
What are the guidelines for indirect costs, what is included?
Are grantees with multiple sites viewed more favorably than those operating single
   clinics?
How many projects will be funded under the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund?

If I have an idea or several ideas, how do I determine if any of them fit within Kresge’s Health Clinic Opportunity Fund Program?

Please review the Kresge Foundation Health Program Web page to determine if your idea fits the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund funding priorities. As is stated on the Web page, “This program was developed in direct response to the rapid increase in the number of people losing their jobs and health insurance as a result of the economic crisis. Grant awards may be used to support staffing, recruitment and retention of health-care service providers; consulting services such as training, management, business processing and fundraising; strategic planning, community health assessments, outreach and marketing; business and/or operational assessments and program evaluation; and basic operational expenses, such as supplies, materials and equipment.”

Please clarify the deadline for submissions to the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund.

The deadline is March 1, 2010, at 9 p.m. EST

What types of organizations are eligible to apply to the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund?

Nonprofit agencies or organizations who have been in business a minimum of five years with an annual operations budget of at least $250,000 supporting and/or operating the following types of community-based health centers are eligible:

Voluntary free clinics
Public health clinics
FQHC look-alikes
Nurse-managed clinics
School-based health clinics

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What types of organizations are not eligible for funding under this program?

Federally qualified health centers, mental health clinics, dental clinics, eye clinics, women’s health clinics, mobile clinics, children’s clinics, reproductive health care clinics, and specialty clinics are not eligible for the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund.

Can I apply for the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund and another Health Program grant opportunity as well as the challenge grant?

Yes

Is funding for the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund limited to the United States?

Yes. The Health Team does not fund internationally.

What exact information do you need in the budget?

We request a detailed budget with all expenditures related to this grant request, including any in-kind contributions and their respective sources. Please also give a brief summary and rationale for each line-item expenditure.

What are the guidelines for indirect costs, what is included?

Up to 20% can be included for indirect costs.

Are grantees with multiple sites viewed more favorably than those operating single clinics?

How many projects will be funded under the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund?

Up to 15 projects will be funded. This number is dependent upon the resources available.

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FAQ: Safety-net Enhancement Initiative

Definition of an anchor institution

What is an anchor institution?

An institution that has a prime and important role that focuses on a relationship that potentially offers resources, supports planning, and operational/administrative roles for vulnerable communities.

What are considered to be anchor institutions?

A regional hospital, public health department, or a regional association of community health centers.

Why anchor institutions?

Although Community Health Clinics (CHCs) are located in communities, they frequently lack the resources and capacity to work beyond their individual clinic setting.

CHCs working in partnership with anchor institutions, such as local hospital systems and public health, are typically better positioned to address gaps in services, and to respond to the complex clinical needs of the populations they serve. In general, CHCs must work with a broad array of systems in order to be an effective component of the safety-net for vulnerable populations. It is believed that those who are able to work with schools, mental health, workforce development and other social service agencies are more likely to respond to the myriad of complex factors that impact population health.

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Applicants for an anchor institution

Who should the applicant be?

An association that is best positioned to lead the planning work in its community and begin acting on the identified health challenge.

Can a Community Health Clinic be the lead applicant?

Yes we’d like to see community health centers take a leadership role in the planning and the demonstration efforts.

Selection process of anchor institution

Do you recommend focusing on one particular health disparity or would you also look at more than one disparity?

We are not limiting the applicant to one particular health disparity; however, if you are focusing on more than one initiative have compelling data that show that there are a couple of things in your community that you are willing to tackle.

If a community already has a plan in place can they wait and apply for the demonstration grant next year?

No, the initiative is designed for the select applicants from the cohort of planning grantees. If you are not selected as a planning grantee you won’t be eligible to compete for the next phase of the process.

Will capital projects be funded within the demonstration phase?

We are not providing capital funding within this initiative, they would be programmatic and operational.

Are applicants expected to have matching funds?

It would be very important if the applicant could contribute to funding, whether it is monetary or other resources; however, given the economic climate and depending on the location of the community, this may not factor in the evaluation.

Can an organization apply under this initiative and also submit letters of inquiry under other areas of the health program?

Yes.

Should Memorandums of Understanding or support letters be included?

Memorandums of Understanding and support letters are helpful, but are not required. We would recommend crafting a narrative that shows how those agencies who are supporting you are going to be involved in either the planning and the demonstration of the project.

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How concerned is the foundation about selecting applicants from various geographic locations and will the foundation consider or fund more than one applicant from a geographic location?

We are very concerned with selecting applicants from various geographic locations. Although it is our goal to reach all parts of the country and different populations, we may fund more than one applicant from a specific geographic location.

Should the narrative be single or double-spaced, margins, font size, etc.? How many copies should we submit?

The only restriction is that the narrative does not exceed 15 pages. Page margins and font sizes should be set so the document is easily readable. E-mail one copy of the document.

Is the Safety-net Enhancement Initiative a 5-page Letter of Inquiry, or a 15-page full proposal? If it’s a full proposal, what is included?

A complete request-for-proposal application package for the Safety-net Enhancement Initiative planning grant consists of a grant application cover sheet, a cover letter signed by the CEO of the lead agency, a 15-page proposal narrative, a budget, an audit for the lead agency, and the lead agency’s board of directors’ names and affiliations. Submit your response to our request for proposals using our online application process. When your complete proposal package has been received, you will be notified by The Kresge Foundation.

If several health clinics submit an application together as lead agency, should one be identified as the applicant?

Yes, only one grantee.

Are partner agencies required to submit other documentation like list of Board of Directors and audit?

No.

What if I have additional questions?

Please e-mail the Grants Inquiry Coordinator or call 248-643-9630. In the subject line please type Safety-net Enhancement Initiative.

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