Developing Families Maternal Health Fund

Overview

Disrupting Structural Issues Impacting Infant & Maternal Health in the Greater Washington Region: Request for Letters of Intent

The Developing Families Maternal Health Fund is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for nonprofit organizations focused on addressing the structural factors impacting infant and maternal health across Greater Washington – specifically in Washington, DC; Prince George’s County, MD; Montgomery County, MD; and the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax, the town of Vienna, Arlington County, and the areas of Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia east of Route 123.

Goals

The goals of this funding opportunity are to:

* Address structural barriers to maternal and infant health, including those related to healthcare access, economic stability, housing, and social support systems.
*  Promote health equity by supporting community-driven solutions that tackle the root causes of disparities.
* Enhance collaboration between healthcare providers, community-based organizations, policymakers, and residents to create sustainable, impactful solutions.
* Support long-term systemic change by building capacity within local organizations and advocating for policies that improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Focus Areas

Proposals that focus on the following priority areas will be considered:

1. _Access to Care:_
* Addressing issues such as healthcare access, quality, and equity in maternal care, prenatal care, and postpartum support.
2. _Economic Stability_:
* Reducing economic barriers that negatively affect maternal health, such as low wages, lack of paid family leave, or limited access to childcare.
3. _Mental Health and Social Suppor_t:
* Supporting programs that address mental health issues (e.g., postpartum depression) and enhance social support systems for mothers, particularly in underserved communities.
4. _Improving Access to Prenatal and Postpartum Care:_
* Expanding access to care for underserved populations through mobile health clinics, telehealth options, and community health workers.
5. _Addressing Social Determinants of Health_:
* Working with local organizations to provide resources that address housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of transportation, all of which have a significant impact on maternal and infant health.
6. _Community Education and Outreach_:
* Engaging community members through educational campaigns about prenatal care, mental health during pregnancy, and the importance of early and regular check-ups for both mother and child.
7. _Policy Advocacy:_
* Collaborating with local policymakers to address the structural barriers that contribute to health disparities and working towards legislative changes to ensure long-term improvements.

Scope

The Community Foundation is looking to support respondents who successfully address the following requests:

* Demonstrate a commitment to addressing structural inequities impacting maternal and infant health, particularly in communities that are disproportionately affected by health disparities.
* Be able to demonstrate measurable outcomes and sustainability of their proposed interventions.
* Provide a logic model that shows how the funding supports will address structural inequities impacting maternal and infant health that would lead to improved health outcomes.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Scope:
* Grant Funds may be used for:
* Program development and implementation
* Capacity building and training
* Community engagement and outreach
* Policy advocacy and research
* Evaluation and impact assessment
* Operational costs directly related to the proposed project
* The applicant (defined as the organization that will sign the grant agreement and receive the funds, if awarded) must have current status as a 501(c)(3) public charity designation.
* Organizations that have not yet received a 501(c)(3) designation must have a fiscal sponsor that serves as the respondent (an entity will need to have an EIN or the EIN of their fiscal sponsor in order to access the application in the online portal).
* The fiscal sponsor must meet all eligibility requirements at the time of submission.
* The organization must be both based in and primarily implementing in the Greater Washington region – specifically in Washington, DC; Prince George’s County, MD; Montgomery County, MD; and the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax, the town of Vienna, Arlington County, and the areas of Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia east of Route 123.
* If previous funding has been received from The Community Foundation, the applicant must be current in meeting reporting or other requirements to The Community Foundation as specified in the grant agreement.

Ineligibility

* For profit entities such as LLCs and sole proprietorships are not eligible to apply for funding.
* The organization must not be listed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals or the Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Group lists. 
* Incomplete, emailed, hard copy, and faxed proposals will NOT be accepted.
* Proposals that do not include all the elements as stated will not be considered for funding.
* Proposals that are incomplete or illegible will not be reviewed or considered for funding.