Maternal Health Grant

Florida Blue Foundation's Maternal Health grant supports efforts to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants in Florida. The Foundation's broader programs focus on food security, mental well-being, healthy communities, and health disparities, while this funding opportunity specifically addresses maternal health. The program is intended to fund innovative and actionable solutions that improve maternal health outcomes, bridge health disparities, and increase access to high-quality maternal health care and support. Two funding focuses are available: Improving Maternal Health Outcomes for Chronic Conditions and Perinatal and Postpartum Maternal Mental Health Support. The first addresses conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity and seeks improved access to quality care, care coordination, and evidence-informed programming from pregnancy through the first year postpartum. The second supports services and interventions addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, toxic stress, postpartum depression, trauma-related symptoms, and other maternal mental health challenges. Florida Blue Foundation expects to provide approximately $3 million for the statewide Maternal Health grant program. Individual awards are four-year grants, and the total funding request for the full grant period must be between $300,000 and $400,000, with an approximate annual allocation of $75,000 to $100,000. Supported expenses may include salaries and benefits, employee training, program or meeting rental fees, webinars and other media or technology, program materials and equipment, required grant-related travel, training and educational materials, printing and dissemination, and indirect costs of up to 10 percent of the total grant amount. Applicants are instructed to budget for possible annual program meetings and attendance at Florida Blue Foundation's Community Health Symposium and Sapphire Awards, with an estimated cost of $900 per person per year. Unsupported applicants or activities include entities without a 501(c)(3) public charity designation, 501(c)(3) private foundations, 509(a)(3) Type I, Type II, and Type III supporting organizations, standalone research and development, individuals, capital campaigns, new start-ups, profit-making enterprises, and buildings or other brick-and-mortar costs. No cost-share or matching requirement is stated. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, public agencies, universities, colleges, training centers, community centers, schools, health care-related facilities, faith-based institutions, youth-serving organizations, and other qualifying organizations. Applicants must be incorporated or located in Florida and serve Floridians, although an organization based outside Florida may qualify if the requested funds are directed to its Florida program and it can provide all required documentation, including the Florida Solicitation of Contributions Certificate. Applicants are expected to have appropriate capacity, resources, field knowledge, a successful track record, expertise with the target population, and experience developing programs and materials. The eligibility section also states a requirement of at least three years of operation since receiving an IRS 501(c)(3) designation. Applicants must submit their most recently filed Form 990 or 990-EZ showing annual revenue exceeding $400,000 in each of the last two years; Form 990-N filers are not eligible. Special consideration is available, but not required, for organizations serving ZIP codes 32206, 32805, 33612, 33613, 33142, or 33311, organizations serving Florida rural counties, and applicants incorporating innovative AI-powered solutions. Applications are submitted through Florida Blue Foundation's online grants management system. All applicants are required to watch the informational webinar before completing an application. The Foundation recommends using Google Chrome. Organizations new to the grants management system should register at least two weeks in advance because registration requires verification and approval. An organization may apply to one or both funding focuses, but a separate application is required for each focus. Required attachments must be uploaded in PDF format and include the Program Milestone document, Budget Matrix and Narrative Template, the organization's most recent Form 990 or 990-EZ, a recent audited financial statement or specified internal financial statements when an audit is unavailable, the Florida Solicitation of Contributions Certificate or qualifying exemption documentation, a program organizational chart, letters of agreement for collaborations or partnerships when applicable, and a Board of Directors list. The Program Milestone document must describe objectives, tasks, and expected outcomes for each program year, while the budget narrative must explain Florida Blue Foundation grant expenses by year. Evaluation includes review of alignment with the funding focuses and program guidelines and may give special consideration to service in designated ZIP codes or Florida rural counties and to innovative AI-enabled approaches that improve access, service delivery efficiency, or personalized interventions. A review committee composed of internal and/or external individuals knowledgeable or expert in the funding area makes recommendations, and the Florida Blue Foundation Board of Directors provides final approval. The Foundation does not offer individual pre-submission proposal assessment meetings and does not generally provide individualized feedback on declined applications. Selected grantees must use validated, reliable, and client-appropriate assessment tools at least twice annually, establish improvement goals and target percentages, and contribute where feasible to cohort goals related to healthy birthweight and gestational age. Reporting includes monthly unduplicated counts of mothers and infants served when feasible and semi-annual reports on program indicators, expenses, and client demographics. The application opened August 17, 2026, and closes October 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Florida Blue Foundation recommends submitting 7 to 14 business days before the deadline, and late applications will not be accepted. Applicants are expected to be notified of application status in February 2027. Selected organizations must attend two mandatory virtual orientations, including a Cohort Group Orientation and an Individual Grantee Orientation, during February through March 2027. Grant agreements become effective March 1, 2027, with program operations expected to begin in April 2027. Grantees must also attend the annual Community Health Symposium and Sapphire Awards during each year of the grant and provide banking information for ACH payments. Questions may be directed to floridabluefoundation@floridablue.com or 1-800-477-3736, extension 63215.

Watch the required informational webinar before completing the application; register in the grants management system at least two weeks before the deadline if the organization is new to the system; submit 7-14 business days early to reduce technical risk; use Google Chrome; submit a separate application for each Funding Focus; make the four-year Program Milestone document detailed because it will form the basis of reporting if funded; ensure the budget stays within $300,000-$400,000 total and the 10% indirect-cost cap; budget for potential annual Foundation meetings and symposium attendance; verify Form 990 or 990-EZ revenue exceeds $400,000 in each of the last two years; describe service in priority ZIP codes or Florida rural counties when applicable; describe innovative AI-powered solutions when applicable; do not alter Foundation templates with AI and fact-check and validate AI-assisted content