Overview of Grant Process

• There are two grant cycles per year within the Healthy Active Communities focus area; the application deadlines are March 15 and October 15 (applications must be received by 5:00 pm). In the event the 15^th falls on a weekend or holiday, the grant application deadline will be the following business day.
• With the exception of the $5000 maximum for equipment and training curricula requests, there is no maximum limitation for this focus area; however, the BCBSNC Foundation pays close attention to the gain relative to the cost.
• The average grant awarded is expected to be $60,000.
• Grants are for one-time and one-year only.
• Please note that there is a separate application for the equipment and training curricula requests.

Examples of programs that meet one or more of the health results sought by this focus area:

• Purchase of Active Steps Youth kits to be utilized in an after school program in order to increase physical activity levels of program participants.
• Creation of a community garden to be utilized for providing fresh produce for specified vulnerable populations as well as for nutrition education programs designed to increase access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Implementation of a school-based physical activity challenge that rewards students for physical activity, healthy eating, and parent/guardian participation; and demonstrates an increase in levels of physical activity, healthy eating, and parent/guardian participation.
• Implementation of a faith-based wellness program designed to increase the physical activity levels of church members through church-sponsored physical activity programs and to implement healthy eating policies for church-sponsored functions.
• Creation of a system-wide comprehensive parks and recreation master plan designed to increase access to physical activity with a detailed description of implementation as well as a method for measuring an increase in levels of physical activity.