Grant Information and Guidelines - Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

Requests for Proposals will be posted on this website, as they become available.

The Foundation is committed to careful consideration of grant proposals that:

  • Support the Foundation's mission through a commitment to documenting outcomes that can inform policy development.
  • Are submitted in direct response to a specific request for proposal (RFP) or grant solicitation. The Foundation will not review unsolicited grant requests except for requests for matching funds - these are funds to be added to resources from other funders for projects that require further local matching funds. Because of the time-specific nature of most matching opportunities, grant seekers may contact the Foundation via telephone or email to inform of such opportunities and to discuss the feasibility of a request within the timeframe required by the other funder(s). No requests for matching funds will be reviewed if the grant is outside the Foundation's established focus areas. Click here for matching grant guidelines.
  • Are submitted by organizations whose efforts primarily benefit persons who reside in Kentucky.
  • Are submitted for project-specific purposes which may include research and planning.
  • Are submitted by non-profit organizations, including governmental agencies. Among private non-profits, preference will be given to organizations that have tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code and are not private foundations as defined by section 509 of that Code.

The Foundation will NOT fund:

  • Direct patient care* except as part of demonstration or replication projects .
  • Capital campaigns or requests for facility construction (although project-related equipment may be included in requests).
  • Overhead expenses except in limited amounts for specific projects.
  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, military or marital status in hiring.
  • Expenses related to registered legislative agents for the purpose of lobbying.
  • Endowment funds.
  • Individuals.
  • Private, for-profit entities.
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes.
  • Political causes.
  • Retroactive expenses or deficit reduction or forgiveness.

*The Foundation's Articles of Incorporation specifically state it "shall not pay for, reimburse or directly subsidize direct provision of medical services except in the context of demonstration projects or similar research endeavors."

Funding Decisions and Procedures:

  • Foundation solicitations and requests for proposals will include specific timelines for submission of requests and awarding of grants.
  • Grant opportunities will be announced as they are developed and will outline requirements for submission and decision criteria that will be utilized in the review process.
  • All decisions of the Foundation regarding the awarding of grants will be final and appeals will not be considered.
  • Some Requests for Proposals may require applicants to commit matching funds as a condition of consideration for funding.
  • The Foundation will often provide technical assistance and outside evaluation separate from grant awards to funded programs.

The Foundation's Endowed Chairs in Health Policy at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville may submit grant proposals in response to published RFP's. An Endowed Chair's involvement with a proposal will not influence its review either positively or negatively. Proposals with an Endowed Chair's involvement will receive the same objective review as all other proposals.