Funding Available To Fight Food Insecurity

The Portage Health Foundation is currently accepting requests for funding proposals that will have an impact on community health and wellness while addressing the systemic health needs and risk factors of the broader community.

Over the past two years, the foundation has researched the ways in which food insecurities and nutrition affect an individual’s overall health.

It has been identified that, within the four-county service area, the median food insecurity rate was 15.5% in 2014, while the median food insecurity rate for children was 24%.

This means approximately 8,500 of our residents lack access to food at some point during the year.

In an effort to reduce the negative effects of food insecurities, hunger, and poor nutrition, the foundation has begun identifying funding strategies to address the community’s awareness to food and the critical impact it has on individual and population health.

That’s why they’ve made $150,000 available for All Access to Care and Community Health Grants.

Interested parties are asked to submit a Letter of Inquiry by February 26th with applications due April 2nd.

Here is the full press release from the Portage Health Foundation:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
1. OVERVIEW
The Portage Health Foundation’s mission is to support the charitable health needs of the community through enhanced philanthropy and community collaboration. The Portage Health Foundation’s five pillars of emphasis guide meaningful investment in projects, programs, and services that meet the needs of the community and align with our mission of improving the health of residents in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.
The intention of these grants is to support projects that will have an impact on community health and wellness while addressing the systemic health needs and risk factors of the broader community. Further, it is hoped and desired that proposals seeking to fund will have identified key components to support sustainability and/or systems change to ensure ongoing delivery of services to meet community need.
Over the past two years, PHF has researched the ways in which food insecurities and nutrition affect an individual’s overall health. It has been identified that, within the four-county service area, the median food insecurity rate was 15.5% in 2014, while the median food insecurity rate for children was 24%. This means approximately 8,500 of our residents lack access to food at some point during the year. In an effort to reduce the negative effects of food insecurities, hunger, and poor nutrition, PHF has begun identifying funding strategies to address the community’s awareness to food and the critical impact it has on individual and population health. PHF’s multi-faceted approach focuses on three main approaches, 1) community education 2) access, and 3) affordability.

During PHF’s first round of funding, they identified two main objectives: (1) to create greater awareness throughout the community to the role food plays in overall population health, and (2) to develop and execute the first-steps toward helping to provide nutritious food to people who may be food insecure. Initial awards were given to a Prescription for Health program through Upper Great Lakes Family Health Centers; Market Bucks program offered by the Portage Lake District Library, and Let’s Eat (Community Meals).

All Access to Care and Community Health Grants must align with the Portage Health Foundation’s mission and in this call for proposal shall address food initiatives including food insecurity and access; education that aids in improving nutrition literacy; and accessibility addressing the community’s food needs. The following are some examples of the types of programs funding may be made available:

⦁ Food access programs;
⦁ Capacity building in regards to food programming, affordability, and accessibility;
⦁ Food systems development that addresses nutrition needs and sustainability;
⦁ Gleaning and food waste programs;
⦁ Local food system (farmers) support to help enhance the local capacity to increase output and access to whole, locally grown/raised foods;
⦁ Programs addressing food insecurity, cooking education, nutrition education, and otherwise holistic approaches to food as a component to overall individual and population health.

2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SOLICITATION TIMELINE
January 31, 2018 RFP Publically Announced
February 26, 2018 3:30p ET Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Due*
April 2, 2018 3:30pm ET Applications Due
May 9, 2018 Grant Awards to be announced

*although not required, LOI’s are strongly encouraged!
All application information and LOI’s forms can be found at www.phfgive.org/grants

3. ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to apply for a grant under this program, the applicant must:
• Be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c(3) non-profit organization; or a local unit of government.
• Be domiciled in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and/or Ontonagon counties of Michigan;
• Have a current certified financial audit and;
• Have at least 1 FTE.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A GRANT, A PROPOSAL MUST:
• Mobilize strategies that will enhance, expand or create new programs and/or services.
• Identify a clear path to long-term sustainability. Applicants must demonstrate how the grant activities will be sustained outside the grant period.

APPLICATIONS EVALUATION CRITERIA:
The Portage Health Foundation will evaluate each application on the following criteria:
⦁ Does the proposal have goals/objectives that advance PHF’s mission?
⦁ Does the proposal identify an unmet community need/health risk?
⦁ Does the proposal have measureable goals and objectives?
⦁ Does the proposal have a budget that identifies and covers all necessary expenditures?
⦁ Does the proposal identify a plan for sustainability?
⦁ Is there potential to achieve significant long-term impact by implementing effective models or supporting needed innovation;
⦁ Does the proposal demonstrate collaboration, including leveraging of other resources; and
⦁ Does the proposal have the potential to be replicated in other settings, including opportunities for learning, knowledge dissemination, and to inform public-policy.
The Portage Health Foundation Grants Committee and the Board of Directors has sole responsibility for all grant decisions.
APPLICATIONS EXCLUDED FROM FUNDING CONSIDERATION:
⦁ Health-related emergencies
⦁ Clinical research;
⦁ Loans;
⦁ Litigation;
⦁ Lobbying activities;
⦁ Organizations that discriminate based on age, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender;
⦁ Proposals where granted funds will be used to maintain existing program(s) or solely fill a budget-gap for current services; and;
⦁ Individuals or families and for-profit entities

4. GRANT AMOUNT
The Portage Health Foundation expects to award up to $150,000.00 towards successful proposals under this round of funding. There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount awarded under this RFP will be $50,000.00.

5. APPLICATION PROCESS
Although not required, Portage Health Foundation strongly encourages all interested applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) prior to submitting a grant application. An LOI helps promote a clear understanding, collaboration, and project outcomes between PHF and grant applicants. Please approach the LOI as an abbreviated grant proposal that PHF can review to determine if a project matches our funding interests and is suitable for formal grant consideration. If an applicant has questions, they are encouraged to contact the PHF offices prior to formal submission of the application or refer the PHF’s FAQ section on PHF’s web page.
To help applicants better understand the process and have the opportunity to ask any questions prior to submission, PHF will be hosting an informational session relative to this call for proposal and the application process on Wednesday January 31st at the Portage Health Foundation Offices @ 12p ET. The session should last :45-60 min.
All interested parties intending to apply for funding support are encouraged to attend. Please visit PHF’s website (www.phfgive.org) to download an LOI and/or application.

Applications can be mailed to:
Portage Health Foundation
400 Quincy St. – PO Box 299
Hancock, MI 49930

Or submitted via email to:
info@phfgive.org

6. GRANTEE OBLIGATIONS
If awarded, applicants must agree to:
⦁ Identify the Portage Health Foundation (and partners if required) as the source of funding in any program communications;
⦁ Set specific outcomes for the proposed program, monitor progress toward achieving expected outcomes, and report progress on a regular basis to the Portage Health Foundation;
⦁ Participate in any data collection and evaluation activities conducted by the Portage Health Foundation and/or its partners; and
⦁ Participate in grantee gatherings and other activities that support dissemination of knowledge.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This 2018 call for proposal has been made possible by the Portage Health Foundation. Learn more about this funder at:
www.phfgive.org

You make the difference. Together we make it possible.

The Portage Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that receives and contributes charitable donations which support the health needs of the community through enhanced philanthropy and community collaboration throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.