Community Health Foundation: Responsive Grants

Community Health Foundation: Responsive Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Health Foundation
Last Updated: December 26, 2025

Summary

The Community Health Foundation provides responsive grants to nonprofit organizations in Clark and Champaign Counties, Ohio, focusing on health and wellness initiatives. With a mission to preserve reproductive services and promote health equity, the foundation aims to reduce health disparities through diverse funding types, including program, project, and operating support. Grants are awarded annually to support programs addressing children's health, chronic disease management, maternal and infant health, and mental health services, fostering a healthier community for all.

Overview

About the Community Health Foundation Community Hospital Health Services Foundation (CHF) d.b.a as Community Health Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is a 50% corporate owner of Community Mercy Health Partners (CMHP). We began in 1986 as the parent company of The Community Hospital of Springfield and Clark County, and we are the surviving entity of the merger of CHF and Community Hospital Independent Endowment Fund in 2009. We fill a unique role in the regional healthcare delivery system. Purpose The mission of Community Health Foundation (CHF) is to preserve reproductive services, to promote health and wellness, and to advocate for quality healthcare through grant making and education in Clark and Champaign Counties, Ohio. Grants to area non-profit organizations help fulfill this mission. Responsive grants are awarded annually for programs that support health and wellbeing in the region. Types of Funding Program grants support new programs, continuing programs, or expansion of successful ongoing programs. Project grants are for short-term activities, usually lasting less than one year. Operating support contributes to an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses such as salaries, utilities, office supplies, etc.Capital support is related to building improvements, infrastructure (i.e., wiring, roofing), fixtures or equipment for a specific program or project. Health Priorities Children’s Health Early life is a critical time to ensure healthy development, address health risks and prevent future problems. Chronic Disease Prevention & Management Many existing programs promote health and wellness, providing support for all people to receive the full range of health services.The outcome of such programs will ultimately lead to reduced cancer incidence; improved oral health; reduced rates of heart disease; reduced rates of diabetes; reduction in lower respiratory disease; and reduction in rates of addiction. Maternal/Infant Health Inclusive and comprehensive approaches help people prepare for healthy births and parenting. The community benefits from such programs that contribute to longterm outcomes such as: fewer preterm births; more patients receiving prenatal care; reduced rates of sexually transmitted infections; and reduced rates of teen pregnancies. Mental Health and Substance Abuse When people in our community struggle with mental health and substance use disorders, the overall wellbeing of the area suffers.Programs that provide services in these areas will ultimately result in reduced rates of suicide; and reduction in overall overdoses. Sexual Health Reduce rates of sexually transmitted infections and reduce rates of teen pregnancies. Reproductive health education programs must be evidence-based and comprehensive. Health Equity The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation defines health equity as giving everyone a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health Equity encompasses factors that, when addressed, decrease disparities. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Community Health Foundation’s DEI statement reads (in part): Community Health Foundation embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We seek to understand each other and to work collaboratively to improve the health and wellness of everyone in our community. CHF draws on the skills, talents and perspectives of a broad and diverse range of people in a collaborative manner to improve the health and wellness of the entire community. The diversity of viewpoints which comes from different life experiences and cultural backgrounds strengthens decisionmaking and supports the organization’s and the community’s success. An awareness of how systemic inequities have affected our society and those we serve creates opportunities to deepen CHF’s impact, relevance and advancement of its mission. CHF works toward creating a healthy community where everyone is valued, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, income, sexual orientation or abilities. Health inequities and social injustices are acknowledged and resources are provided to decrease disparities and to improve health outcomes for all people in our community. CHF works to build a culture of trust, civility and respect and to create a safe place for individual perspectives, identity and life experiences to be shared. An inclusive board culture welcomes and celebrates differences and ensures all board members are equally engaged and invested, sharing power and responsibility for Community Health Foundation’s mission and the board’s work. Cross-Cutting Factors Cross-cutting factors impact all priority areas and move our community closer to health equity. Cross-cutting factors include the following: Social Determinants of Health include access to affordable, safe and healthy housing; highquality education; and improved economic structures such as income equality, employment opportunities and reduced poverty.Access to Care helps people get needed health services through transportation that is reliable and available to all; and sufficient health resources including dental care, mental health and primary care.Health Behaviors and Prevention includes promotion of physical activity; availability and knowledge of healthy food; reduction in tobacco use; and reducing health risks through prevention of injuries and addressing unsafe environments.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for a grant from the Community Health Foundation, you must meet all the following criteria.Be a nonprofit organization exempt from Federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of theInternal Revenue Code or a government unit, including public schools and municipalities. If you do not have 501(c)(3) status, you may enter into an agreement with a qualified nonprofit that will act as your fiscal sponsor.Have a governing board and conduct business without discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, or national origin.Programs and projects must serve residents of Clark and/or Champaign Counties in Ohio.

Ineligibility

We do not fund:Awards to individuals, including fellowships, scholarships, travel, study, research and camp fees; Support for individual political candidates and/or lobbying efforts; Annual campaigns or dues; Sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytizing; Fraternal, political, labor and athletic organizations; School extra-curricular or co-curricular projects, such as school bands, choral groups, drill teams, color guards; Debt retirements, deficit financing, annual fund drives or fundraising activities; Returning applicants who did not complete their previous grant reporting requirements. Endowment funds held at foundations.Community Health Foundation does not generally award grant requests to other foundations with endowments.