New funding opportunity: Addressing diabetes through community outreach and engagement

***Deadline extended to October 4, 2021!***

Background

Systemic racism has led to inequities that impact people of color and their health. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized this fact. African American and Hispanic communities are far more likely, for example, to get sick from and/or die from COVID-19 than their White counterparts and are far more likely to have underlying health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc.) that put them at higher risk for the disease. Though there are many other factors that ultimately influence a person’s health and health outcomes (e.g., jobs, economic stability, housing, transportation, etc.), there are still many policy options that can immediately improve health outcomes for people of color and the overall community as we continue to work on eliminating racism from all facets of life.

Most importantly, the nutrition and physical activity environment of Howard County needs improvement. Black and Hispanic teens, for example, are twice as likely to see ads for unhealthy food and drinks than their White counterparts and are more likely to live in food swamps (i.e., areas where fast food and other less healthy, highly processed, and cheap food options exist). They are also less likely to live in areas with safe and accessible options for routine walking and biking. As a result, children of color are far more likely to consume less healthy food and drinks and have an unhealthy weight than white children putting them at much higher risk for developing diabetes and other chronic diseases that kill most Howard Countians.

Request for Proposals

The Foundation seeks committed organizational partners to help increase Howard County residents’ awareness of diabetes, advocate for local and state health policies to reduce diabetes and related health disparities, and reduce social and cultural stigmas that prevent people from seeking help.

The purpose of this grant is to raise awareness and build momentum for future Coalition efforts around diabetes, while also spreading accurate information around it in an engaging way. We recognize that taking on diabetes outreach and education may be a new space for some, so we are providing an opportunity to start the engagement process with supports.

Grant Requirements

Twenty (20) selected grantees will be awarded $500 and will be expected to:

1. Have an organizational representative attend the kick-off grantee meeting that will take place virtually on October 12 at 6 PM.
2. Have at least two organizational representatives participate in a 2-hour virtual training around diabetes awareness, healthy lifestyles, and ways to address policy that will influence the diabetes prevention landscape.
3. Host and/or provide the same diabetes presentation to the rest of their organization.
4. Share monthly, Foundation-supplied, diabetes awareness materials with organizational members and community, via social media and/or other electronic means of communication. This may also include promotional materials for a diabetes centered, Horizon Foundation co-sponsored, event.
5. Host a diabetes prevention community event of the grantee’s choosing.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Proposals will be accepted from organizations that aim to improve the health and wellness of those that live or work in Howard County, Maryland.
2. Organizations must be: (a) tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)3, (b) be directly affiliated with a Howard County Public School that can receive funds on its behalf, or (c) have a fiscal sponsor that meets either option a or b.
   • Organizations include but are not limited to PTAs, community groups, faith-based groups, student groups with adult oversight, etc.
3. The grant period for track 1 grantees is from October 1, 2021 through June 1, 2022.

How to Submit Proposals

All proposals must be submitted using our online grants system. The deadline to submit the application is October 4, 2021. Proposals will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be notified no later October 11, 2021.

All newly awarded grantees will be expected to attend an orientation meeting on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 6:00 pm via Zoom. More information to follow.

Interested in Learning More?

For questions on the grant opportunity, please contact Senior Policy and Community Engagement Officer Jennifer White at jwhite@thehorizonfoundation.org.

For assistance with the grant system, please contact Senior Program Officer Kenitra Fokwa at kfokwa@thehorizonfoundation.org.