Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation supports health equity, early childhood education, community safety and access to health coverage in Minnesota.
FUNDING AREAS: Health equity, early childhood education, community safety, access to health coverage
IP TAKE: This is a Minnesota-specific insurance foundation that approaches health funding in many different ways and is responsive to urgent community needs.
PROFILE: Established in 1986, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation (BCBSMF) is a health insurance foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The foundation aims to "make a healthy difference in communities by advancing health equity and improving the conditions where people live, learn, work and play.” BCBSMF funds local efforts for health equity, early childhood education, community safety and access to health coverage
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation awards community safety grants to help residents live free from fear and violence. Employment grants support job-specific skills training and workplace health and safety policies. BCBSMF’s funding for family and social support goes towards social connectedness for better health, while income-related grants fight poverty through better housing, education, childcare, food and medical care. The foundation lists current funding opportunities on its website.
Grants range between about $10,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the financial page of the funder’s website. Grantmaking focuses on various communities in the state of Minnesota. The most grants are centered on the Minneapolis area, although BCBSMF awards grants in other parts of the state too. Past local grantees include Hispanic Outreach Program of Goodhue County, OutFront Minnesota Community Services and St. Paul Youth Services.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. BCBSMF uses an online application system to accept requests during its open funding opportunities. Direct general questions to the staff at foundation@bluecrossmnfoundation.org or 651-662-9538.
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