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Foundation For Healthy Communities

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$40K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $200,000 (Innovation Challenge awards)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (January to April)
  • Grant Range: $40,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: New Hampshire (applicants must be NH residents)

Contact Details

Website: www.healthynh.org | www.healthforcenh.org

Address: 125 Airport Road, Concord, NH 03301

Phone: (603) 225-0900

Email: info@healthynh.org

HealthForce NH: For Innovation Challenge and workforce-related inquiries, visit healthforcenh.org

Overview

The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC), established in 1968, serves as the quality arm of the New Hampshire Hospital Association and the statewide leader for New Hampshire's hospitals and health systems. While primarily an operating foundation providing programs and technical assistance, FHC awards grants through its HealthForce NH initiative, which received a $1 million grant over five years from the Endowment for Health in October 2023 to create an innovation fund. This fund supports creative initiatives addressing New Hampshire's significant healthcare workforce shortage through an annual Innovation Challenge competition. The Foundation builds healthier communities through dynamic partnerships between hospitals, medical providers, health plans, healthcare stakeholders, and community organizations. Under Executive Director Peter Ames' leadership, FHC has received recognition for its work in patient safety, quality improvement, and health equity initiatives across the state.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

HealthForce NH Innovation Challenge (Annual Competition)

  • First Place: Up to $100,000
  • Second Place: Up to $60,000
  • Third Place: Up to $40,000
  • Application method: Online portal at healthforcenh.org
  • Timeline: Applications launch in January, deadline early March, winners announced in April
  • Multi-stage competition including written application, semi-finalist pitch event, and final selection

HealthForce NH Innovation Fund

  • Funded with $1 million over five years (2023-2028)
  • Supports creative initiatives addressing healthcare workforce shortages
  • Application details announced periodically on healthforcenh.org

Priority Areas

The Innovation Challenge and Innovation Fund specifically target healthcare workforce development solutions including:

  • Recruitment and retention strategies for healthcare workers
  • Training and education programs for nurses, LNAs, and allied health professionals
  • Innovative approaches to addressing workforce shortages in rural and underserved areas
  • Programs supporting underserved populations entering healthcare careers (immigrants, "second chance" populations)
  • Technology solutions that reduce burnout and improve workforce sustainability
  • Cross-sector partnerships that create healthcare career pathways
  • Mental health workforce development initiatives

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on the HealthForce NH focus:

  • Projects outside of healthcare workforce development
  • Applicants not based in or serving New Hampshire
  • Capital projects or facility construction
  • General operating support unrelated to workforce innovation
  • Projects without measurable impact on healthcare workforce challenges

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Peter Ames leads the Foundation for Healthy Communities with a vision connecting clinical care to broader community environments.

Key Leadership Quote: "The Foundation looks to be a connector between clinical care and the broader community and environment that people live in," explained Executive Director Peter Ames. "We lift these issues at a practice level, working closely with local community partners to build trust and improve care for all."

HealthForce NH Leadership: Maureen Znoj serves as Senior Director of HealthForce NH, leading strategic initiatives to address New Hampshire's healthcare workforce challenges through innovative partnerships and cross-sector collaboration.

Board Leadership: Andrew Watt serves as 2025 Board Chair. The Board of Trustees includes Susan Mooney, MD, President & CEO of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, among other healthcare leaders from across New Hampshire.

Organizational Structure: FHC operates as the quality arm of the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA), with Steve Ahnen serving as President of NHHA. This unique relationship allows FHC to direct policy changes that support their work while maintaining independence as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Innovation Challenge Application Process:

  1. Information Sessions: Attend optional information sessions in late January (typically two sessions offered)

  2. Application Submission: Submit full application through healthforcenh.org by early March deadline (8:00 PM)

  3. Semi-Finalist Selection: Five semi-finalists notified approximately three weeks after deadline

  4. Pitch Event: Semi-finalists present their proposals at a public pitch event in early April

  5. Final Selection: Winners announced at awards ceremony in mid-April

Application Requirements:

  • All individual applicants or at least one team member must be legal residents or U.S. citizens with legal residence in New Hampshire
  • Proposals must reflect original thinking or original adaptations of existing programs
  • Open to individuals, established organizations, or new organizations from any industry
  • Semi-finalists must have representation at both the pitch event and winner announcement

Decision Timeline

  • January: Applications launch on HealthForce NH website (typically January 22)
  • Late January/Early February: Optional information sessions
  • Early March: Application deadline (typically March 4 at 8:00 PM)
  • Late March: Semi-finalists notified (typically March 25)
  • Early April: Semi-finalist pitch event (typically April 2)
  • Mid-April: Winners announced (typically April 14)

Total timeline from application launch to winner announcement: Approximately 12 weeks

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. Based on available information:

  • Five semi-finalists selected from all applications
  • Three winners selected from five semi-finalists (60% semi-finalist success rate)
  • Overall success rate depends on total number of applicants (not publicly disclosed)

Reapplication Policy

Encourages Reapplication: All past applicants and past semi-finalists are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years.

Winner Restriction: Past winners are not eligible to win again. This ensures the Innovation Fund supports a broad range of innovative solutions across multiple organizations.

No waiting period required for unsuccessful applicants - they may reapply the following year.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

The Innovation Challenge seeks proposals that "promote and support innovative ventures in the health care workforce space in New Hampshire through a multi-stage, competition style event series designed to evaluate and provide financial support for proposals and ideas."

Key Success Factors:

  1. Original Thinking: Proposals must reflect original thinking or unique adaptations of existing programs. The foundation emphasizes innovation and creativity in addressing workforce challenges.

  2. New Hampshire Focus: Strong connection to New Hampshire's specific healthcare workforce needs. Projects must serve and impact the state's healthcare system.

  3. Measurable Impact: Clear demonstration of how the project will address healthcare workforce shortages with quantifiable outcomes.

  4. Sustainability: Projects that show potential for long-term impact and sustainability beyond the initial grant period.

  5. Scalability: Solutions that could potentially be replicated or expanded to serve broader populations or additional healthcare settings.

Recent Funded Projects

2025 Winners:

  • First Place ($100,000): International Institute of New England - "LNA for Success" - Expands access to healthcare training for immigrants through English language support and LNA certification pathways
  • Second Place ($60,000): Offloader AI - Technology solution addressing workforce challenges
  • Third Place ($40,000): Southern NH Health & Major Choice - "Career Quest: Charting Your Healthcare Pathway" - Career exploration for healthcare pathways

2024 Winners:

  • First Place ($100,000): Androscoggin Valley Home Care Services - "The IDEA" (Inter-Disciplinary Elite Aides) - Creates local LNA hierarchy trained across community healthcare organizations in rural communities
  • Second Place ($60,000): Lightcap Health - "PULSe" (Personality-Based, Understanding, and Long-term Support for Healthcare Workers) - Video SaaS platform to reduce nurse burnout
  • Third Place ($40,000): New Hampshire Hospital - Mental health workforce development recruiting from underserved populations

Common Themes in Successful Projects

  • Address specific, identified workforce gaps (nursing, LNAs, mental health workers)
  • Serve underserved populations (immigrants, rural communities, "second chance" individuals)
  • Combine training/education with career pathway development
  • Leverage technology or innovative delivery methods
  • Include partnerships across healthcare organizations or sectors
  • Focus on recruitment AND retention strategies

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate Innovation: Go beyond traditional workforce development approaches. Show how your solution is unique or uniquely adapted.

  2. Show Partnership Strength: Highlight collaborations with healthcare organizations, educational institutions, or community partners.

  3. Quantify the Problem: Use data specific to New Hampshire's healthcare workforce challenges to frame your proposal.

  4. Address Barriers: Explain how your project overcomes specific barriers to healthcare workforce entry or retention.

  5. Pitch Preparation: If selected as semi-finalist, the public pitch event is crucial. Practice clear, compelling presentation of your idea with visual aids.

  6. Community Connection: Echo the Foundation's values around connecting clinical care with broader community environments and building trust.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Requirement: Applicants must be New Hampshire residents or have legal residence in NH. This is a strict eligibility requirement.

  • Workforce-Specific Focus: The Innovation Challenge exclusively funds healthcare workforce development initiatives. Do not apply if your project addresses other health issues without a clear workforce component.

  • Competition Format: Be prepared for a multi-stage process including potential public presentation. Strong communication skills matter as much as strong ideas.

  • Innovation is Key: The program name emphasizes innovation - incremental improvements to existing programs are less competitive than novel approaches or significant adaptations.

  • Reapplication Welcome: Don't be discouraged by an unsuccessful application. The foundation explicitly encourages reapplication, and past semi-finalists have won in subsequent years.

  • Mission Alignment: Align your proposal with FHC's broader mission of connecting clinical care with community, building trust, and improving care for all New Hampshire residents.

  • Timeline Planning: The annual cycle is predictable (January-April). Start preparing your application in late fall to be ready for the January launch.

References

  1. Foundation for Healthy Communities Official Website. "About Us." Accessed November 2025. https://healthynh.org/

  2. HealthForce NH. "Innovation Challenge." Accessed November 2025. https://healthforcenh.org/innovation-challenge/

  3. Foundation for Healthy Communities. "HealthForce NH at the Foundation for Healthy Communities Awarded $1 Million Grant to Support Development of Innovative Approaches to Solving Health Care Workforce Shortage." Press Release, October 2023. https://healthynh.org/press_releases/healthforce-nh-at-the-foundation-for-healthy-communities-awarded-1-million-grant-to-support-development-of-innovative-approaches-to-solving-health-care-workforce-shortage/

  4. Foundation for Healthy Communities. "Androscoggin Valley Home Care Services Wins First Place in Innovation Challenge Awarded $100,000 to Help Solve the Health Care Workforce Shortage." Press Release, April 2024. https://healthynh.org/press_releases/androscoggin-valley-home-care-services-wins-first-place-in-innovation-challenge-awarded-100000-to-help-solve-the-health-care-workforce-shortage/

  5. Union Leader. "International Institute of New England wins Innovation Challenge." 2025. https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/international-institute-of-new-england-wins-innovation-challenge/article_0c7b9183-5ad9-4916-a6c0-cb2a75173ef7.html

  6. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Foundation For Healthy Communities - EIN 02-0275078." Accessed November 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20275078

  7. New Hampshire Hospital Association. "Foundation for Healthy Communities Announces Awards of Excellence in Healthcare at 2023 Annual Meeting." Press Release, October 2023. https://www.nhha.org/foundation-for-healthy-communities-announces-awards-of-excellence-in-healthcare-at-2023-annual-meeting/

  8. NH Center for Justice & Equity. "Foundation For Healthy Communities Directory Listing." Accessed November 2025. https://nhcje.org/directory-listings/foundation-for-healthy-communities

  9. Endowment for Health. "Forward Fund - HealthForce NH." Accessed November 2025. https://endowmentforhealth.org/target-initiatives/forward-fund

  10. HealthForce NH. "Past Winners - Innovation Challenge." Accessed November 2025. https://healthforcenh.org/about/programs-events/innovation-challenge-past-winners/

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