OVERVIEW: This funder supports exercise and healthy eating programs throughout the state of Mississippi, especially for K-12 schools and local universities.
IP TAKE: Potential grantseekers that can provide evidence of past program success via data or impact reports are more likely to receive funding from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. Only grantseekers that confirm this funder’s eligibility requirements will get through the door here. This funder accepts LOIs on a rolling basis; however, it chooses whether to extend an invitation for a full grant application, so don’t hesitate to contact this approachable funder if you have questions prior to inquiring.
PROFILE: Established in 2004, The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation (BCBSMF) is a health insurance funder committed to building a healthier Mississippi. This foundation is on a mission “to provide leadership and targeted grant funding for sustainable initiatives and programs to improve the overall health and well-being of Mississippians.” This funder makes grants for Mississippi-based organizations primarily for public health through two initiatives, Building Healthy Communities and Building Healthy Schools.
Grants for Public Health
The foundation provides grants for health and wellness projects that typically span a one-year period through throughtwo primary strategic umbrellas, Building Healthy Communities and Building Healthy Schools. The foundation provides both grantmaking and awards in its areas of interest.
- Funding priorities include: increasing “health education and health literacy,” promoting active lifestyles for kids and adults, access to healthy produce from farmers’ markets and community gardens, creating tobacco-free schools, and building parks that provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Grants through the Building Healthy Communities focus area prioritize construction of playgrounds, new classrooms, outdoor community spaces, and public walking trails, as well as nutritional initiatives with farmers’ markets and food banks. Grantees include The Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Healthy Heroes Program, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Foundation, and Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Extra Table, and the South Sunflower County Hospital Foundation.
- Grants for Healthy Schools provide funds for schools and programs that promote active lifestyles and healthy nutrition, including the construction of school playgrounds and gardens, rather than grants that invest in education. In 2023, Buckatunna Elementary School, Creekbend Elementary School, Myrtle Attendance Center, and Sebastopol Attendance Center were all awarded new playgrounds.
- In 2023, Belmont Schools, DeLisle Elementary School, Dorsey Attendance Center, Mooreville Elementary School, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, and Tri County Academy all received grants for school gardens.
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation also invests in public health across institutions of higher education via Mississippi universities and colleges that commit to tobacco-free policies according to the Model Policy for a Smoke-free College/University as published by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF). Recent recipients include Alcorn State University, Blue Mountain Christian University, Coahoma Community College, East Central Community College, and Northwest Mississippi Community College.
In addition to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation’s grantmaking, it also provides funding support through two “healthy” awards programs grant seekers should look into as well: the Healthy Hometown Awards and the Healthy School Awards. These are designed to reward and encourage towns and schools to keep up the good work with existing and emerging healthy campaigns. Awards do not necessarily appear to be given on an annual basis, as none were given in 2022. In all cases, the foundation must approve an awardee’s budget prior to receipt:
- The Healthy Hometown Awards Program awards a $100,000 grant to one or more municipalities, regardless of population, that have made the “most strides in creating a healthy community culture and demonstrated the highest level of commitment to making the city a healthy place to live, work and play.”Since its creation in 2010, the Healthy Hometown Awards Program has given a combined $1.1 million to winning “healthy hometowns” as of 2023.
- The Healthy Schools Awards Program awards a $50,000 grant to one or more K-12 schools located in Mississippi that have demonstrated great strides toward “a healthy school environment and the highest level of commitment to a healthy school culture.”Since its creation in 2015, the Healthy Schools Awards Program has given $775,000 to nineteen winning schools as of 2023.
- The foundation also will not fund hospitals or provide hospital building funds unless grant seekers are part of a charitable branch of a hospital.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $1,000 to well over $1 million, although most grants range from $10,000 to $500,000, with an average grant size around $25,000.
- All grantees must be physically located in Mississippi and serve Mississippi communities. However, grantees cannot have a contractual relationship with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, its subsidiaries, or its affiliates.
- There are no geographic restrictions on grantmaking within the state. Visit this funder’s interactive map to learn about the places that BCBSMF has supported in each Mississippi county over the years.
- The first step in getting BCBSMF’s support is to complete a letter of inquiry form, which can be found on the funder’s website. In response, they will send either a request for a full application, a request for more information, or a rejection letter. There are no deadlines to apply for grants, and the foundation accepts letters of inquiry throughout the year.
- The foundation provides clear eligibility requirements and a FAQ page for further information.
- Keep up with this funder’s activities and interests with the foundation newsletter.
To contact BCBSMF directly, reach them via foundation@bcbsms.com or by phone at (601) 664-4473.
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