Responsive Grants

Our Level II grants applicaltion is now open. Please read the following for more information about this funding cycle. 

Our Approach

The Horizon Foundation’s strategic plan guides its grantmaking approach and its responsive grantmaking funding criteria. Although Howard County residents are generally healthier than the rest of the state, the county still faces major health challenges. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes cause more than half of the deaths in our county and obesity is a root cause of many of these diseases. Obesity is the biggest public health crisis in our county and working collectively we can help our residents, particularly children, achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, the Foundation is supporting grants to improve access to quality affordable health care, particularly primary and preventive services in the county. 

The Foundation is seeking Requests for Proposals (RFP) from non-profit and public entities for its Level II Grant Funding Cycle. All proposals must be submitted via an online process. Learn more on our website. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 26, 2013. Proposals will be reviewed and applicants will be notified of funding decisions the week of May 20, 2013.  

The Foundation will consider requests of $10,000 - $40,000 and will fund a total of $200,000. The Foundation expects to award a total of four to six grants averaging $35,000.  However, funding amounts and the number of awards may vary depending on the quality of the applications received. 

Consistent with our strategic plan, the Foundation is interested in funding focused proposals and projects aimed at improving health and wellness in Howard County including:   

1. Promoting positive lifestyles by improving healthful eating, drinking, and physical activity and especially by reducing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by Howard County children and their families;
2. Increasing access to high quality affordable health insurance; access to prevention and primary care services; and access to culturally competent and appropriate services especially for residents with limited English proficiency; and,
3. Funding for seed/innovation projects that improve the health and wellness of those living or working in the county.  

The Foundation recognizes that although it wants to fund proposals focused on its strategic priority areas listed above, it could “miss” opportunities to hear from the community about emerging needs and/or innovations in health and wellness that could benefit from “seed” funding to test proof of concept to the community.  Therefore, the Foundation will accept proposals outside of its strategic plan priority areas above as long as the proposal can demonstrate a significant need in the county and/or describe a significant innovation that improves the health and wellness of those living or working in Howard County.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Proposals will be accepted from agencies that directly benefit people who live or work in Howard County so we can create a healthier community.
2. Organizations must be: (a) tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)4; (b) public entities; or, (c) operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit.
3. Proposals should demonstrate a direct link to the priority areas listed above and/or focus on a significant health and wellness or innovation concept/issue in the county.
4. Proposals should clearly outline project goals, interventions, and measures to track progress.

Guidelines

Projects may include organizational sustainability improvement, pilot or innovation programs, capacity building, program development, planning grants, or strategic collaboration.  At present, the Foundation does not support capital campaigns, endowments, individuals, or bricks and mortar projects. 

Projects should be planned for a specific timeframe (e.g., one year, eighteen months, etc.).  Multi-year grants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  If submitting a multi-year grant, detailed line-item budgets for the entire multi-year grant period must be submitted.  The budget should present each year of the project separately.

The Foundation is most interested in supporting organizations that provide evidence of collaboration to leverage resources and creative problem solving.  Nonprofits that are part of a collaborative effort funded by the Foundation may also seek funding for their individual projects.

The Foundation places a high priority on organizations that are able to clearly articulate organizational goals, present a clear plan for achieving results, and track outcomes related to the people and communities served.

Timeline

Should you have any questions about the Level II grants, please contact Rosimar Meléndez, Senior Program Office, at the Foundation office (410-715-0311).

The following table summarizes our entire grantmaking process: