Grantmaking Priorities
In the summer of FY 2002, the Foundation established initial grantmaking priorities reflecting prevalent health problems; the disproportionate burden of morbidity, mortality, and disability among underserved individuals; and statewide public input on perceived opportunities to advance the health of all Georgians.
Effective August 2, 2002, the Foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) in response to the following grantmaking priority areas:
Addressing Health Disparities
Healthcare Georgia Foundation can do much to encourage and strengthen the State’s capacity, leadership, readiness and focus for eliminating high disparity conditions. Consistent with our mission and goals, such grantmaking would focus on creating the necessary conditions to address the commonly agreed causes of health disparities – unequal access to healthcare and treatment; socio-cultural and informational barriers that prevent full access to quality health information and service utilization; and the inadequate supply of appropriate, well-trained health care providers.
In the initial phase of this priority area, the Foundation might undertake several types of grants (i.e. including but not limited to research, leadership development, capacity building, direct service, and evaluation) all aimed at one of six strategic goals – strengthening the base of science; supporting strategic communications and awareness building; strengthening multi-stakeholder, cross-sector partnerships; developing and enforcing innovative policies, laws and regulations; linking communities to necessary personal and population health services; and finally assuring that an adequate, competent workforce exists to address future differences in health status and healthcare.
Specifically, the Foundation will pursue the following three-pronged approach:
- promote effort to deepen statewide public awareness about health disparities;
- energize local scholars and researchers to solidify our knowledge of how to effectively eliminate disparities;
- support various convenings of state, regional, local and community leadership to build systems capacity and readiness.
Strengthening Nonprofit Health Organizations
Healthcare Georgia Foundation proposes to allocate grant funds for organizational improvement. Organizational Improvement grants will be awarded to eligible organizations for the purpose of strengthening and sustaining their capacity to fulfill their mission, and underscores the Foundation’s commitment to assist underserved populations and the organizations that serve them.
Organizational Improvement grants will support the core functions, operations, or the administrative infrastructure of health-related nonprofits. For example, grantmaking for organizational improvement may include support for existing staff, staff development and training, developing a business plan, fundraising, strategic planning, upgrading internal data systems, leadership training, etc.
Applicant organizations may range in size and scope -- from a larger, well-established nonprofit to a smaller nonprofit that may be lacking core operating support, yet is serving a vital and unfilled need in its area. The types of health-related nonprofits includes -- a community health clinic, substance abuse program, a rural health center, AIDS/HIV clinic, senior centers, reproductive health clinic, or a healthcare advocacy group. As a result, the Foundation will have evidence of strengthening and sustaining the private nonprofit safety net system of organizations working with underserved individuals, families, and communities.
Expanding Access to Primary Healthcare
Primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health services by clinicians responsible for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing sustained partnerships with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. A primary care provider provides patients with a medical home and place to receive a range of health services and supports.
It is the primary care provider that guides patients through the healthcare delivery system, and facilitates patient participation in decisions about their health and healthcare. They create opportunities for disease prevention and health promotion as well as build bridges between personal healthcare delivery and patients’ families and communities. The six indicators of quality primary care include services and supports that are: accessible, acceptable, accountable, comprehensive, coordinated and continuous. Unequal access, treatment, and outcomes are symptomatic of an inadequate system of primary care. It is known that health disparities exist among populations defined by age, gender, economic, demographic, race, ethnicity and disability status.
Through strategic grantmaking, Healthcare Georgia Foundation can improve access to primary healthcare services by Georgia’s uninsured and underinsured population. In an effort to provide a comprehensive, integrated and seamless system of health services, the Foundation’s technical and fiscal resources could support: applied research/practice-based and intervention research, work force development (Pre-Service or In-Service), leadership development and recognition, health policy analysis and advocacy, organizational improvement, and the provision of preventative health services.
