Request for Applications: Building Health Equity in Butler County

Release Date: April 15, 2024

Letter of Intent Deadline: May 20, 2024

In 2023, bi3 and its strategic partner TriHealth engaged Scale Strategic Solutions to conduct a health and healthcare needs assessment and develop an equity-focused action plan to address identified health needs in Butler County, Ohio. The needs assessment was conducted in two phases. Phase One included reviewing quantitative data on the state of health in Butler County. Phase Two focused on gathering qualitative data through one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and community forums with healthcare providers, community leaders, and consumers of healthcare in the County.

The final report and action plan identified several opportunities for bi3 to partner with non-profit organizations to build health equity in Butler County.

To that end, bi3 invites proposals for projects and initiatives to increase access to health services and resources, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities, centering at least one of the following populations:

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• Individuals with lower levels of education and income
• Individuals living with disabilities
• Immigrants and new Americans
• Individuals without health insurance

This is a two-step, competitive process, including a Letter of Intent (May 20 due date) phase and a full proposal (July 29 due date) phase. For more details, review the Timeline below. All applicants are encouraged to attend an Informational Workshop or watch the recording. Grants awarded under this RFP may be paid over one to three years and are expected to range from $250,000-$500,000. The total investment will be up to $2,000,000.

Over the past ten years, bi3 has adopted a trust-based approach that not only makes bi3 a more effective funder but also fuels our ability to collectively achieve our mission of transforming health for all people in Greater Cincinnati. We seek to authentically partner with grantees to advance community efforts, prioritize transparent communications, and leverage learning to maximize impact. By applying this approach, bi3 seeks to build more equitable relationships with funded partners.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

Under the Building Health Equity in Butler County Request for Proposals (RFP), bi3 invites proposals that center at least one of the following populations: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; individuals with lower levels of education and income; individuals living with disabilities; immigrants and new Americans; and individuals without health insurance and address the following funding priorities:

• Maternal and Infant Vitality
• Mental Health
• Addressing Chronic Health Conditions

ABOUT THE FUNDING PRIORITIES

Maternal and Infant Vitality

bi3 is committed to improving maternal and infant health. We seek projects that can lead to positive health and social outcomes for birthing people and their babies. Projects considered under this funding priority may seek to:

• Increase access to and expand services that support the prenatal and postpartum period
• Reduce maternal mortality and morbidity
• Increase positive birth outcomes
• Improve perinatal mental health and well-being
• Increase the availability of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to establish connections between individuals and the systems of care necessary to improve their maternal health and well-being

Mental Health

We seek to promote mental health and well-being for adults, children and families. We are particularly interested in efforts that increase access to mental health supports and services. Projects considered under this funding priority may seek to:

• Increase access to mental health care and prevention services
• Improve the mental health and well-being of families and/or build networks of support
• Expand the capacity of organizations to address mental health for those they serve
• Increase the availability of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to establish connections between individuals and the systems of care necessary to improve their mental health and well-being

Addressing Chronic Health Conditions

Projects supported under this funding priority will address the most prevalent health conditions and unmet health needs identified through the assessment, specifically cancer, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Projects under this funding priority may seek to:

• Reimagine health and wellness promotion to better support prevention and disease management
• Increase the availability of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to establish connections between individuals and the systems of care necessary for chronic disease management

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to receive a bi3 grant under this RFP, organizations must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization* located in and primarily serving Butler County
• Address health and/or the social needs and conditions that impact health outcomes
• Respond to the specific funding priorities and populations outlined in the RFP
• Work toward reducing racial and health disparities

*Organizations that do not have nonprofit tax status may still seek funding through fiscal sponsorship. A fiscal sponsorship is a partnership between a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (the sponsoring organization) and a charitable project that does not have tax-exempt status (the sponsored organization). Fiscally sponsored projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any group looking to leverage a fiscal sponsor should contact Jena Bradley at bi3 prior to beginning the application to vet basic alignment.

bi3 does not fund capital campaigns or general operating expenses, although indirect costs of up to 25% of the project budget may be included. bi3 will not fund healthcare levies, lobbying or political campaigns, emergency requests, scholarships, endowments, or grants to individuals.

As co-sponsor and strategic partner of TriHealth, bi3 values and encourages a collaborative partnership with TriHealth, when appropriate. bi3 cannot provide direct grants to other healthcare systems. However, bi3 will consider collaborative projects that engage multiple healthcare systems including TriHealth.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Letters of Intent and proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria.

Letters of Intent

• Eligibility and strength of alignment:
  • Meets organizational eligibility requirements to be considered for funding
  • Focuses on increasing access to health services and resources, improving health outcomes and/or reducing health disparities
  • Addresses at least one of the funding priorities and populations of focus outlined in the RFP
• Clarity of purpose, goal(s), and potential impact
• Prioritization Criteria*: Racial equity and community engagement
  • Applies a racial and health equity lens** to work
  • Has diverse leadership (defined as leadership with representation of populations served)
  • Listens to and engages with community members in priority-setting and decision-making

*Preference and prioritization criteria alone will not be used to decide the organizations invited to the detailed proposal phase, and not aligning to all criteria will not eliminate applications from consideration. These metrics will only strengthen already strong LOIs.

**Considering race, ethnicity and social determinants of health in every facet of work, e.g. while analyzing problems, looking for solutions, and defining success; seeking to understand disparities and look at root problems from a structural standpoint.

Detailed Proposal

Beyond the evaluation criteria for Letters of Intent, full proposals will be evaluated for:

• Ability to offer community-centric services and approaches that are culturally competent and responsive in addressing health disparities and achieving health equity
• The extent to which the proposed project addresses an identified gap and/or aligns with other health services or initiatives in the County and incorporates existing or potential collaborations or partnerships
• Adequate and appropriate budget and capacity to support the proposed scope of work
• Potential to leverage additional resources to support sustainability beyond the proposed grant period

As an invested partner, bi3 will work collaboratively with grantees to monitor and refine project metrics, develop sustainability plans, address unexpected risks, and refresh performance plans based on interim results. bi3 will provide support, thought partnership and technical assistance to evaluate and communicate project results and learning. bi3 is committed to the success of our grantees and will leverage its partnership and resources to achieve the greatest impact for our community.

RFP INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP

bi3 will host a virtual Informational Workshop. All interested organizations are strongly encouraged to attend. The Informational Workshop will provide a brief overview of bi3’s application process, a deeper dive into the RFP and the opportunity to ask questions. A workshop recording will be available on the bi3 website for those unable to attend the live session.

TO APPLY

bi3 will follow a two-step application process: (1) Letter of Intent and (2) final submission of a Detailed Proposal. Respond to this RFP by submitting a Letter of Intent via bi3’s grants management system. 

To access bi3’s online grants management system: 

1. Go to https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=bethesdainc
2. Previous applicants can use their existing username and password to login. New applicants will select “Create New Account.”
3. Once you log in or create an account you will be directed to the Applicant Dashboard.
4. Click “Apply” at the top of the page, to view the Application Page.
5. Select the FY24 Building Health Equity in Butler County RFP.
6. Click the “Apply” button on the far right to submit an LOI.

Please contact Marian Black with any questions about accessing the grants management system. 

PHASE 1: LETTER OF INTENT (LOI)

The letter should not exceed three pages and should include: 

• A description of the opportunity or problem 
• A brief description of the project including any key partners 
• A description of the alignment with the applicant’s organizational goals, speaking to experience with the target population 
• Key goals the project aims to achieve, their potential impact on the community in terms of addressing health disparities, and how the key goals and the project align with the selected bi3 funding priority. 

Applicants should also be prepared to provide the following in the online application: 

• The project name, organization name, website, address and EIN (Employer Identification Number) for the organization 
• The name, title and contact information for the lead project manager 
• The requested grant amount 
• The selected bi3 Funding Priority 
• The requested time period of the grant (e.g. one, two or three years) 
• Brief articulation of the organization’s approach to applying a racial and health equity and community engagement lens to its work. 
• Organizational leadership diversity information in terms of executive director and board demographic reflection of focus populations  

The deadline to submit the Letter of Intent is May 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applicants will receive a response on or before May 31, 2024, indicating if they are invited to submit a detailed proposal.   

PHASE 2: DETAILED PROPOSAL

bi3 will invite selected applicants from the LOI phase of the process to submit a Detailed Proposal. (An invitation to submit a detailed proposal does not guarantee funding). 

Building on the information provided in the LOI, the proposal provides the opportunity for the applicant to go into more detail about the project, including project goals and measures, potential risks, community engagement, budget narrative, and financials.  

Proposals will be submitted via bi3’s online grants management system by July 29, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST. bi3 will inform awardees in September and expects to make first grant payments in October.   

TIMELINE

We invite you to contact us if you have any questions about the RFP, the process, or your proposed idea. 

ABOUT bi3

bi3 is a grantmaker in health on a mission to transform health for all people in Greater Cincinnati. bi3 fuels health innovation and equity with its strategic partner TriHealth and partners with community organizations to improve health and reduce health disparities. Our purpose is to lead to the day when every person has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please direct all questions and inquiries to Jena Bradley, Director of Community Partnerships at Jena_Bradley@bi3.org or 513-569-6633.

For questions about accessing the grants management system, please contact Marian Black, Grants Manager at Marian_Black@bi3.org.