Voices for Healthy Kids funds coordinated tribal, state and local public policy issue advocacy campaigns with a focus on health equity.
Our current funding opportunities are listed below.
Preemption Funding Opportunities
Preemption
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that support efforts to protect health and well-being and build healthy, equitable communities by promoting and defending local government power.
“Preemption” refers to the parameters that are established when a higher form of government dictates what a lower form of government can or cannot do. Historically, preemption was a neutral policy tool to help avoid conflicting regulations across levels of government. However, recently it has been used to strip local authority and silence constituent voices from making policies, regulations and ordinances that could protect communities and/or enhance equity and quality of life. This form of harmful preemption is what Voices for Healthy Kids is most concerned about stopping and/or reversing.
We currently accepting applications for three state-level funding opportunities from all states and Puerto Rico except those where we are have existing grantees (AR, AZ, FL, KS, MO, TX, and WV):
Application Timeline
June 6, 2023
Call for Application Open
June 29, 2023 - 5 p.m. Pacific
Application Deadline
July 26, 2023
Notifications of Award/Decline
Please note, we make every attempt to adhere to the posted timeline but is subject to change.
We anticipate funding 3-5 preemption grants in the 2023 application round.
Application Information Video and Office Hour
The Grant Management System and Application Overview will walk through how to start, save, and submit the application and other application details. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and video before attending the office hour.
Register for our live office hour to ask questions about the grant opportunity and application! June 20, 2023 - 11am PT/2pm ET | Register Here
Public Policy Priorities
All of our funded campaigns must pursue policy through legislation, regulation, executive order, or ballot initiative but not through voluntary or programmatic success. These are public policy goals; therefore, public policy interventions are necessary. If you are selected to submit a full application, you will receive further instructions defining what we have determined are the minimum standards for our policy goals.
2023 Policy Campaign Application Schedule
2023 Application Round
Short Form Application Timeline
Anticipated February 27, 2023
Call for Short Form Applications Opens
March 14 and March 27
Applicant Information Session - see videos and registrations below
April 7, 20235 pm Pacific
Short Form Application Deadline
April 28, 2023
Notifications
Invited Applicants Timeline
April 28, 2023
Application Available
May 31, 20235 pm Pacific
Application Deadline
June 16, 2023
Notification of Award/Decline
Please note, we make every attempt to adhere to the posted timeline but is subject to change.
We anticipate funding 4-6 policy campaigns in the 2023 application round.
Policy Campaign Info Videos and Office Hours
Information videos to highlight the call for applications, overview of policy campaigns and lobbying & advocacy: 501(c)3 adherence. Questions about the application, budget, or other technical questions are welcome during the office hours. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and videos before attending the office hours.
The Policy Campaign Grant Opportunity is designed to support strategic issue advocacy campaigns that advance equitable policies that make the places where kids and their families live, learn, and play healthier. Voices for Healthy Kids supports specific policy priorities that can be reviewed in the link above.
Voices for Healthy Kids is working to ensure funding is directed to organizations with diverse leadership and staff and that grantees are from and engaging communities that historically and systemically experience disinvestment including, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or children living in families with low-income. Campaigns must support, drive and inform tribal, state or local policy change efforts that will dramatically improve the health of children who are experiencing the greatest health disparities.
Applications can be submitted for $50,000 - $200,000 for a duration of up to 18 months and can support non-lobbying and lobbying activities.
We anticipate funding 4-6 policy campaigns in the 2023 application round.
Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including, but not limited to:
Voices for Healthy Kids is evolving to improve the flow of funding to communities facing the greatest inequities and to work with community leaders and organizations that are already making strides for change. We are committed to increasing funding to organizations and campaigns that have leadership that is Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander. Each application will be scored on metrics related to organizational staff, board and leadership diversity.
Priority is given to communities experiencing the greatest inequities. By trusting, supporting, and investing in the people and places experiencing the greatest inequities, we can remove barriers that stand in the way of healthy, thriving children and families everywhere.
We are particularly interested in funding in tribal nations, cities and counties experiencing health and social disparities, in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, but applications from all states and Puerto Rico are welcome.
Priority will be given to campaigns that build power for community change and exhibit an understanding of institutional and systemic racism barriers that impact childhood health disparities and equity.
We do not award regional grants, multi-location funding, multi-issue area, or support for technical assistance-based strategies. Grants will not be awarded for curricula development or implementation, equipment, operations of physical activity, nutrition or similar participant-based programs, capital expenditures, academic research or other non-advocacy purposes.
The Policy Campaign Grant process includes a two-step application process:
1. All interested, eligible applicants must submit a short form application.
2. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full application for consideration in a competitive review process.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review the application questions and utilize these in preparing your application. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - all application submissions must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
Information videos to highlight the call for applications, overview of policy campaigns and lobbying & advocacy: 501(c)3 adherence. Questions about the application, budget, or other technical questions are welcome during the office hours. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and videos before attending the office hours.
Register for our live office hours to ask questions about the grant opportunity and application! Office Hour 1 March 14 at 9am PT/12pm ET | Register Here
Rapid Response requests support critically timed needs of mature campaigns in push-for-passage mode (strategic time in final states of a policy passing) or to support a defensive campaign that would prevent a harmful policy from being passed. Funding is designed to support strategically targeted needs such as grassroots organizing, coalition building, polling, and media relations of campaigns as the campaign is in its final stages.
Funds may be requested up to $60,000 for a time period of weeks to a few months.
Rapid Response grants are open to campaigns not currently or previously funded by Voices for Healthy Kids for the requested policy lever.
Campaigns must have exhausted all other resources available and establish that critical resources are needed for a final push to passage during the end stage of a legislative or regulatory campaign or a defensive campaign.
Applicants must meet the organizational eligibility to apply.
Interested applicants need to contact voicesforhealthykids@heart.org to request a pre-screening call with a National Consultant. Please provide a brief description of the policy campaign, timeline and the issue area the campaign supports. Based on the pre-screening call, organizations may be invited to complete an application.
Finish Line Funding
Finish Line Funding supports short-term, critically timed requests during the final push-for-passage of policy. Voices for Healthy Kids provides the finish line funding opportunity to current grantees nearing the end of their grant or past grantees continuing their grant related work. Requests up to $50,000 with a duration of weeks to a few months will be considered. Applicants should discuss the need with their Policy Engagement Manager to determine eligibility and gain access to an application.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
Policy Campaign Finish Line Funding Application Template (Coming Soon)
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Workgroup Grant Opportunity
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Workgroup Grant Opportunity
Voices for Healthy Kids works around the country to improve or create equitable policies that will make the places kids live, learn and play healthier. We are excited to announce a call for applications for 2023-2024 Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) workgroups to address policy issue areas that support the prenatal-to-age-three population.
The IEEs will mobilize broad expertise, external perspectives and advocacy capacity in a workgroup engagement model to develop best practices and opportunities to advance policies. The recommendations will be inclusive of health equity, root causes of social determinants of health and advancing the Voices for Healthy Kids policy agenda at the tribal, state or local level. The workgroups will support dialogue on social, demographic, equity, policy and other trends. Each workgroup will provide specific deliverables to be completed no later than the end of the 12-month grant period. Funded workgroups would start July 1, 2023 and conclude by June 30, 2024.
The focus of IEEs is to share best practices and opportunities to advance policies in diverse public settings. We are focusing this call for applications on policies related to the prenatal-to-age-three population. Below is a list of example topics that fit this call for applications. We welcome your innovative ideas for the issue areas as well.
Family Economic Supports (e.g., paid family and medical leave, earned income tax credits, child care subsidies)
Nutrition Security (e.g., SNAP, WIC)
Child Care (e.g. increasing access and enrollment, workforce support)
Healthcare Access & Support (e.g., Medicaid expansion, group prenatal care, maternal and child mental health supports)
Preemption
Others related
Application Timeline:
April 14, 2023
Call for Applications
May 12, 2023 5p.m. Pacific
Application Deadline
June 7, 2023
Notification of Award/Decline
Eligibility for IEE Grants:
Organizations must have tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) as a public charity or under section 501(c)(4); have a fiscal sponsor that is a section 501(c)(3) public charity or a section 501(c)(4) organization; or be a federally recognized Indian tribe or a subdivision of a tribe.
Preference given to tribal, state, or local organizations that are led by the populations impacted by health disparities: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander or families living with low-income.
National organizations may apply but must include a co-facilitator who has strong equity-based experience and background representing communities impacted by disparities and the social determinants of health.
This opportunity is not open to American Heart Association applicants.
All interested, eligible applicants must submit the application in our online grant management system. Selected applicants will need to complete additional information including a budget, budget narrative and deliverables before awards are finalized. This is a competitive application process, and we anticipate awarding up to two IEE grants for this funding round.
Application can be submitted for up to $40,000 and the grant duration will be from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024
Applications must be completed in the online grant management system form and be submitted by the posted deadline. For applicant convenience, application templates are located below.
Voices for Healthy Kids strives for all children to live full and healthy lives. The reality is that historically and intentionally underrepresented people often face the greatest disparities. By supporting organizations led and staffed by people of color, we are able to directly address wellness inequity with leaders who have the best understanding of their communities’ needs. Studies also show that organizations led by people of color often receive less grant money and that those funds come with more strings attached than groups with white leaders. As part of our commitment to equity, we seek to change that by intentionally funding organizations led and staffed by leaders who are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and families with low incomes.
IEE Workgroup activities and budgets will only be awarded non-lobbying funds.
Voices for Healthy Kids expects grantees to make a good faith effort to invest grant dollars for contracted services with businesses (i.e. facilitators, consultants, printers, etc.) to be representative of or serve the interests of the listed priority populations.
Grantees must follow the grant administration requirements detailed in the grantee guide.
Online Grant Management System
Information and the application for the 2023-2024 Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) workgroup grants are online. All applications will be submitted in this system and registration is required. Registrations are approved within 2 business days and often within the same day.Please follow these simple steps to register:
Visit https://voicesforhealthykids.fluxx.io and in the lower right corner of the webpage, click the create account now button. Be sure to use Google Chrome as this site does not work with Internet Explorer.
Complete the eligibility quiz for an IEE Workgroup Application.
If your organization is eligible, you will then need to complete a registration form for your organization and individual information.
Once submitted, your registration will be reviewed and approved within 2 business day.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below are editable versions (Word and Excel) of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management system.
Voices for Healthy Kids is not a typical funder. We work closely with our grantees by providing robust technical assistance, training and support. Voices for Healthy Kids monitors grantees’ efforts and careful stewardship of grant funds to assure accountability. IEE Workgroup Grantees will be required to develop key deliverables with Voices for Healthy Kids and provide one interim and a final report that will include expenses and progress on deliverables.
As a Voices for Healthy Kids applicant, we look forward to the possibility of working together to ensure that the places where children live, learn and play make it easy and enjoyable for them to eat healthy foods and be active.
We appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with organizations that may be interested. Together, we can make each day healthier for all children.
All applications are submitted through the Voices for Healthy Kids online grant management system, and registration is required. Please follow these simple steps to register:
If you are a returning user to the system simply log into the Grant Management System. If you need to reset your password, please use "forgot my password," enter your email address, and submit. You will receive an email with a link to update your password.
If you are new to the Grant Management System, read the New to the Grants Management System instructions and click on "Create an Account Now." You must register to access the application materials. It may take up to 2 business days for your registration to be approved. During open call for applications, registrations are reviewed several times daily. If you do not get an email by the end of the day, please check your junk folder. If you do not receive your log in credentials within 4 business hours, you may use the reset or create password link to gain access.
If you have any questions on the Voices for Healthy Kids Grant Opportunities, please contact Shannon Melluzzo, Manager, Advocacy Grants.
Eligibility
Policy Change Grants (Policy Campaign, Rapid Response and Targeted Campaigns):
Applications must be specific to an individual campaign for public policy change in a tribe, state or local geographic area supporting one Voices for Healthy Kids policy priorities.
Organization Eligibility
To be eligible as a Lead, Co-Lead or Subgrant applicant organization, an organization must have tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) as a public charity or under section 501(c)(4); have a fiscal sponsor that is a section 501(c)(3) public charity or a section 501(c)(4) organization; or be a federally recognized Indian tribe or a subdivision of a tribe.
We are unable to fund private foundations, non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations, or government agencies (including public schools, state universities, etc.).
Grant requirements include the ability to conduct lobbying activities as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. Section 501(c)(3) public charities are able to lobby; however, if your organization is restricted or prohibited from conducting lobbying activities by your leadership/board of directors, you are not eligible for this grant.
Consult your legal counsel for guidance on lobbying. In general, lobbying includes: communicating directly with legislators on specific legislation concerning your views on such legislation, or, communicating to the public on specific legislation concerning your views on legislation and asking them to take action.
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Grants:
Preference given to tribal, state, or local organizations that are led by the populations impacted by health disparities: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, and Alaska Native and children living in families with low-income.
National organizations may apply but must include a co-facilitator who has strong equity-based experience and background representing communities impacted by disparities and the social determinants of health.
Funded Campaigns
Voices for Healthy Kids is currently funding the following organizations who are working to improve the health of children, families and communities through equitable policy change, with a specific focus on those experiencing systemic racism and historic oppression.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Rodel - Delaware
New Mexico Voices for Children, Organizers in the Land of Enchantment and AHA New Mexico, and - New Mexico
The Suquamish Foundation and Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP - Washington State
The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham - Alabama
Voices for Georgia's Children and HealthMPowers - Georgia
WEPOWER - Saint Louis, Missouri
Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
Community Farm Alliance and Kentucky Equal Justice Center - Kentucky
Environment American Research & Policy Center, Black Church Center for Justice and Equality,
Florida Impact to End Hunger and Feeding Florida - Florida
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities - Flint and Detroit, Michigan
Hunger Action LA - Los Angeles County, California
Hunger Free Colorado, Food to Power, Safe and Abundant Nutrition Alliance, East Denver Food Hub, and Good Food Collective - Colorado
In-Advance - Oakland, CA
Make the Road Nevada and Guinn Center - Nevada
Market Umbrella, Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), and New Orleans Food Policy Action Council - Louisiana
Maryland Medical Society, MedChi - Baltimore, Maryland
Michigan Chapter American Academy of Pediatric - Michigan
Oral Health Kansas - Kansas
PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, Inc. – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Urban Health Partnerships, Incorporated - Carol City, Florida
Wholesome Wave and Roots of Change - California
Preemption
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families - Arkansas
Georgians for a Healthy Future - Georgia
HealthMPowers - Georgia
Advocacy Impact Pilot
Charleston, SC
YWCA Greater Charleston
East Baton Rouge, LA
The Walls Project
Center for Planning Excellence and the Power Coalition
BREADA
Three O'clock Project and Health Care Center in Schools, Inc.
Gulf Port, MS
Magnolia Medical Foundation
Tulsa, OK
ImpactTulsa
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE)
Partnership for Southern Equity
Voices for Georgia's Children
Safe Routes to School Partnership
Voices for Healthy Kids does not typically fund multiple campaigns focused on the same issue within the same geographic area. We value collaboration and coordination. If there is an organization listed above that is funded in the issue area and location that interests you, please contact us to be connected to the campaign.
Preemption Funding OpportunitiesPublic Policy Priorities2023 Policy Campaign Application SchedulePolicy Campaign OpportunityRapid Response and Finish Line FundingInnovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Workgroup Grant OpportunityOnline Grant Management SystemEligibilityFunded Campaigns
Preemption
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that support efforts to protect health and well-being and build healthy, equitable communities by promoting and defending local government power.
“Preemption” refers to the parameters that are established when a higher form of government dictates what a lower form of government can or cannot do. Historically, preemption was a neutral policy tool to help avoid conflicting regulations across levels of government. However, recently it has been used to strip local authority and silence constituent voices from making policies, regulations and ordinances that could protect communities and/or enhance equity and quality of life. This form of harmful preemption is what Voices for Healthy Kids is most concerned about stopping and/or reversing.
We currently accepting applications for three state-level funding opportunities from all states and Puerto Rico except those where we are have existing grantees (AR, AZ, FL, KS, MO, TX, and WV):
Preemption Proactive Campaign Grant (up to $75,000)
Oppose new legislation or policies limiting the ability of cities and counties to regulate, tax or otherwise enact laws stronger than state law related to building healthy, equitable communities. Rather than taking a reactionary approach, these proactive campaigns will expend funds by directing their tactics in preparation for and duration of their legislative session(s) known to have preemption threats instead of holding the funds until the threat is imminent.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
All applications are submitted through the Voices for Healthy Kids online grant management system, and registration is required. Additionally, applicants need to meet eligability requirements.
Preemption Cross-Issue Coalition Grant (up to $50,000)
Support cross-issue coalitionsthat will organize and coordinate efforts to work across a variety of specific issues all with the common threat of harmful preemption. For example, state laws limiting the ability of cities and counties to regulate, tax or otherwise enact laws stronger than state law related to building healthy, equitable communities – not specific to tobacco, nutrition, etc., but in a broader sense of opposing the silencing of community voice, local freedoms, protecting/enhancing equity, etc.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
All applications are submitted through the Voices for Healthy Kids online grant management system, and registration is required. Additionally, applicants need to meet eligability requirements.
Support the repeal of existing legislation or policies that limit the ability of cities and counties to regulate, tax or otherwise enact laws stronger than state law related to building healthy, equitable communities.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
All applications are submitted through the Voices for Healthy Kids online grant management system, and registration is required. Additionally, applicants need to meet eligability requirements.
Please note, we make every attempt to adhere to the posted timeline but is subject to change.
We anticipate funding 3-5 preemption grants in the 2023 application round.
Application Information Video and Office Hour
The Grant Management System and Application Overview will walk through how to start, save, and submit the application and other application details. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and video before attending the office hour.
Register for our live office hour to ask questions about the grant opportunity and application! June 20, 2023 - 11am PT/2pm ET | Register Here
All of our funded campaigns must pursue policy through legislation, regulation, executive order, or ballot initiative but not through voluntary or programmatic success. These are public policy goals; therefore, public policy interventions are necessary. If you are selected to submit a full application, you will receive further instructions defining what we have determined are the minimum standards for our policy goals.
We fund campaigns that aim to secure tribal, state, or local funding to increase access to affordable and quality childcare programs for children. in low-income communities by providing better supports to childcare providers. The minimum annual appropriation must be $300,000, $500,000 or $1 million depending on the population of the state or locality based on 2020 U.S. Census and include at least one of the following priorities:
Secure funding for targeted outreach, recruitment, and retention of licensed ECE programs and pre-licensure technical assistance. Prioritize funding to build supply in rural areas, child-care deserts, areas with a high proportion of exempt providers, and family childcare homes.
Assist childcare facilities in securing funding for capital improvements which would help facilitate HEPA standard implementation.
Increase subsidy reimbursement rates for child-care providers meeting HEPA standards through licensing.
We fund campaigns that aim to establish funding at the tribal, state, or local level for dedicated technical assistance and grant opportunities for early care and education providers operating in or serving low-income communities to adopt and implement nutrition, active play, and screen time standards.
Requires state or local appropriated funding to support designated staffing of at least 1.0 FTE, program implementation, technical assistance, and monitoring.
Minimum annual appropriation of $300,000, $500,000 or $1 million depending on the population of the state or locality based on the 2020 U.S. Census.
We fund campaigns that aim to secure tribal or state funding to support Head Start/Early Head Start programs for currently eligible children and/or children from families above current income eligibility requirements. Minimum annual appropriation of $1 million, $3 million or $5 million depending on the population of the state based on the 2020 U.S. Census.
We do not fund policy campaigns that aim to create new state/local agencies, the creation of new citizen’s committees or ‘Children’s Cabinets.’ We also do not fund campaigns that aim to require only from-scratch cooking/non-packaged food or vegetarian/vegan only food in the childcare environment.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that support state-level policies to ensure employees – public sector, private sector, or both – have access to paid family and medical leave programs that provide sufficient paid time off to manage significant personal or family life events and needs, such as managing a serious personal health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or bonding with a new child after birth, adoption, or placement in foster care.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that aim to pass policy at the state, community, or school-district level that implement, at minimum, the beverage, snack, and meal guidelines as intended by the 2012 school meals and 2016 competitive foods final rules, while ensuring that the nutrition standards are aligned with the most current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
We do not fund campaigns that concern capital infrastructure appropriations (i.e. kitchen equipment), purchasing agreements, packaging, from-scratch cooking requirements or vegetarian/vegan only policies.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that support statewide expansion of healthy school meals for all through maximizing participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or other universal meal options by prioritizing expansion at the local level for school districts with the greatest need.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds community-centered campaigns that work with policy makers at the tribal, state and local level to adopt excise taxes on sugary drinks to reduce consumption and raise revenue for communities that are most burdened by health inequity. Communities must be engaged as full partners in the decision to pursue a tax and with each of the tax policy process steps – tax design, adoption, implementation, and revenue allocation.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds state campaigns that support policies to maximize SNAP participation for eligible households and help those who qualify get their benefits. There are two options: (1) encourage eligible states to adopt broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) and (2) pursue additional policies to support SNAP access as detailed in the USDA SNAP State Options report.
We do not fund project work, direct incentives to participants or farmers markets or any non-binding policy efforts.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds policy campaigns at the tribal, state and local level that increase participant access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We fund campaigns that seek to secure government funds for SNAP incentives and produce prescriptions programs. Funds can be used to establish or expand dollar-for-dollar match programs, purchase technology, support staffing and/or promote participation.
We do not fund non-binding policy or incremental change such as seeking of USDA waivers or other systems changes that are administrative only or otherwise not sustainable.
Voices for Healthy Kids funds campaigns that help enact policies at the state, local, or school-district level to increase access to drinking water in schools, encourage water consumption throughout the school day and during school-based activities. We fund campaigns at the state level that help enact policies that ensure all newly constructed schools and schools undergoing major renovations have water bottle filling stations. We also fund appropriations policy campaigns that support water bottle filling station installations, prioritizing Tier 1 and high-needs schools first.
We do not fund policy campaigns that concern water quality testing, ppm requirements, infrastructure/water pipeline replacement, or environmental mitigation.
2023 Application Round
Short Form Application Timeline
Anticipated February 27, 2023
Call for Short Form Applications Opens
March 14 and March 27
Applicant Information Session - see videos and registrations below
April 7, 20235 pm Pacific
Short Form Application Deadline
April 28, 2023
Notifications
Invited Applicants Timeline
April 28, 2023
Application Available
May 31, 20235 pm Pacific
Application Deadline
June 16, 2023
Notification of Award/Decline
Please note, we make every attempt to adhere to the posted timeline but is subject to change.
We anticipate funding 4-6 policy campaigns in the 2023 application round.
Policy Campaign Info Videos and Office Hours
Information videos to highlight the call for applications, overview of policy campaigns and lobbying & advocacy: 501(c)3 adherence. Questions about the application, budget, or other technical questions are welcome during the office hours. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and videos before attending the office hours.
The Policy Campaign Grant Opportunity is designed to support strategic issue advocacy campaigns that advance equitable policies that make the places where kids and their families live, learn, and play healthier. Voices for Healthy Kids supports specific policy priorities that can be reviewed in the link above.
Voices for Healthy Kids is working to ensure funding is directed to organizations with diverse leadership and staff and that grantees are from and engaging communities that historically and systemically experience disinvestment including, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or children living in families with low-income. Campaigns must support, drive and inform tribal, state or local policy change efforts that will dramatically improve the health of children who are experiencing the greatest health disparities.
Applications can be submitted for $50,000 - $200,000 for a duration of up to 18 months and can support non-lobbying and lobbying activities.
We anticipate funding 4-6 policy campaigns in the 2023 application round.
Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including, but not limited to:
Voices for Healthy Kids is evolving to improve the flow of funding to communities facing the greatest inequities and to work with community leaders and organizations that are already making strides for change. We are committed to increasing funding to organizations and campaigns that have leadership that is Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander. Each application will be scored on metrics related to organizational staff, board and leadership diversity.
Priority is given to communities experiencing the greatest inequities. By trusting, supporting, and investing in the people and places experiencing the greatest inequities, we can remove barriers that stand in the way of healthy, thriving children and families everywhere.
We are particularly interested in funding in tribal nations, cities and counties experiencing health and social disparities, in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, but applications from all states and Puerto Rico are welcome.
Priority will be given to campaigns that build power for community change and exhibit an understanding of institutional and systemic racism barriers that impact childhood health disparities and equity.
We do not award regional grants, multi-location funding, multi-issue area, or support for technical assistance-based strategies. Grants will not be awarded for curricula development or implementation, equipment, operations of physical activity, nutrition or similar participant-based programs, capital expenditures, academic research or other non-advocacy purposes.
The Policy Campaign Grant process includes a two-step application process:
1. All interested, eligible applicants must submit a short form application.
2. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full application for consideration in a competitive review process.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review the application questions and utilize these in preparing your application. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - all application submissions must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
Information videos to highlight the call for applications, overview of policy campaigns and lobbying & advocacy: 501(c)3 adherence. Questions about the application, budget, or other technical questions are welcome during the office hours. We encourage all applicants to review the grant application instructions and videos before attending the office hours.
Register for our live office hours to ask questions about the grant opportunity and application! Office Hour 1 March 14 at 9am PT/12pm ET | Register Here
Rapid Response requests support critically timed needs of mature campaigns in push-for-passage mode (strategic time in final states of a policy passing) or to support a defensive campaign that would prevent a harmful policy from being passed. Funding is designed to support strategically targeted needs such as grassroots organizing, coalition building, polling, and media relations of campaigns as the campaign is in its final stages.
Funds may be requested up to $60,000 for a time period of weeks to a few months.
Rapid Response grants are open to campaigns not currently or previously funded by Voices for Healthy Kids for the requested policy lever.
Campaigns must have exhausted all other resources available and establish that critical resources are needed for a final push to passage during the end stage of a legislative or regulatory campaign or a defensive campaign.
Applicants must meet the organizational eligibility to apply.
Interested applicants need to contact voicesforhealthykids@heart.org to request a pre-screening call with a National Consultant. Please provide a brief description of the policy campaign, timeline and the issue area the campaign supports. Based on the pre-screening call, organizations may be invited to complete an application.
Finish Line Funding
Finish Line Funding supports short-term, critically timed requests during the final push-for-passage of policy. Voices for Healthy Kids provides the finish line funding opportunity to current grantees nearing the end of their grant or past grantees continuing their grant related work. Requests up to $50,000 with a duration of weeks to a few months will be considered. Applicants should discuss the need with their Policy Engagement Manager to determine eligibility and gain access to an application.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below is a list of Word (.doc) versions of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management portal, which requires organizations to register.
Policy Campaign Finish Line Funding Application Template (Coming Soon)
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Workgroup Grant Opportunity
Voices for Healthy Kids works around the country to improve or create equitable policies that will make the places kids live, learn and play healthier. We are excited to announce a call for applications for 2023-2024 Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) workgroups to address policy issue areas that support the prenatal-to-age-three population.
The IEEs will mobilize broad expertise, external perspectives and advocacy capacity in a workgroup engagement model to develop best practices and opportunities to advance policies. The recommendations will be inclusive of health equity, root causes of social determinants of health and advancing the Voices for Healthy Kids policy agenda at the tribal, state or local level. The workgroups will support dialogue on social, demographic, equity, policy and other trends. Each workgroup will provide specific deliverables to be completed no later than the end of the 12-month grant period. Funded workgroups would start July 1, 2023 and conclude by June 30, 2024.
The focus of IEEs is to share best practices and opportunities to advance policies in diverse public settings. We are focusing this call for applications on policies related to the prenatal-to-age-three population. Below is a list of example topics that fit this call for applications. We welcome your innovative ideas for the issue areas as well.
Family Economic Supports (e.g., paid family and medical leave, earned income tax credits, child care subsidies)
Nutrition Security (e.g., SNAP, WIC)
Child Care (e.g. increasing access and enrollment, workforce support)
Healthcare Access & Support (e.g., Medicaid expansion, group prenatal care, maternal and child mental health supports)
Preemption
Others related
Application Timeline:
April 14, 2023
Call for Applications
May 12, 2023 5p.m. Pacific
Application Deadline
June 7, 2023
Notification of Award/Decline
Eligibility for IEE Grants:
Organizations must have tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) as a public charity or under section 501(c)(4); have a fiscal sponsor that is a section 501(c)(3) public charity or a section 501(c)(4) organization; or be a federally recognized Indian tribe or a subdivision of a tribe.
Preference given to tribal, state, or local organizations that are led by the populations impacted by health disparities: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander or families living with low-income.
National organizations may apply but must include a co-facilitator who has strong equity-based experience and background representing communities impacted by disparities and the social determinants of health.
This opportunity is not open to American Heart Association applicants.
All interested, eligible applicants must submit the application in our online grant management system. Selected applicants will need to complete additional information including a budget, budget narrative and deliverables before awards are finalized. This is a competitive application process, and we anticipate awarding up to two IEE grants for this funding round.
Application can be submitted for up to $40,000 and the grant duration will be from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024
Applications must be completed in the online grant management system form and be submitted by the posted deadline. For applicant convenience, application templates are located below.
Voices for Healthy Kids strives for all children to live full and healthy lives. The reality is that historically and intentionally underrepresented people often face the greatest disparities. By supporting organizations led and staffed by people of color, we are able to directly address wellness inequity with leaders who have the best understanding of their communities’ needs. Studies also show that organizations led by people of color often receive less grant money and that those funds come with more strings attached than groups with white leaders. As part of our commitment to equity, we seek to change that by intentionally funding organizations led and staffed by leaders who are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and families with low incomes.
IEE Workgroup activities and budgets will only be awarded non-lobbying funds.
Voices for Healthy Kids expects grantees to make a good faith effort to invest grant dollars for contracted services with businesses (i.e. facilitators, consultants, printers, etc.) to be representative of or serve the interests of the listed priority populations.
Grantees must follow the grant administration requirements detailed in the grantee guide.
Online Grant Management System
Information and the application for the 2023-2024 Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) workgroup grants are online. All applications will be submitted in this system and registration is required. Registrations are approved within 2 business days and often within the same day.Please follow these simple steps to register:
Visit https://voicesforhealthykids.fluxx.io and in the lower right corner of the webpage, click the create account now button. Be sure to use Google Chrome as this site does not work with Internet Explorer.
Complete the eligibility quiz for an IEE Workgroup Application.
If your organization is eligible, you will then need to complete a registration form for your organization and individual information.
Once submitted, your registration will be reviewed and approved within 2 business day.
Application Templates
For applicant convenience, below are editable versions (Word and Excel) of our current grant application questions. Click on the links to download the template to review and work in before copy and pasting your application responses in the online form. These application templates are for draft work ONLY - any application submission must be on the application forms in our online grant management system.
Voices for Healthy Kids is not a typical funder. We work closely with our grantees by providing robust technical assistance, training and support. Voices for Healthy Kids monitors grantees’ efforts and careful stewardship of grant funds to assure accountability. IEE Workgroup Grantees will be required to develop key deliverables with Voices for Healthy Kids and provide one interim and a final report that will include expenses and progress on deliverables.
As a Voices for Healthy Kids applicant, we look forward to the possibility of working together to ensure that the places where children live, learn and play make it easy and enjoyable for them to eat healthy foods and be active.
We appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with organizations that may be interested. Together, we can make each day healthier for all children.
All applications are submitted through the Voices for Healthy Kids online grant management system, and registration is required. Please follow these simple steps to register:
If you are a returning user to the system simply log into the Grant Management System. If you need to reset your password, please use "forgot my password," enter your email address, and submit. You will receive an email with a link to update your password.
If you are new to the Grant Management System, read the New to the Grants Management System instructions and click on "Create an Account Now." You must register to access the application materials. It may take up to 2 business days for your registration to be approved. During open call for applications, registrations are reviewed several times daily. If you do not get an email by the end of the day, please check your junk folder. If you do not receive your log in credentials within 4 business hours, you may use the reset or create password link to gain access.
If you have any questions on the Voices for Healthy Kids Grant Opportunities, please contact Shannon Melluzzo, Manager, Advocacy Grants.
Policy Change Grants (Policy Campaign, Rapid Response and Targeted Campaigns):
Applications must be specific to an individual campaign for public policy change in a tribe, state or local geographic area supporting one Voices for Healthy Kids policy priorities.
Organization Eligibility
To be eligible as a Lead, Co-Lead or Subgrant applicant organization, an organization must have tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) as a public charity or under section 501(c)(4); have a fiscal sponsor that is a section 501(c)(3) public charity or a section 501(c)(4) organization; or be a federally recognized Indian tribe or a subdivision of a tribe.
We are unable to fund private foundations, non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations, or government agencies (including public schools, state universities, etc.).
Grant requirements include the ability to conduct lobbying activities as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. Section 501(c)(3) public charities are able to lobby; however, if your organization is restricted or prohibited from conducting lobbying activities by your leadership/board of directors, you are not eligible for this grant.
Consult your legal counsel for guidance on lobbying. In general, lobbying includes: communicating directly with legislators on specific legislation concerning your views on such legislation, or, communicating to the public on specific legislation concerning your views on legislation and asking them to take action.
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE) Grants:
Preference given to tribal, state, or local organizations that are led by the populations impacted by health disparities: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, and Alaska Native and children living in families with low-income.
National organizations may apply but must include a co-facilitator who has strong equity-based experience and background representing communities impacted by disparities and the social determinants of health.
Voices for Healthy Kids is currently funding the following organizations who are working to improve the health of children, families and communities through equitable policy change, with a specific focus on those experiencing systemic racism and historic oppression.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Rodel - Delaware
New Mexico Voices for Children, Organizers in the Land of Enchantment and AHA New Mexico, and - New Mexico
The Suquamish Foundation and Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP - Washington State
The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham - Alabama
Voices for Georgia's Children and HealthMPowers - Georgia
WEPOWER - Saint Louis, Missouri
Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
Community Farm Alliance and Kentucky Equal Justice Center - Kentucky
Environment American Research & Policy Center, Black Church Center for Justice and Equality,
Florida Impact to End Hunger and Feeding Florida - Florida
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities - Flint and Detroit, Michigan
Hunger Action LA - Los Angeles County, California
Hunger Free Colorado, Food to Power, Safe and Abundant Nutrition Alliance, East Denver Food Hub, and Good Food Collective - Colorado
In-Advance - Oakland, CA
Make the Road Nevada and Guinn Center - Nevada
Market Umbrella, Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), and New Orleans Food Policy Action Council - Louisiana
Maryland Medical Society, MedChi - Baltimore, Maryland
Michigan Chapter American Academy of Pediatric - Michigan
Oral Health Kansas - Kansas
PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, Inc. – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Urban Health Partnerships, Incorporated - Carol City, Florida
Wholesome Wave and Roots of Change - California
Preemption
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families - Arkansas
Georgians for a Healthy Future - Georgia
HealthMPowers - Georgia
Advocacy Impact Pilot
Charleston, SC
YWCA Greater Charleston
East Baton Rouge, LA
The Walls Project
Center for Planning Excellence and the Power Coalition
BREADA
Three O'clock Project and Health Care Center in Schools, Inc.
Gulf Port, MS
Magnolia Medical Foundation
Tulsa, OK
ImpactTulsa
Innovation, Equity and Exploration (IEE)
Partnership for Southern Equity
Voices for Georgia's Children
Safe Routes to School Partnership
Voices for Healthy Kids does not typically fund multiple campaigns focused on the same issue within the same geographic area. We value collaboration and coordination. If there is an organization listed above that is funded in the issue area and location that interests you, please contact us to be connected to the campaign.
This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.