Grant Application Guidelines
Created in 1948, the Desert Healthcare District’s mission is to protect and enhance the assets of the District and promote good health for its residents. Through a system implemented in 1998, the District budgets more than $3 million each year for grants and other programs. The District’s primary purpose in grantmaking is to assist community-based nonprofit organizations develop programs that are in alignment with the District’s mission and strategic plan and focused on improving health status for district residents.
Program Priorities
Grants will be awarded to organizations that contribute to improved health for District residents through activities that fall within one or more of the following focus areas of the District’s 2008 strategic plan:
- To decrease the number of overweight and obese children ages 5-17 within the District;
- To increase use of sustainable green programs that promote healthy behavior;
- To support the objectives of Healthy People 2010.
- To complete an inventory of available mental and behavioral health services for District residents;
- To alleviate the local healthcare workforce shortage through programs that attract, train and retain health care professionals with an emphasis on underserved communities within the District.
The Desert Healthcare District aims to support programs, organizations, and community collaboratives with demonstrated competencies in one or more of these activities and with the greatest potential for achieving measurable results in these objectives.
Priority consideration will be given to projects or organizations that:
- Have proven track records of success;
- Have the potential to impact the greatest numbers of District residents;
- Can demonstrate the greatest potential to positively change health-related behaviors;
- Are based on research and/or best practices that demonstrate effectiveness; and
- Have data available to measure progress, outcomes and relevance.
Amount and Duration of Grants
There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. Historically, grant amounts have ranged from a few thousand dollars for small projects to up to one million dollars for significant capital projects. The amount available for a particular grant will vary, depending upon many factors, including the District’s overall budget, the amount requested for the proposed program, the applicant’s organizational budget, and the extent of the project’s impact on the health of District residents.
Grants are typically for one year or less.
Types of Grants Available
The following types of grants are available to applicants to help advance the goals and objectives of the District’s strategic plan:
- Projects/Program – To support new or existing projects or programs that seek to achieve measurable results in one or more of the objectives of the District’s strategic plan;
- Capacity-building – To support activities that strengthen an organization’s ability to achieve measurable results in one or more of the objectives of the District’s strategic plan;
- Capital – To support building, equipment or construction projects that will strengthen an organization’s ability to achieve measurable results in one or more of the objectives of the District’s strategic plan;
- Challenge – The District will agree to provide a certain amount of funding (typically towards a capital project) when the grantee meets a specified goal;
- Matching - The District will agree to match up to a certain amount of funding that the grantee raises in fundraising;
- Technology – To support technological equipment (computers, phone system, etc.) that will strengthen an organization’s ability to achieve measurable results in one or more of the objectives of the District’s strategic plan.
Eligibility
The District will award grants only to organizations and institutions exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or equivalent exemption; such as a public/governmental agency, program or institution.
The programs and/or organizations applying for funding must directly serve residents of the Desert Healthcare District. Although the intent is to serve District residents, it is understood that regional organizations have a significant presence within the District and make a vital contribution to the health of District residents. Accordingly, applications whose services extend beyond the boundaries of the District are eligible for funds upon demonstration that the residents of the District will be proportionately served.
Funding Restrictions
The District will NOT support the following:
- Individuals
- Endowment campaigns
- Retirement of debt
- Annual campaigns, fundraising events or expenses related to fundraising
- Programs that proselytize or promote any particular religion or sect, or deny services to potential beneficiaries based upon religious beliefs
- Expenses related to lobbying public officials
- Political campaigns or other partisan political activities
- Unfunded government mandates
- Replacement funds to allow a project’s funding to be shifted to other programs or budget areas
Projects that fall outside the District’s guidelines will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Application Process
The District accepts applications on a rolling basis, there are no application deadlines. To begin the application process, interested organizations should submit a Preliminary Application form for consideration. Submitting the Preliminary Application form is the first step in applying for a grant. DO NOT submit a full proposal without being requested to do so by District staff.
District staff will promptly acknowledge receipt of applications. As requests are processed and reviewed, staff will notify organizations if additional information, supporting materials or a full proposal will be required.
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