Eligibility to Apply
Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations based in Cuyahoga County and serving Cuyahoga County residents are eligible to apply. (Rare exceptions may be made, on a case-by-case basis, for organizations headquartered outside the County that deliver services aligned with our priorities to residents of Cuyahoga County.)

Grassroots, community-based organizations will be prioritized. To be considered for funding, large organizations must demonstrate meaningful partnership and power-sharing with organizations proximate to residents with lived experience of the systems and conditions that harm health status. If you have questions about eligibility prior to submission, please contact the foundation office.

Population Focus
Applications addressing the needs of groups by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio as facing the worst health outcomes will be prioritized. These groups are:
• Black and Hispanic/Latinx individuals, families, and communities
• Those without a high school education
• Those with a disability
• Low-income individuals and families

Read More
Health Policy Institute of Ohio Health Value Dashboard

Awards
Responsive grants will be for one (1) year only. Grant awards may be in the range of $25,000 – $50,000, but the board retains discretion on the amount awarded. Decisions will be made in May and November.

Application Process
Grants are awarded twice per year, according to the following schedule:

What We’ll Consider
The HealthComp Foundation will consider support for both “upstream” and “midstream” efforts. Upstream interventions are those that aim to improve community conditions and systems by addressing the needs of groups or communities. Midstream interventions and programs are those that address the needs of individuals and families. Downstream interventions are those that provide clinical care and will not be considered. For more information on the difference between upstream, midstream, and downstream interventions, please refer to this Health Affairsarticle. 

Organizations should be able to demonstrate that they (1) have or are actively working towards board and staff leadership that is representative of the people they serve; and (2) involve the community they serve in project planning/implementation based on data analysis or meaningful community input, even if their work clearly benefits people facing current and/or historic inequities. Special/priority consideration will be given to BIPOC-led, BIPOC-serving organizations.

We will consider support for projects/programs and capacity building efforts, such as training. We will also consider support for research projects that align with the foundation’s interests and have a clear purpose in informing public policy or other systems change efforts. We will not fund scholarships, endowments, or capital projects.