BCBSMS Foundation Grant

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation provides targeted grant funding to enhance health and well-being for Mississippians. The Foundation prioritizes community and school programs, aiming to foster healthier environments and combat health disparities, regardless of age, race, or background. By empowering local organizations, it strives to create lasting change across the state.

Guided by a vision for a healthy Mississippi, the mission of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is to provide leadership and targeted grant funding for sustainable initiatives and programs to improve the overall health and well-being of Mississippians.
Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has formed relationships with community and school leaders and other stakeholders to build a healthy Mississippi. The Foundation’s targeted grant funding is provided for the following purposes: increasing health literacy, enhancing or starting farmers’ markets, cultivating community and school gardens, encouraging tobacco-free environments, creating outdoor play spaces, and constructing places for physical fitness, healthy cooking classes, and health education, among other innovative project developments.
The value of wellness is equal among all, and the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is committed to making “healthy” available to every Mississippian.
The focus of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is to provide leadership and administer grant funding to improve the overall health and well-being of the people of Mississippi through the following:
Support of health promotion programs specifically targeted to improve health through increased health literacy, healthy eating and exercise;Support of community-based programs that promote health, quality of life and well-being; andSupport of school-based programs that promote health learning and healthy lifestyles among students and their families and school personnel.Support programs in Mississippi communities that improve access to high quality healthcare services where access to high quality healthcare services is limited.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding consideration from the Foundation, an organization must meet the following guidelines:Be located in MississippiBenefit the citizens of MississippiServe the community with no discrimination by age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disabilityNot duplicate or significantly overlap the work of public agenciesBe a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (but not a private foundation) and provide proof of such current designation in the form of an IRS determination letter, or government entity or public charity

Ineligibility

Organization cannot have a contractual relationship with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, its subsidiaries or affiliates.The Foundation does not provide funding for the following:Individuals;Denominationals or religious organizations;Political caucuses, candidates or campaigns;Sponsorships of special events or commemorative advertising, i.e., journals or dinner programs, unless part of an overall grant initiative or program;Providers unless to a charitable branch (501(c)(3)) of a provider; orSports teams or events.