by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
The American Heart Association is offering a total of up to $10k in grants to rural non-profit organizations, including libraries, to help build capacity for sustainable opportunities to address health concerns. The deadline to apply is February 7.
Text courtesy of the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives is a prospect that is increasingly difficult in many rural communities. Among other health challenges, rural Americans face higher rates of high blood pressure, nutrition insecurity, tobacco use, cardiac arrest death rates, and more. At the same time, rural communities have strong assets – organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making a difference and thinking creatively to overcome challenges. That reality aligns with our Guiding Values, which include a focus on “meeting people where they are,” and “building powerful partnerships.”
The American Heart Association has worked with rural churches, community centers, food pantries, libraries and more. Combining their position of trust in rural communities with our science, resources, and experience can have a tremendous impact. Now we are hoping to do more of the same – in your community. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Empowering community members to check their own blood pressure with your organization’s support. (Must include efforts to connect to local clinic(s) for care as needed).
- Systematically identifying/referring to resources, community members facing nutrition insecurity or helping provide/support enhanced access to accessible nutritious food.
- Identifying/referring to resources community members facing tobacco dependency.
- Enhancing cardiac emergency response planning in your organization or community.
While much of this work does not require expansive funding (project budgets are often well under $1000), we know that tangible resources are limited, and we want to help meet that need. Therefore, we are offering a total of up to $10k in grants to rural non-profit organizations to help build capacity for sustainable opportunities to address health concerns. A few notes:
- Use the Am I Rural? tool to confirm your eligibility. For-profit entities are generally ineligible for this funding. Reach out with questions.
- Complete this brief application by February 7 to officially apply.
- Because of the funding source, the immediate grant opportunity is limited to organizations in IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD and WI.
Questions? Please contact Tim Nikolai, Sr. Rural Health Director, American Heart Association, Midwest Region.
