Connecticut Health Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,001,253 (2023)
• Total Assets: $122 million
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $150,000
• Program Grants: $15,000 - $150,000
• Decision Time: Approximately 4 months
• Geographic Focus: Connecticut statewide
• Total Awards: 117 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cthealth.org/

Phone: 860.724.1580

Email: grants@cthealth.org

Online Portal: https://cthealth.fluxx.io

Address: Hartford, CT

Overview

The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is an independent, private foundation created in 1999 when the nonprofit HMO ConnectiCare transitioned to a for-profit company. With assets totalling over $122 million, the foundation awarded 117 grants totalling $3,001,253 in 2023. CT Health is a nonpartisan organisation focused on improving health outcomes for people of colour and ensuring all Connecticut residents have access to affordable and high-quality care. The foundation's work includes grantmaking, policy advocacy, research, convening, and leadership development—all conducted through a racial equity lens to address longstanding health inequities in Connecticut. In 2024, the foundation adopted a new five-year strategic plan that continues its focus on advancing health equity for people of colour across the state.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Program Grants: $15,000 - $150,000 Each quarter, CT Health awards programme grants for projects with the potential for broader, systems-level change that will advance health equity for people of colour. Grants are typically awarded for 12 months. The foundation supports indirect costs of up to 15% of the total budget. Applications are submitted through an online portal in response to quarterly requests for proposals.

President's Discretionary Grants: $1,000 - $25,000 CT Health awards discretionary grants to organisations and institutions that respond to the foundation's overall mission, often provided on a one-time basis for immediate projects that align with CT Health's strategic plan.

Priority Areas

The foundation's 2024 strategic plan identified four key focus areas:

1. Health Care Coverage Expansion

• Policy and advocacy efforts to expand HUSKY eligibility to cover more undocumented residents
• Policy and advocacy efforts to expand Cover CT to cover people up to 200% of the federal poverty level
• Research on the need for expanded coverage for people with incomes just above the HUSKY threshold

2. Maternal Health Equity for People of Colour

• Policy and advocacy efforts that organise and mobilise support for funding for doulas through Medicaid
• Projects focusing on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and mental health
• Integration of doulas into patient care teams to improve maternal health outcomes
• Team-based care models that include doulas and community health workers with support during pregnancy and one-year postpartum

3. Community Health Workers

• Policy, advocacy, and pilot programmes that aim to integrate community health workers into health care and community settings
• Sustainable funding strategies for community health worker programmes
• Education of community health workers on the legislative process and building awareness for sustainable funding

4. Infrastructure for Health Equity

• Support for advocacy organisations focused on racial equity and health equity at grassroots and grasstops levels
• News coverage of health policy
• Standardised collection of race, ethnicity, and language data in health care

Types of Projects Funded

• Researching sustainable funding options for programmes
• Elevating community voices to encourage engagement in the policy process
• Piloting innovative or new approaches to health equity that can be scaled
• Grassroots organising and advocacy led by people of colour
• Policy research and evaluation

What They Don't Fund

• Direct services only: Projects that focus on service delivery without a connection to larger policy or practice change
• Out-of-state projects: Whilst they may award grants to organisations outside Connecticut, projects must be focused on Connecticut and designed to benefit Connecticut residents

Governance and Leadership

Staff Leadership

Tiffany Donelson, President and CEO Oversees grantmaking, policy advancement, strategic communications, and leadership development.

Ellen Carter, Vice President of Program Oversees the foundation's programmatic strategy, including grantmaking, policy, leadership, and evaluation.

Kevin Collins, Director of Grantmaking Leads the foundation's grantmaking work, directs leadership development activities, and manages evaluation of the strategic plan and programme initiatives.

Anette Mendoza-Hollis, Executive Assistant and Operations Manager Provides administrative and logistical support to the president & CEO and the board of directors, and supervises administrative and operational functions.

Chelsey Morgan, Sr. Administrative Assistant Provides administrative support to the entire organisation including event management efforts and facilitation for the foundation, board of directors, and programme team.

Board of Directors

Hector Glynn President and CEO of The Village for Families and Children. Serves as chair of the foundation's programme committee and is a member of the policy and communications committee.

Barbara L. Pearce CEO of The Connecticut Hospice. Serves as chair of the policy and communications committee and is a member of the governance committee.

Alvin W. Thompson United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, appointed in 1994.

Yvette Meléndez Has extensive experience in health care, higher education, and philanthropy. Previously served as vice president for government and community alliances at Hartford HealthCare, chief of staff and chief administrative officer for the Connecticut State University System, and interim president of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Tanya Barrett Senior vice president of 2-1-1 Health and Human Services (HHS). Graduate of CT Health's leadership programme and previously served on the foundation's Community Advisory Committee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review Current RFPs: Start by visiting the foundation's Open RFPs page at https://www.cthealth.org/what-we-do/grantmaking/open-rfps/ to see current funding opportunities.

2. Complete Grant Eligibility Quiz: Fill out the foundation's grant eligibility quiz on their website to determine if your project aligns with their funding priorities.

3. Speak with Staff: CT Health recommends that you talk to a staff member to learn more about grant guidelines and which application is the best fit for your programme or project. Contact grants@cthealth.org or call 860.724.1580.

4. Register for Online Portal: All grant applications must be submitted electronically through the Connecticut Health Foundation's online grantee portal at https://cthealth.fluxx.io. You must register to get access.

5. Submit Application: Complete and submit your application through the online portal by the deadline specified in the RFP.

Decision Timeline

• Application Review Period: The grant application and review process for programme grants takes approximately four months.

• Staff Review: Applications are first reviewed by CT Health staff, who make recommendations to the board's programme committee.

• Programme Committee Review: The programme committee meets quarterly to review and vote on applications.

• Board Approval: If accepted by the programme committee, the application is forwarded to the full board for final approval.

• Notification: CT Health staff notify all applicants of the board's final decision by email within seven business days of board meetings.

• Award Letter: If approved, the grantee receives a formal letter of award and grant agreement following the email notification.

Success Rates

Whilst specific success rate percentages are not publicly available, the foundation awarded 117 grants in 2023, demonstrating significant grantmaking activity. In recent announcements, the foundation has awarded 29 grants totalling $742,000 in a single funding round, indicating competitive but active grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact grants@cthealth.org to enquire about reapplication timelines and guidance.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Strategic Approach

CT Health looks for areas where:

• There is momentum to advance health equity
• They can add value beyond just funding
• There are opportunities to make changes using their full toolkit: grantmaking, policy advocacy, research, convening, and strategic communications

Key Success Factors

1. Systems-Level Change Focus The foundation explicitly seeks projects with "potential for broader, systems level change." Applications should demonstrate how the project will create change beyond direct service delivery and affect the systems that impact people's health.

2. Racial Equity Lens All of the foundation's giving is conducted through a racial equity lens. Applications must clearly articulate how the project will advance health equity specifically for people of colour in Connecticut.

3. Policy Connection Strong applications connect their work to policy change. The foundation values projects that involve advocacy, organising, or piloting innovative approaches that can inform policy decisions.

4. Community Voice The foundation prioritises grassroots organisations that are led by people of colour. Applications should demonstrate community engagement and how the project elevates community voices in the policy process.

5. Alignment with Strategic Priorities Projects that directly align with one of the foundation's four key focus areas (health care coverage expansion, maternal health equity, community health workers, or infrastructure for health equity) are more likely to be funded.

6. Scalability and Sustainability Applications should address how the project can be scaled or how sustainable funding models can be developed. The foundation is interested in piloting innovative approaches that can grow beyond the initial grant.

Recent Grant Examples

Maternal Health Equity:

• Hartford Hospital: Work with community-based doulas to rewrite hospital policies and train hospital staff
• Griffin Hospital in Derby ($50,000): Work with clinicians, community-based organisations, and patients to develop a model for delivering maternal health care that addresses inequities, focusing on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and mental health
• Enrich Health LLC: Opening a perinatal care centre that will integrate lifestyle medicine, doula support, and community health workers in a group model of prenatal care

Community Health Workers:

• Ledge Light Health District in New London ($100,000): Employ community health workers who can serve as generalists with flexibility to support community members
• Norwalk Health Department ($100,000): Employ community health workers in the local health department
• Connecticut Association for Community Action ($65,000): Educate community health workers on the legislative process and build awareness for sustainable funding
• Community Health Centre Association of Connecticut ($65,000): Similar advocacy and education work
• Southwestern AHEC ($65,000): Similar advocacy and education work

Coverage Expansion:

• Connecticut Citizen Research Group ($50,000): Work to protect Medicaid (HUSKY) which covers more than 900,000 state residents

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Think Beyond Services: CT Health does not fund direct service delivery alone. Your application must demonstrate how the project connects to systems-level change, policy advocacy, or innovative approaches that can be scaled.

• Centre Racial Equity: Every aspect of your application should explicitly address how the project will improve health outcomes for people of colour. Use the foundation's language around "racial equity lens" and "health equity."

• Pre-Application Consultation is Encouraged: The foundation recommends speaking with staff before applying. Take advantage of this opportunity to ensure your project aligns with their priorities and to get guidance on which grant programme best fits your work.

• Align with Strategic Priorities: The strongest applications will directly connect to one of the four key focus areas in the 2024 strategic plan. If your project doesn't clearly fit, consider how you might reframe it or whether CT Health is the right funder.

• Be Patient with Timeline: With quarterly board meetings and a four-month review process, plan your project timeline accordingly. Don't apply if you need immediate funding.

• Emphasise Community Leadership: If your organisation is led by people of colour or your project centres community voices, highlight this prominently. The foundation explicitly supports grassroots organisations led by people of colour.

• Document Policy Connections: Clearly articulate how your project will influence policy, practice, or systems. Whether through advocacy, research, pilot programmes, or organising, show how your work will create change beyond the immediate project participants.

References

1. Connecticut Health Foundation Official Website: https://www.cthealth.org/ (Accessed December 2024)

2. "Are You Seeking a Grant?" Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/what-we-do/grantmaking/seeking-a-grant/ (Accessed December 2024)

3. "Grant FAQs," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/what-we-do/grantmaking/grant-faqs/ (Accessed December 2024)

4. "See What We Fund," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/what-we-do/grantmaking/see-what-we-fund/ (Accessed December 2024)

5. "What We Focus On," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/our-focus/ (Accessed December 2024)

6. "Our New Strategic Plan," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/our-focus/new-strategic-plan/ (Accessed December 2024)

7. "Board of Directors," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/about-us/team/board-of-directors/ (Accessed December 2024)

8. "Our Staff," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/about-us/team/our-staff/ (Accessed December 2024)

9. "Connecticut Health Foundation Grants Extending Impact Statewide," Connecticut by the Numbers: https://ctbythenumbers.news/ctnews/connecticut-health-foundation-grants-extending-impact-statewide (Accessed December 2024)

10. Connecticut Health Foundation Profile, Instrumentl: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/connecticut-health-foundation-inc (Accessed December 2024)

11. Connecticut Health Foundation Profile, Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/connecticut-health-foundation,061057387/ (Accessed December 2024)

12. "Grants will support doula integration to improve maternal health care," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/latest-news/news-releases/grants-will-support-doula-integration-to-improve-maternal-health-care/ (Accessed December 2024)

13. "Grants will support community health workers in local health departments," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/latest-news/news-releases/grants-will-support-community-health-workers-in-local-health-departments/ (Accessed December 2024)

14. "Grants support grassroots advocacy, organising," Connecticut Health Foundation: https://www.cthealth.org/latest-news/news-releases/grants-support-grassroots-advocacy/ (Accessed December 2024)