Emerging and promising practices in population health
We fund multisector, interdisciplinary approaches to improve the health of vulnerable populations by addressing the social and environmental factors that adversely and disproportionately affect their communities.
Focus Area Overview
Health in low-income communities may be affected by family and societal instability, job loss and long-term poverty, environmental hazards and pollution and a lack of education and opportunities for self-betterment. These so-called social determinants of health have been linked to serious health disparities and are considered the root causes of many chronic ailments, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Vulnerable populations also seldom have access to safe streets, parks and recreational areas, thereby restricting healthful outdoor physical activity and contributing to poor health.
Our aim is to promote greater equity in the social, physical and built environments in which the most at-risk populations live, work and play. But we understand that this work, if it is to succeed, will require forging new kinds of partnerships, collaboration and thinking.
We approach this by supporting efforts that:
- Adopt multisector strategies that address policy, environmental and programmatic change, with a special focus on food systems,
- Integrate innovative population health strategies into primary care.
Eligibility
Nonprofits that are 501(C)(3) organizations and public agencies based in the United States, and not classified as private foundations, are eligible to apply for a grant or respond to a request for proposals.
Application Process
We accept preliminary applications on an ongoing basis.
An application has two parts:
- Part 1, the preliminary application, contains a data-entry component and several attachments, including a narrative.
- If a program officer determines your request has potential for funding, he or she will ask you to provide additional information. This will constitute Part 2 of the application process.
We award funding for single-year and multiyear projects, up to three years.
Grantseekers who receive one-year planning grants for projects must demonstrate they have secured other funding prior to applying for additional support. Grantseekers who apply for multiyear awards must secure matching funds after the first year, with Kresge providing a two-to-one match.
Request Review Process
Final grant decisions are made after review of the two-part application.