Funding Available to Community Organizations for Health Equity Capacity Building Grants
Department of Health grant program aims to reduce health disparities
Funding is now available for community-based organizations that are working to address health disparities in Vermont. Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Vermont Department of Health has established a Health Equity Capacity Building program that, in partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, will provide financial and technical support opportunities for community organizations to build their program capacity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on health inequities across the country as well as here in Vermont,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Kelly Dougherty. “We learned many lessons, and forged important, new partnerships to support under-resourced communities. These grants and the expertise of the Vermont Community Foundation create an unprecedented opportunity to provide communities with significant resources to address health equity.”
The Health Department has identified reducing health disparities and promoting health equity as fundamental priorities, and the State of Vermont has declared racism to be a public health emergency. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community-based organizations have been key to effectively reaching populations who are at higher risk as well as those who have been historically underserved. The Health Equity Capacity Building program incorporates lessons learned from efforts to protect and promote the health of Vermonters who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, and systemic racism.
The Department of Health will award the Health Equity Capacity Building grants—expected to be in amounts of at least $25,000, with an average of $150,000. The Vermont Community Foundation is supporting the program as a facilitator of the application and technical assistance process.
Organizations working with communities and priority populations can apply for grants now. The initial deadline for applications is May 1, 2022, for funds that will be available on June 1, 2022. Additional applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as funding permits.
In addition, through this process, the Vermont Community Foundation will provide opportunities for technical assistance to organizations for building their capacity and infrastructure to meet the requirements to receive federal funds. Those applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting on June 1, 2022.
For more information, and to apply for a Health Equity Capacity Building grant, please visit vermontcf.org/health-equity.
For assistance with completing the application, or for translation of the application materials into another language, please contact Al Belluche at abelluche@vermontcf.org or 802-388-3355 ext. 247.
To learn more about health equity in Vermont, visit healthvermont.gov/health-equity.