Community Innovation Fund
We are pleased to release the grant application for the 2022 Community Innovation Fund. The Community Innovation Fund (CIF) is a grant opportunity designed to promote health equity and is open to organizations and innovators with maternal and infant health projects or services in Georgia. The fund is open to all Georgians yet, priority is given to projects supporting families in the following Perinatal Regions:
Albany Perinatal Region: Clay, Randolph, Terrell, Lee, Worth, Calhoun, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Colquitt, Cook, Berrien, Seminole, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Lowndes, Lanier, and Echols County
Atlanta Perinatal Region: Banks, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Henry, Limpkin, Newton, Paulding, Polk, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White, Walker, Whitfield, White
Columbus Perinatal Region: Carroll, Heard, Coweta, Spalding, Troup, Meriwether, Pike, Lamar, Harris, Talbot, Upson, Muscogee, Marion, Taylor, Macon, Schley, Chattahoochee, Stewart, Webster, Sumter, and Quitman County
The primary objectives of these grants are to:
- Promote health equity, increasing access to vital resources and support for those disproportionately affected by maternal and infant death which include Black women/birth givers and those living in maternity care deserts in Georgia;
- Support grassroots organizations, entrepreneurs, small businesses, or nonprofits invested in improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Georgia;
- Support volunteers and grassroots organizations taking ownership in improving their communities.
- Foster relationships by encouraging diverse community partnerships or encouraging community engagement to work toward common goals;
- Build capacity within the community through training and leadership development; and
- Support and track at least one measurable neighborhood improvement from each grantee, with the understanding that incremental improvements lead to broader community impact.
Funding Priorities
We aim to invest in solutions centered around the State’s current maternal and infant health gaps in access to care, racial and/or rural health disparity, perinatal workforce development, and maternal mental health. Applications should reflect our vision of a Georgia where every birth giver and baby has the resources and support to be healthy and thrive throughout the perinatal period. Innovative solutions with sustainability models are preferred to one-time initiatives. Solutions may align with, but are not limited to the following HMHBGA strategies:
Advocacy:
- Coalition building to identify solutions to improve maternal and/or infant health.
- Research & data evaluation as an avenue to advocacy & policy change
- Educate the community on how to advocate for maternal & infant healthy issues that matter to them.
Education:
- Perinatal (prenatal & postpartum) education
- Maternal mental health support & education
- Perinatal workforce development (training doulas, childbirth educators, certified breast feeding specialists, etc.)
Resource and Referral:
- Domestic violence protections
- Home visiting or peer support programs
- Maternal mental health support & education
- Substance use prevention amongst pregnant and postpartum people
- Perinatal workforce development (training doulas, childbirth educators, certified breast feeding specialists, etc.)
Eligibility
General Requirements:
- Build on the strengths and assets already existing in the community.
- Non-profit businesses – Applicants do not need to have tax exempt status such as 501(c)(3), but if they do not have tax exempt status, they must have a fiscal agent who does. Applicants must provide a letter from fiscal agents indicating their willingness to serve in that capacity and describing the roles and responsibilities of the relationship. They also must provide the fiscal agent’s IRS tax exemption letter. HMHBGA will issue awarded grant checks to the tax-exempt organization, which must have a business bank account.
- Show the capacity to complete activities funded by HMHBGA starting July 1, 2022 and ending no later than June 30, 2023.
Preferred attributes include:
- Demonstrate community support and engagement;
- Address community issues and having clear benefits for the community;
- Have a plan for sustaining the project beyond the initial investment by HMHBGA; and
- Provide a reasonable budget that does not include compensation for time.
Ineligible projects/organizations include:
- Government/public agencies;
- Agencies that have more than ten full-time paid staff members and an annual operating budget of more than $250,000;
- Projects that only benefit an individual or household rather than the broader community;
- Organizations that have a HMHBGA Board member serving in the role of senior staff, key consultant, or Board member; and
- Nonprofits or community-based organizations that do not demonstrate active involvement with the community they have determined to serve.
Grantee Requirements
Selected grantees must:
- Provide a clear budget for the awarded grant amount and an organizational budget;
- Attend the grantee orientation to present maternal and infant health strategy (no more than 10-minute presentation);
- Schedule and invite HMHBGA Programs Team to visit their project at the mid-point;
- Submit final reports with itemized receipts within 30 days of the grant cycle end;
- Submit final progress reports within 30 days of the grant cycle end.
Application
How to Apply
Applications may be submitted online by CLICKING HERE. You may also download a copy of the application by CLICKING HERE and return to the attention of LaNaarai Wilder by email at thecoalition@hmhbga.org or mail to:
HMHBGA
c/o LaNaarai Wilder
2200 Century Parkway NE, Suite 460
Atlanta, GA 30345
In addition to submitting a completed application with all requested information, your submission should include a clear budget with a request of no more than $10,000. Deadline for submission is at or before 5 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2022. No exceptions. Applicants will receive award notification within 30 days from the submission deadline.
Available Support & Questions
If you have questions, please contact LaNaarai Wilder, the Senior Coordinator – Community Partnerships at 678.302.1143 or email thecoalition@hmhbga.org.
