Funders of Rural Programs
Ongoing funding is an important sustainability component for rural community health programs. A variety of government agencies, foundations, and organizations have funded community health programs and research. The organizations listed below are examples.
Federal Agencies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC awards grants and cooperative agreements to state and local governments, non-profits/educational
organizations, for-profit groups, and foreign ministries and associations to conduct public health research and
implement community programs.
Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS funds work to develop, test, and implement new healthcare financing and payment programs. It also provides
grants for Medicare and Medicaid demonstration projects.
Indian Health Service (IHS)
IHS provides grants for programs that support American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, families, and tribes in
a variety of community programs.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of
Health
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at NIH funds clinical research on topics related to heart, lung,
and blood-related diseases. While communities typically are not directly funded, they could partner with a
clinical researcher or university to apply for research funding.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH funds research grants, career development awards, research training and fellowships, program project/center
grants, and resource grants.
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA)
FORHP provides Rural Health Funding Opportunities for rural hospitals, health centers, clinics and other rural
organizations to develop programs to increase access to health care.
The Denali Commission
The Commission provides job training and other economic development services in rural communities, including the
planning and construction of health care facilities.
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
ARC funds work in the Appalachian Region, specifically targeting business development, education and job
training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing, and transportation.
Associations
National Association of Counties
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of Community Health Centers
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
National Rural Health Association
Foundations and Charitable Organizations
Rural Health Information Hub information specialists can conduct a custom funding search to find additional options. For more information, contact 800-270-1898 or info@ruralhealthinfo.org.
Elevance Health Foundation
Areas served: National
Otto Bremer Foundation
Areas served: 80 communities located in Minnesota, North Dakota, and western Wisconsin
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Area served: North Carolina
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides grants for projects in the United States and U.S. territories that
advance their mission to improve the health and health care of all Americans.
Children’s Miracle Network
Areas served: Makes donations to local hospitals
Networks
3RNET, National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network
Kaiser Permanente
Across the state of California, Kaiser Permanente researches high-priority community health issues and addresses
them through targeted program funding.
Resources to Learn More
Foundation Center
Website
Collects information on U.S. philanthropies and organizes them into a searchable online database of foundation
funding for a monthly access fee. Membership also includes weekly email bulletins and webinars on grant-seeking
process.
Fundsnet Services
Website
This website has information about grants, fundraising, philanthropy, foundations, and non–profit organizations
for those in need of funding and research.
A Profile of Foundations Created from
Health Care Conversions
Document
Lists health foundations formed from transactions involving hospitals, health plans, or health systems.
Organization(s): Grantmakers in Health
Date: 6/2009
Grants.gov
Website
Use Grants.gov to find and apply for federal grants. The United States Department of Health and Human Services
is the managing partner for Grants.gov.