Providing healthcare to disadvantaged communities and populations is critical to the success of healthcare in the United States. The lack of physicians and access to healthcare in these communities severely compromises disease prevention activities and often results in poor health status. Recognizing there is a critical need for health services, AOF’s Caring for Communities Grant gave priority to programs and health initiatives addressing COVID-19 for the past two years. Caring for Communities Grants will continue to fund COVID-19 projects but will review all applications based on addressing the largest need and achieving the greatest impact.

Award

Award determinations will be announced in August. A limited number of grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be distributed to qualified 501(c)(3) health centers for a grant period of 12-36 months, contingent upon the submission and satisfactory review of reporting requirements.

Eligibility

• A qualified 501(c)(3) health center with a DO directly and actively involved in the operation, and evaluation of the program.
• The program or project must directly benefit patients, address a critical need, be able to measure impact, and align with one of the Foundation’s strategic initiatives.
• Serve and treat a significant number of disadvantaged people and/or people in desperate need of healthcare.
• Treating patients for at least one year.
• Measurable improvements to patient health and quality of life
• Committed to Osteopathic philosophy and principles of patient care.
• Demonstrable efforts to improve practices to mitigate disparate treatment of disadvantaged people.

RFP Requirements
Step 1: Letter of Intent - Please allow for 2-3 business days for AOF to review, once submitted.

• All applicants must submit an LOI through the portal with a brief executive summary, the purpose of the request, budget, and project start/end date.

Step 2: Full Proposal - Selected organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal that is due by July 12.

• Organization Summary
• Program Description with activities, objectives, and anticipated results
• Population being served
• Timeline and Implementation
• Description & measurement of anticipated client and organizational outcomes
• A program budget detailing the proposed use of grant funds, summary of funds secured or requested
• Director's current CV/Resume
• Name of Osteopathic physician overseeing/heading the program
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from partnering organizations

Learn more about our most recent Caring for Communities Grant recipient.