The HCFO aims to confront the most prevalent public health issues facing the communities we serve. The HCFO determines where it can make the most significant impact. The HCFO awards grants and funding around health, defining health broadly to include educational, social, and behavioral health. and other dimensions beyond illness or disease.

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To initiate the grant application you must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) using our website. 

The LOI is a preliminary proposal that asks the applicant to submit basic information about the organization and the project to be funded to include: 

• Primary contact 

• Project title 

• Organization description 

• Proposed project and the specifics of the problem or community need to be addressed

• Project budget and the amount requested from the HCFO 

• Outcome indicators for the project 

• Project sustainability explaining future plans for the project after the grant funding and strategy  

• Any existing partnerships in place for the proposed work 

• The anticipated start date and end date for the project 

 

The LOI should not exceed four (4) pages. No pictures please. All LOIs will be reviewed and the HCFO will inform the applicant to submit an application if the criteria are met. 

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All applications, documents  and communications  should be submitted via this website. 

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After reviewing an organization’s Letter of Intent, The HCFO will invite the applicant to submit a proposal with a specified deadline. The deadlines for submission of proposals are typically the third Friday of April and the third Friday of October of the current year respectively. Specific dates will be posted on our website annually. 

 

If approved, proposals submitted prior to June 2025 will be partially awarded in June; progress report due by November 15th and final award by  December 31st 2025. 

 

Going forward, beginning 2026:  

Applications will be sent in December prior to the award year, first payment will be paid by January 31st at the time of the award presentation and 1st progress report will be due by April 30th. The second payment will be paid at the end of May pending the approval of the 1st progress report. The final progress report is due by October 31st.   

 

GRANT APPLICATION 

Upon receipt of invitation to present a proposal for consideration, applicants are to submit proposals  through this website in the following format: 

Cover Letter  

A cover letter on organizational letterhead, signed by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees/Directors, most senior executive within the organization or the person designated by the organization to manage and oversee the process; this should include reporting obligations. The cover letter should be addressed to the HCFO Grants and Scholarship Committee and include the project title with a summary of the project and the amount of funding sought. The cover letter should also include reference to the HCFO’s Grant-making Policies and state that the organization understands and will comply with these policies.  

Proposal Narrative  

While the substance and form of narratives will vary based on the proposed work, all narratives should provide certain key information that enables HCFO’s staff to understand the nature of the project and its prospects for a successful outcome. Please respond to the general items below, and any specific questions you have received in the invitation for proposal:  

• Organization Information: 

  • Organization mission statement 

  • Overview of organization’s history, values, staffing and programs 

  • Have there been innovative strategies used in the past two years that have had a transformational impact on the clients, staff, and/or agency? 

• Project Description:  

  • Project start date and timeline  

  • Explain the proposed project’s relevance to your organization’s work and how it advances the HCFO’s mission 

  • Description of the target population, their demonstrated need, and your organization’s expertise and capacity to serve them 

  • List the specific desired outcomes of the project and the method by which they will be implemented and measured. 

  • Description of project sustainability once HCFO funding is exhausted. 

  • Identify strategies to replicate the project, stay abreast of new innovations and research, as well as identify additional revenue streams that might enable you to reach more individuals

  Financial Information: 

• Total project budget amount 

• Comprehensive project budget: 

• to include but not limited to Equipment, Supplies and Services.

• Budget narrative: 

•  The budget narrative should include and justify the cost assumptions for each budget category  and line item in the project. The budget narrative should include a listing of all other funding sources, the corresponding amounts and percentage of the total budget, and whether the funding is committed or potential 

Reporting: 

• A statement which states that the organization will provide HCFO with interim and final reports according to the schedule agreed upon as indicated in the award letter. 

Attachments:

• Financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year, audited if available.  Please include an explanatory narrative, as necessary to enhance understanding. 

• Copy of most recently filed IRS Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. 

• Project budget, including income and expenses.

• Copy of your most current IRS letter confirming the organization’s tax-exempt status under IRS section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt document 

• Certified Letter of Good Standing (a document issued by the state that proves that your entity exists and is in compliance with all state requirements, such as filing annual reports and paying franchise taxes).

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Please note that after your grant application is submitted HCFO staff may contact you during the review process to clarify information in your application, request additional information, schedule site visits and/or interviews. 

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