Community Voices

The Partnership for Better Health invests in ideas, initiatives, and collaborations to advance equity and improve the health of communities in our region. In our latest strategic plan, our organization has made a strong commitment to centering the lives of people with lived experience (PWLE) in our grantmaking and operations.

Centering lived experience means creating space for people to share their real-life experiences and expertise and for that input to be valued and incorporated in decision-making (Poverty Action Lab). To that end, the 2026 Community Voices grants will be decided by an 11-person committee comprised of PWLE from our service area and fund projects that have never been funded by the Partnership and that offer innovative approaches to supporting PWLE and the pillars of Health Equity.

2026 Application – New Community-Driven Projects/Ideas

In early 2025, the Partnership awarded our first grants under the Participatory Grantmaking Program. Our first grant committee centered grantmaking on addressing loneliness and social isolation in our Service Area. This year, we are centering innovation and leadership with our $100,000 Community Voices Grant Fund.

Goal: We are seeking grant applications from new grantees who have an innovative idea to improve health equity in our service area. We are open to completely new leaders/projects and/or existing projects/organizations that are seeking funding for the first time.

• Grant size: up to $10,000/project
• Duration: One-year grants for first-time applicants.
• Grant Application Workshops: On May 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM and May 11 at 4:30 PM, we will offer Zoom workshops for prospective applicants to ask questions and receive information from committee members.
  • Register here for May 11 (4:30-6:00 PM) virtual workshop.
• Timeline: The 2026 Community Voices grant round will open April 23, 2026. Applications must be submitted by May 31, 2026. Grant awards will be announced July 2, 2026.
  • Click here to visit our online grant portal.

Additional Eligibility: Applications for grants under $2,000 are not required to have a Fiscal Sponsor or 501(c)(3) designation. If you wish to apply for a grant larger than $2,000, you must have a 501(c)(3) or a Fiscal Sponsor, or indicate that you need help being matched with a Fiscal Sponsor.

Our electronic grants management system will prompt you through the application process.

Click here for a preview of the grant application.