Southcoast Health announced today that it is now accepting grant proposals for the health system’s 2020 Community Benefits Impact Opportunity Grant program.

The program will award a total of up to $150,000 to not-for-profit organizations to help address public health needs across the region.

Grant proposals must align with the health priority areas identified in Southcoast Health’s most recent Community Needs Assessment. Past grantees represent a variety of programs ranging from providing health screenings to the homeless to encouraging wellness through promoting healthy eating and physical activity opportunities. Additional projects have helped to build healthy families through positive youth development and provide socialization for elders experiencing memory issues and their caregivers.

The full list of criteria and more information about applying for the grant is available within the Grant Details tab of the online application, www.southcoast.org/community-benefits/programs/. The deadline for submission of a grant proposal is 11:59pm, on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

“It is well documented that many factors contribute to health status,” said Keith Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “These include the social conditions that influence health, such as access to nutritious and affordable food, safe and healthy housing, educational and work opportunities, and safe neighborhoods and outdoor spaces for healthy activities.”

The annual Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program is part of a larger Community Benefits initiative, which improves the health quality of life for hundreds of thousands of residents on the South Coast. In the most recent report, for fiscal year 2018, Southcoast Health announced it invested almost $22.2 million in community benefits activities, including charity care, hospital and community-based programs, and collaboration with regional health centers and health and human service agencies.

 “As a not-for-profit healthcare system, it is part of our mission to address our region’s health and social needs,” said Rachel Davis, Director of Community Benefits for Southcoast Health. “We are happy to provide this opportunity to support the important work of our community partners.”

The Community Benefits Impact Opportunity Grant program has awarded 111 community impact grants totaling more than $559,565 since it began in 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.southcoast.org/community-benefits/.