Blue Cross Foundation Invites Proposals for Rural Health Care Funding

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Eagan, has announced the second funding cycle of New Times, New Tools, an initiative designed to strengthen Minnesota's rural health care system and help it better respond to local needs in today's economy.

One-year grants up to $10,000 are available to help organizations increase their organizational effectiveness through such strategies as strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and retention, planning and feasibility studies for shared services, restructuring and other efforts to improve efficiencies and health care access. For a list of 2003 grantees, visit the foundation's Web site. 

Eligible organizations must have their primary location outside of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area and must be tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code or a unit of government. The following types of nonprofit health services delivery organizations are eligible for funding:

• Hospitals with 50 or fewer licensed beds.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
• Rural health clinics (independently owned/not provider-based).
• Community mental health centers.
• Emergency medical services.
• Parish nursing programs and "Faith in Action" coalitions.
• Partnerships between organizations of these types.

All applicants must submit the required Intent to Apply form by June 4, 2004. Full proposals are due by July 9, 2004. For complete eligibility criteria, a program description, the Intent to Apply form and application materials, visit the foundation's Web site. For questions, please contact Joan Cleary, associate director, at 651/662-2566.

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