Columbus Health Zones RFP Grant

The Columbus Health Zones RFP, supported by the CVS Health Foundation, aims to enhance health outcomes in under-resourced neighborhoods in Columbus. With a grant of up to $2.24 million over three years, nonprofit organizations are invited to implement strategies that improve access to healthcare and social services. The initiative emphasizes collaboration among community partners to address chronic conditions and ensure greater connectivity within health systems, ultimately fostering a healthier community for all residents.

Introduction
A variety of factors influence a person’s health, including access to health care services, healthy food, and transportation. To tackle these challenges and improve health outcomes, we are collaborating with local organizations with a deep understanding of the community through our Health Zones initiative.
The CVS Health Foundation (“the Foundation”) currently supports four active Health Zones in Atlanta, Fresno, Phoenix, and Hartford. This RFP will provide a three-year grant of up to $2.24 million to a cohort of nonprofit organizations that can support our Theory of Change. The goal is to implement strategies that improve health outcomes for residents living in under-resourced neighborhoods in Charlotte.
Our Theory of Change
The Foundation has identified one specific long-term outcome that it believes can be accomplished through collective, sustained action at the local level. All funding recipients will be expected to achieve this outcome by the end of the three-year grant period:

• Improved health outcomes of program participants with chronic conditions living within the Health Zone
• In addition, applicants must commit to use project funds to deliver at least two of these additional interim outcomes:
• Increased connectivity and care coordination between health care and social service systems

Reduction in barriers for patients accessing healthcare services (e.g. culturally relevant care, transportation, etc.)Improving access to services that address health-related social needs (i.e., food security, workforce development, housing)Improved quality of healthcare services
Projects should aim to achieve the outcomes listed above through the implementation of collaborative, coordinated strategies among cross-sector partners.
Applicants must engage in robust, candid, and comprehensive evaluation of their efforts. The Foundation and its collaborators will provide technical assistance in the development and ongoing refinement of measurement plans that include details about key metrics, data sources, and data collection and analysis frequency.
Applicants will work on addressing specific community health issues and providing interventions with a collaborative approach, working together to provide a continuum of care and services to the communities within the city of Columbus.

Eligibility

The Foundation will provide a three-year grant and non-financial support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working together to address health access within a community. Eligible Geographies and Populations Served Through this initiative, the Foundation intends to fund projects serving residents of the city of ColumbusThe Foundation intends to fund projects that primarily focus on underserved patient populations (e.g., those living at or below the Federal Poverty Level, those who are under- or uninsured).

Ineligibility

Projects and partnerships that are not serving participants directly in the city of Columbus, Ohio are not eligible to apply for this grant.
The Foundation generally will not fund:

• Endowments or capital campaigns
• Capital expenses, construction projects, and purchases of large equipment
• Direct delivery of reimbursable healthcare services
• Basic biomedical research
• Advocacy, political causes, or events
• Sacramental or theological functions of religious organizations
• Existing deficits or retroactive funding
• Event sponsorships