The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
/OVERVIEW: This health insurance foundation supports health, wellness and education causes in the state of Alabama.
IP TAKE: This is a great funder to know in Alabama, and not only for grant seekers working in health; education groups regularly receive support from this foundation as well. This funder accepts applications for program or general operating support at any time via online application portal.
PROFILE: The Caring Foundation is the charitable and grantmaking arm of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. It seeks to “give back to the community by supporting initiatives to improve the health, wellness and education of Alabamians.” The foundation was established in 1990 to serve as the corporate charitable foundation for needs in the state. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Its parent company is the largest provider of healthcare benefits in the state, serving over 3 million people and employing at least 3,600. Grant seekers can learn more about the health insurance company here. The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is a member of Alabama Giving, a statewide association of grantmakers dedicated to strengthening organized philanthropy in the state.
Caring Foundation focuses on the health, wellness and education of people in Alabama. Nonprofits must be based in Alabama or serve Alabama communities to be eligible for grants. Past grantees include the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, which received a $20,000 grant for educational programs.
Important Grant Details:
The foundation accepts grant applications only via the online system, but reviews grant requests throughout the year for both program initiatives and general operating support. The Caring Foundation does not support individuals, political causes, private foundations or sports teams. Also, organizations can submit a grant request only once per year.
The insurance company also conducts corporate giving and sponsorships for Alabama groups. Grant seekers can apply for those on the insurer’s website. For a recent school year, Blue Cross made $250,000 available in the form of $10,000 grants to 25 schools in the state. This was part of the Be Healthy School Grant Program, which is separate from foundation giving. These grants fund schools that enroll students in kindergarten through the sixth grade. There has been a big push for school-based health and wellness programs that include nutrition education, exercise and parent involvement. These grant applications are typically due between January and March. View community annual reports here.
For information on the Be Healthy School Grant Program, which is more of a corporate giving program than a foundation one, contact CommunityRelations@bcbsal.org.
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