Build Healthy Places Network Community Innovations for Racial Equity

Colleen Flynn
rbadruzzaman@buildhealthyplaces.org

The Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) Community Innovations for Racial Equity program will provide funding funding, technical assistance, and a peer learning cohort designed to build local Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led community development capacity, support community power, explore innovative community ownership models, and address the barriers and gaps within community development and health partnerships to effectively propel racial equity.

Program goals include:

• Facilitate new connections and deepen existing connections between BIPOC-led Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and other peer organizations, resources, tools, and the larger national dialogue
• Embed capacity within these organizations to undertake community ownership models and health strategies and, from a position of strength, engage with healthcare organizations (hospitals, healthcare systems, and health payors), CDFIs, and other mission-driven investors for co-investment in neighborhood revitalization efforts
• Champion race-conscious partnerships, policies, approaches, and investments that magnify their impacts and outcomes
• Lift up and increase awareness of insights, tools, resources, and best practices for community-led and community-owned approaches for others doing work in this area to use nationally

Eligibility requirements include:

• U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations
• Meets one of the following:
  • Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led Community Development Corporations serving low-resourced areas in historically marginalized communities working to prioritize community leadership, community engagement, and community power building within their neighborhood revitalization work that impacts the social determinants of health.
  • BIPOC-led non-profit organizations that function as Community Development Corporations (CDCs) revitalizing historically marginalized communities through local investing and development
• Has explicit focus on racial equity and moving community investments upstream
• Is committed to partnering with BHPN to advance the beginning or early stages of collaboration with health system partners
• Has a dedicated staff person to serve as the lead on the project
• Demonstrates leadership buy-in as shown by a letter of support from President, CEO, Executive Director, Board Chair or equivalent

Priority will be given to rural, tribal, and small- to mid-size communities that have been marginalized and have had less access to resources.

Award amount: up to $40,000 to support staff or a consultant to lead healthcare engagement, $60,000 of in-kind technical support, and facilitated connections to a national network of peer support
Project period: 18 months
Estimated number of awards: 10

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the application template are available on the program website.

Email completed applications to proposals@buildhealthyplaces.org.