For the past year, the bi3 Fund team has worked to develop a flexible five-year strategic plan to steer us toward achieving our vision that all people in Greater Cincinnati have a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health.
As we reflect on these goals, our team also has a tradition of starting the new year with a word to guide us. For 2025, that word is commitment.
“When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment, you create trust!”
— John C. Maxwell
We’re proud to share that in our new strategic plan, we remain steadfast in our priorities of Improving Maternal and Young Child Health, Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Supporting Community-Driven Health Priorities. You cannot make progress on decades-long issues without policy advocacy and persistence, which also enhances our ability to grow our collaborations, expertise, and trusted relationships. I encourage you to visit our bi3 website to learn more about our priorities and how we invest, including a projected timeline for RFPs in the new year.
As we enter 2025, the bi3 team is excited to continue to make strides with our trusted partners, advancing health equity and fueling innovation.
I wish you a healthy and happy new year! I invite you to join us in creating hope and trust.
Jill Miller
President & CEO, bi3
Funding Opportunities
bi3 Funding Opportunity: Black Maternal Health Week
Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is a week of awareness, activism, and community building—aimed at supporting and amplifying the voices of Black mamas.
bi3 is offering organizations the opportunity to apply for funding of up to $10,000 to host events April 11-17. Examples include birth resource fairs and wellness events, Black maternal health advocacy training, community baby showers, or events pampering Black moms. All events must be open and free to the public. Preference will be given to organizations that have demonstrated a focus on Black maternal health equity and experience engaging with Black communities.
Deadline to apply: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31
Funding available for nonprofits seeking to improve equitable data collection and evaluation
bi3, HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, and Interact for Health are seeking applications for the third Data for Equity Funding Collaborative cohort. The Collaborative will award 18-month grants of up to $40,000 to as many as 10 nonprofit and governmental organizations to strengthen their organizational capacity around equitable data and evaluation – ultimately helping to ensure that everyone has a full, fair, and just opportunity for good health.
Deadline to apply: 5 p.m. EST on February 7
Reminder: World Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025 funding available
bi3, Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!), Interact for Heath and the Joe Burrow Foundation invite Greater Cincinnati students in grades 7-12 to develop and participate in activities commemorating World Teen Mental Wellness Day. This year, students will be awarded up to $1,000 per school to plan, create and lead activities that engage their fellow students. While the Global Day will be held on Sunday, March 2, students will be encouraged to plan activities on Monday, March 3, while schools are in session.
This is the third year local students have had the opportunity to receive funding to support activities. In the inaugural year, funding supported 11 high schools. Last year, more than 50 schools participated!
Deadline to apply: January 24
Grantee Spotlight
Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!): Grounded in youth voices
Last fall, Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!) launched, sharing its 10-year strategy to improve youth mental health in the Greater Cincinnati region. bi3—along with 13 other funders—fueled the creation of the collaborative, which includes community groups, healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, families, and, most importantly, youth.
HEY! was unique in developing the strategy, leaning into youth voices and experiences to guide tactics and solutions with a goal that all youth in our community have agency and feel supported and valued.
The organization continues to ground itself in youth voices, starting off the new year by welcoming its second cohort of youth fellows!
For more updates on the work of bi3 and our funded partners, be sure to follow us on social media!
