Apply for Funding/BLUE BEAR REQUESTS

For more than 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has forged alliances with private and public organizations to honor our commitment to improve the health of all Texans. Our charitable contributions allow us to connect with not just our customers, but also community partners, local leaders and policymakers interested in making Texas a healthier state. Through these partnerships, BCBSTX seeks to support sustainable, measurable programs and impactful organizations that strengthen and enrich Texas communities.

Who Can Apply

BCBSTX supports community, business and provider organizations that share our mission and align with our priorities. We accept requests for sponsorships and grants from organizations that are located within Texas and have at least one of the following designations:

• Defined as a non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code
• Government, civic and cultural organizations

What We Don't Fund

BCBSTX is unable to fund:

• Organizations or projects with written policies that discriminate against individuals based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
• School athletic programs
• Applications from individuals
• Applications that do not align with our funding priorities

Funding Mechanisms and Priorities: How to Apply

Each year, BCBSTX supports more than 300 Texas organizations through two types of funding mechanisms: sponsorships and grants.

Sponsorships

Sponsorship funds are available to 501(c)(3) organizations and are event driven. Limited funding is also available for non-charitable organizations. Examples of events under this mechanism include: galas, benefits, golf tournaments, luncheons, conferences, etc.

In Texas, sponsorship dollars are prioritized to organizations that support the following areas:

• Access to Care: Projects that increase awareness and understanding of access to preventive and health care services for underinsured, uninsured, minority and low-income households.
• Prevention and Risk Reduction: Projects that increase awareness and understanding of healthy choices in everyday living and promote a healthy lifestyle. Examples of project areas include: nutrition, physical activity, weight management and tobacco cessation.
• Chronic Disease Management: Projects that increase awareness and understanding of living with and managing chronic conditions. Examples of project areas include: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's.
• Community Involvement: As a corporate entity, brand visibility and community involvement are important to business growth. Through these sponsorships we seek opportunities that allow BCBSTX to grow its presence in communities.

If your organization meets these criteria, please fill out our Event Sponsorship Application .

HEALTHY KIDS, HEALTHY FAMILIES GRANTS

The following criteria are required for review of all Healthy Kids, Healthy Families^® (HKHF) grant proposals:

• The community lead organization must be a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization.
• The community lead organization must have the financial capacity and qualified staff to oversee and manage the project. For this request for proposal (RFP), “financial capacity” is defined as organizations operating a current annual budget of $2 million or more.
• The community lead organization must collaborate on proposed program with a health partner – i.e., hospital, clinic, federally qualified health center.

2021 Timeline and Funding Priorities

Thank you for your interest in applying for funding through HKHF.

Since the establishment of the HKHF initiative in 2011, our investment strategy has been based on four pillars:

• Disease prevention and management
• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Safe environments

The dual challenges of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice unrest in the United States reinforce our focus on health equity. We also remain deeply committed to our core purpose: To do everything in our power to stand with our members in sickness and in health. Although access to medical care is an important piece of the puzzle, we know it’s not the only factor that determines someone’s health. A person’s and, in turn, a community’s, health outcomes are molded by other dynamics as well, including:

• Housing
• Nutrition (healthy food and exercise)
• Education and jobs
• Mental health
• Safe environment

The 2021 HKHF grant cycle will place emphasis on programs that create measurable results to address the four pillars. The programs should also address and account for the current public health pandemic as well as the social factors that worsen health inequalities in our community.

Timeline Process:

1. Letter of Intent: August 2 – 16, 2021

   This is the initial step in the process to apply for funding. After review, if selected, your program will be notified and provided details to continue to the second stage of the application process.

   Submit your Letter of Intent 

2. Application Process: September 13 – 24, 2021

   The application link will be deactivated at 5 p.m. CT on the last day of each stage. Please make sure you can access the login page and give yourself time to complete the application.

   The second stage of the review process takes approximately four weeks. Once your application has been submitted, you will get an email confirming your application has been received.

BLUE BEAR

As health and wellness ambassador for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Blue Bear promotes healthier practices among Texans, particularly among young children. Blue Bear’s community outreach efforts include appearances at community events, health fairs and other health and wellness events in the community.

For more information, please contact Helen Dorsey by email or phone at 972-766-1736.

To request a Blue Bear appearance, please download, complete and submit the request form .