NJ Safety Net Innovation Program
The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is offering grant funding to organizations focused on strengthening the healthcare safety net in New Jersey in order to improve health equity.
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What is NJ SNIP?
Applications are now being accepted for grant funding and technical assistance to organizations focused on strengthening the healthcare safety net in New Jersey in order to improve health equity. The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation’s NJ Safety Net Innovation Program (BMS-F NJ SNIP) aims to support New Jersey safety net healthcare organizations in planning and implementing strategic initiatives to meet their unique community needs through the support of grant funding as well as technical assistance and capacity building.
The goal of this grant program is to help increase access to quality healthcare for underserved communities in New Jersey by expanding safety net organizations’ capacity to serve local needs while aligning with broader statewide goals and policy initiatives. BMS-F aims to fund proposals that will provide transformative, sustainable value for the funded organizations and support demonstrable, strategic capacity building among the state’s safety net providers. The Camden Coalition is supporting BMS-F to co-design, implement, and administer this new grant program.
Eligible organizations can apply for up to $150,000 per year* for two years to address a community need and/or a strategic capacity building need. One-on-one assistance will be provided by the Camden Coalition to develop and implement plans to ensure the success of the proposed project and to sustain strategic growth through alignment with state priorities, other funding streams, and partnership-building. Up to 10 organizations will be selected for the 2023-2025 grant period.
*funding amount will not exceed 15% of the applicant’s annual operating budget
Eligible organizations
Nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, located in NJ, and qualify as one of the following four organization types:
- Community health centers (CHC) – including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and “look alikes”
- Free and charitable health clinics
- Essential/Safety net hospitals
- Regional Health Hubs*
* As the implementation partner for the grant and a NJ Regional Health Hub, the Camden Coalition has abstained from applying for the grant.
Timeline
- Application opens: June 21, 2023
- Virtual information and Q&A session (optional): July 12, 2023 at 11 am-12 pm ET
- Applicants strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent by July 14, 2023
- Application deadline: August 1, 2023
- Notification of grant awardees: November 1, 2023
Information about the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation’s NJ Safety Net Innovation Program grant program, including program requirements, award details, selection criteria, and more can be found in the request for applications document.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a particular template or format I should use for the letter of interest (LOI)?
The LOI should state your name, organization type (i.e., FQHC, CHC, safety-net hospital, etc.) and that your organization intends to apply for the grant. You do not need to provide a synopsis of your proposed project. The LOI is simply to help us gauge the volume of applications that will be submitted prior to the deadline.
To whom should the LOI be submitted?
Please email [email protected].
Can you still submit an application if you miss the LOI deadline?
Yes. The LOI is strongly encouraged but not required. Organizations are still eligible to apply Aug 1 regardless of whether an LOI was submitted.
Our organization is a CBO. Are we eligible for this grant opportunity?
Only nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, located in NJ, that qualify as one of the following four organization types are eligible to apply:
- Community health centers (CHC) – including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and “look alikes”
- Free and charitable clinics
- Essential/safety-net hospitals
- Regional Health Hubs
We encourage qualified entities to partner with CBO’s or other key organizations as co-applicants. The partnering organization does not have to be one of the 4 eligible organization types.
Is a non-profit social services program eligible to apply?
No, but social services programs and other types of non-profit service organizations are encouraged to partner with an eligible healthcare agency that could apply.
Is a non-profit behavioral health agency that provides mental health and substance use services eligible to apply?
No, but behavioral health agencies and other types of non-profit service organizations are encouraged to partner with an eligible healthcare agency that could apply.
If my organization is not eligible for this grant opportunity, can we partner with a qualified entity as a co-applicant through a joint proposal?
Yes. We encourage formal partnerships through a joint proposal with shared funding between an eligible entity and a local community-based organization. If a qualified entity partners with CBO or other key organizations as co-applicants, the partnering organization does not have to be 1 of the 4 eligible organization types. We believe that equitable partnership with community-based entities is a powerful strategy that can help organizations successfully implement their initiatives.
Can our organization submit more than one proposal?
Organizations may submit more than one proposal. Each proposal must be submitted as a separate application. Submitting multiple applications does not increase the chance that an organization will be funded.
Are there particular topics of interest that are a priority for funding or otherwise preferred for this program?
There are no preset or preferred health conditions or topics of interest that will receive priority for funding. Applicants should propose projects that have the potential for greatest impact for the targeted audience/community and sustainability by the organization.
Can one proposal address multiple needs identified by the organization?
A proposal can address multiple needs.
Can you clarify the total funding available?
A total of up to $300,000 is available for the 2-year grant which includes up to $150,000 per year (but will not exceed 15% of an organization’s annual operating budget).
Can you clarify the grant period?
This is a 2-year grant. For the purposes of annualized budgets, applicants may use January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 as Year 1 and January 1 – December 31, 2025 as Year 2.
Is there a grant narrative required?
Yes, there is a narrative requirement. It is described in Section 2: Proposed Work of the BMS-F NJ SNIP funding application portion of the RFP on pages 5 and 6.
How is Resilia incorporated into the grant activities?
Grantees will have access to Resilia, an online platform that delivers coaching, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to nonprofit organizations. Grantees may use this resource according to the needs of their organization/team.
What if an organization feels that they do not need the support with coaching, TA, or capacity building through Resilia?
NJSNIP is making available a range of technical assistance resources that grantees can chose to use based on the team’s needs. The funded organization may gift their Resilia access to their partner organization.
What is the expected buy-in from our organizational leadership? Should our boards and senior management be involved or our clinical teams? Or both?
For an organization to effectively implement the project, buy-in is needed from the senior and leadership level of the organization. However, we are not requiring a signed letter of support from your organization’s leadership. The signatory information provided on your application is the only indication of buy-in required from the applicant.
What is the support provided by the grant? Is it strategies to address that need or evidence based-strategies or something else?
In addition to the funding, grantees will receive one-on-one technical assistance will provided by the Camden Coalition to develop and implement plans to ensure the success of the proposed project. Grantees will attend quarterly check-ins on project plans and implementation wherein coaching and technical assistance needs will be assessed. The frequency of check-ins from the technical assistance project management team will be customized to reflect the level of support needed by the grantee.