Community Health Impact Funds

More than $690,000 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital Community Health Impact Funding will be awarded to one organization using a policy, systems, and/or environmental (PSE) approach to improving access to community services for residents of Waltham. Funding guidelines, how to apply, and more details are provided below.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH), part of the Mass General Brigham health system, is seeking proposals from community-based organizations to develop approaches that improve access to the continuum of Waltham community services that support health and well-being by reducing systemic barriers to care commonly experienced by vulnerable populations across the life span. This funding is made possible by the approval of an amendment to a Determination of Need (DoN) Community-Based Health Initiative (CHI) process: Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley DoN MGB-23120412-AM (Amendment)/PHS-18022210-HE (Original).

A Waltham-based Community Advisory Committee (CAB)—comprised of Waltham-based NWH Community Benefits Committee members and other Waltham sector representation—was engaged to determine new health priorities and strategies for this CHIF investment. The CAB identified four systemic barriers to accessing critical healthcare and social services, which negatively impact the health and well-being of under resourced communities across the lifespan in Waltham.

Specifically, the committee identified four barriers that contribute to health inequities, including:

• Overly complicated processes to access services (e.g., application and administrative complexity).
• Cultural barriers, including language access, cultural appropriateness, and stigma.
• Technological barriers, including the lack of devices, internet, and skills to utilize technology.
• Transportation barriers

This grant-making initiative is made possible by the approval of a Determination of Need (DoN) – Community-Based Health Initiative (CHI) process: Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley DoN (PHS-19092711-HE).

Funding Guidelines

In April 2025, NWH will award $692,595 in CHIF for a project designed to address systemic barriers to accessing services and supports. Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) process, NWH anticipates awarding one grant to a community-based organization or collaborative of organizations.

Applicants may propose projects lasting two, three, or four years. Regardless of the length of the project, the total proposed budget amount may not exceed $692,595.

Although applicants may spread the total amount of funding across years according to the resources needed to implement the project, there is a cap on the amount that may be budgeted in Year 1.

For a 2-year project, the Year 1 budget amount may not exceed $346,000. For a 3-year project, the Year 1 budget amount may not exceed $230,000. For a 4-year budget, the Year 1 budget amount may not exceed $173,000. Applicants are not required to use the full amount allowable in Year 1, but they may not exceed it.

Goal and Purpose

NWH is seeking proposals utilizing policy, systems, or environmental (PSE) change approaches to improving access to the continuum of Waltham community services that support health and well-being by reducing systemic barriers to care commonly experienced by under resourced communities across the life span.

The priority population for the Community Health Impact Funds includes individuals or families facing systemic barriers to essential services and supports, with a focus on communities of color, immigrant communities, and recent arrivals to Waltham.

The goal of the Community Health Impact Funding is to increase access to the continuum of Waltham community services that support healthy living, such as increasing access to:

• Healthy, culturally appropriate food and other basic needs.
• Community-based social services (e.g., housing, immigration, employment, education, etc.).
• Health and mental health care.

Specifically, applicants are expected to propose PSE approaches that dismantle systemic barriers to accessing services and support through strategies that reduce:

• Burden of overly complicated processes to access services (e.g., application and administrative complexity).
• Cultural barriers, including language access, cultural appropriateness, and stigma.
• Technological barriers, including devices, internet, and skills to utilize technology.
• Transportation barriers.

Submission Guidelines

• Applications are due on Friday, February 7, 2025 by 5:00 pm.
• Download the Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Download the Budget Template

Virtual RFP Information Session

Anyone interested in this funding is invited to attend a virtual RFP Information Session will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am..

• Join using the following Zoom link: https://partners.zoom.us/j/82334382944. Registration is not required.

Requirements for the application

All grant applications must include a cover page, narrative, and all attachments. Applications submitted after the due date or missing any of the required sections will not be considered.

The cover page and narrative must be submitted as one document. Attachments may be submitted as separate documents. Applications must be sent as email attachments to NWHcollaborative@partners.org by the deadline with the subject line: Community Health Impact Funds Proposal.

• Please request a return receipt when submitting your application by email.
• Proposals that do not meet these specifications above or are not received by the due date will not be considered.

Questions/Contact Newton-Wellesley’s Grant Office

Questions: If you have questions about this grant opportunity, please submit them in writing to NWHcollaborative@partners.org by January 27, 2025. Questions received and answers provided will be posted here: www.nwh.org/communityhealthinitiatives.

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