The Impact Grant Program offered by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation aims to strengthen the health and wellbeing of Louisiana residents by funding nonprofit organizations already demonstrating measurable impact in this area. The Foundation, known for its strategic philanthropy focused on health outcomes, uses this grant program to either support ongoing impactful efforts or respond rapidly to crises or disasters. Grants are awarded to projects targeting systemic and community-level challenges in public health, education, and child welfare. At its discretion, the Foundation may also proactively make awards from this fund to organizations by invitation only.
This program provides up to $100,000 annually per grantee, and funds are intended to scale or expand existing programs rather than initiate general operations. Ideal projects present clear long-term benefits to Louisiana communities and are executed by organizations with the capacity and expertise to deliver on ambitious health-related goals. Potential areas of focus include primary care access, maternal and infant health, chronic disease management, food insecurity, mental health, and improvements in HEDIS or other health benchmark data. Emphasis is placed on collaborative solutions that demonstrate local leadership and potential to attract additional investment.
Eligibility for the Impact Grant is strictly limited to Louisiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Projects that involve infrastructure, government-led programming, direct health care services, or general education services are generally not eligible unless they present an extraordinary, measurable health benefit that fills a gap not addressed by public or private funding. Organizations engaged in discriminatory practices or individual fundraising are categorically ineligible.
To apply, organizations must submit an online Letter of Intent (LOI) via the Smart Simple portal on BCBSLAFoundation.org. The LOI must outline the project scope, partner roles, need statement, success indicators, evaluation strategies, and intended use of funds. From this pool, selected applicants will be invited to complete a full proposal detailing deliverables, budget, and geographic reach. The submission process occurs twice annually, with deadlines on March 1 and September 1.
The selection process involves internal staff review supported by an external expert panel, with final funding decisions made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. While strong alignment with program goals is necessary, submission of a full application does not guarantee funding due to limited availability. Award recipients are required to submit annual progress reports containing program data.
For additional guidance, applicants can email bcbslafoundation@lablue.com, providing contact and organization information along with the specific grant program of interest. Interested applicants should note that the Impact Grant is recurring on a semiannual basis, making it important to plan ahead for the next funding cycle if deadlines are missed.
Ideal projects must demonstrate long-term impact, alignment with health metrics, and capacity to execute.
