Guidelines

For all grants, an organization must be a 501(c)(3)

• Fiscal sponsors are permissible for organizations that are not a 501(c)(3) for Project Grants and Spark Grants only.
• Churches that use the tax Identification number of a larger organization and have a group exemption will need to complete the application indicating that larger organization is the fiscal sponsor.
  • GROUP – Generally, a central organization holding a group exemption letter, whose subordinate units covered by the group exemption are also eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, even though they are not separately listed (deductibility limitation dependent on various factors).

Grants must benefit residents of the Partnership’s defined geographic service area, to include all of Perry County, Western and Central Cumberland County, Northern Adams County and Greater Shippensburg. School districts are eligible to apply for Spark Grants only for each of their school buildings. Applicants may:

• Apply for more than one grant type per year but not two of the same type for the same deadline;
• Apply for a General Operating Grant but no other grant type for the same deadline; and
• Request support for new or pilot projects that address emerging opportunities or needs.

Grants cannot be used for:

• • Endowment drives
  • Annual fund drives or loans
  • Advertising in yearbooks or programs
  • Electoral activities
  • Individual scholarships, internships or awards
  • Retroactive expenses or projects
  • “Athons” or other similar sponsorships
  • Athletic or alumni activities
  • Operating deficits
  • Individual medical bills
  • Capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 for program-related needs
  • Any portion of fees to a national or state association

The Partnership for Better Health accepts all applications online. The electronic grants system is used for all stages of the grant making process, including full applications and grant follow-ups.

• Determine if your organization and the project you are proposing meet our general eligibility requirements.
• Visit our online grants management system
  • If you’ve never used our system before, select “Create New Account.”
  • If you are a returning grantee, supply your email address and password to access the system. Review your contact information and select “Apply Now.”
• Select General Operating Support, Project, or the Spark grant application process and proceed.

Click here to see previously awarded grants.

For every grant application, the Partnership for Better Health will evaluate:

• Strong alignment with the foundation’s priorities:
  • Addressing one or more of the social determinants of health.
  • Advancing health equity by addressing systems and conditions that create inequities.
  • Using effective and/or innovative strategies in creating positive health outcomes.
  • Fostering collaboration focused on health justice.
  • Advancing systems change solutions (systemic strategies that are designed to improve all aspects of how a set of organizations, institutions or systems work).
  • Centering people with lived experience in the planning, leadership and implementation of the work—these are people with firsthand experience of the health challenges and inequities being addressed.
  • Utilizing policy advocacy strategies that build the power of marginalized communities toward systems change.
• Significance of the need being addressed
• Capacity of the applicant to accomplish its goals and objectives and its closeness to the issue being addressed; and
• Appropriate budget.

In addition to our core funding priorities, the Partnership for Better Health develops Requests for Applications to incentivize work in strategic focus areas. Learn more about our current and recent Requests for Applications, below:

Current Requests for Applications

• There are no current Requests for Applications.

Recent Requests for Applications

• Health Justice
  Due: May 26, 2023
  Grants of $25,000 – $50,000

• Seeking Strategic Partners in Policy Advocacy
  Due: February 1, 2023
  One year grants of $10,000 – $75,000
• UBUNTU | Collaborative Partnerships to Advance Health Equity
  Due: February 2, 2023
  Up to 4 awards, with awards of up to $15,000 each
• Achieving Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems in South Central PA
  Due: February 28, 2022
  Up to 5 awards, with average award estimates of $50,000 each
• Spark of Change | Counter-Narratives | Health Equity Grants
  Due: March 3, 2022
  Up to 10 awards, with awards of up to $5,000 each

Service Area

Northern Adams County Zip Codes

17303, 17304, 17306, 17307, 17316, 17324, 17337, 17372,

Cumberland County Zip Codes

17007, 17013, 17015, 17065, 17081, 17240, 17241, 17257, 17266, 17324

Perry County Zip Codes

17006, 17020, 17024, 17037, 17040, 17045, 17047, 17053, 17062, 17068, 17069, 17071, 17074 , 17090

The Partnership for Better Health offers conversational reporting instead of written reports. Conversational reporting may be in the format of a site visit, telephone call, or online video with representative(s) of the Foundation. Any reporting requirements or any corresponding reports will be assigned in our online grants system.