Future of HealthC.A.R.E. Program Grant

Access to quality healthcare services is important to reduce health disparities and improve health status. Availability of qualified healthcare professionals is often cited as one of the main barriers limiting care. 

The purpose of the Future of HealthC.A.R.E. (Career, Academic Readiness and Exploration for Students) Program Grant is to increase the number of qualified students from the Foundation's nine-parish service area enrolling in healthcare training programs or entering into the healthcare workforce. The funding opportunity will support the efforts of nonprofit organizations, public and private school districts, and accredited colleges and universities to develop and implement K-12 strategies to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

1. Increase awareness and exposure to healthcare occupations.
2. Prepare students for the academic rigor of healthcare training programs.
3. Increase or build technical skills needed to work in healthcare occupations .

The grant term will be up to 68 months, beginning November 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2028. All funded projects can include a planning and start-up period starting November 1, 2022, and ending no later than May 31, 2023. The Foundation will consider multiple applications per organization for this opportunity. This is a competitive grant application process and available grant funding from The Rapides Foundation is limited. Grant funding must align with project needs and must be used to implement K-12 strategies that will lead to one of the three objectives. 

All funded projects must be offered in The Rapides Foundation's nine-parish service area. Applicants are encouraged to partner with other organizations. Applicants should thoroughly review the Request for Proposals and other key documents included in the Key Materials section (in right column) to see full details, application process and proposal requirements.

The grant applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

• Classified as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental entity. 
• Cannot be a private foundation under Section 509(a).
• If a postsecondary institution, must be accredited by either The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or Accrediting Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).

The grant proposal submission period is closed. The Future of HealthC.A.R.E. Program Grant consists of a two-stage submission process. The first stage is submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) using The Rapides Foundation's online application process only. Letters of Intent that are approved by the Foundation's Board of Trustees at its May 2022 meeting will then be invited to submit a Full Proposal of their project. To see full details of the LOI and Full Proposal stages, please refer to the Request for Proposals.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact The Rapides Foundation for guidance before submitting their proposal package. Contact information is located in the right column.

• Monday, March 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. CT: Informational Webinar
• Monday, April 25, 2022, no later than 1:00 p.m. CT: Letter of Intent Submission Deadline
• Friday, May 20, 2022: LOI Notification of Selection
• Monday, August 8, 2022, no later than 1:00 p.m. CT: Full Proposal Submission Deadline for Selected Applicants
• October 3, 2022: Notification of Award
• November 1, 2022-May 31, 2021: Planning/Start-up Period
• Thursday, June 1, 2023: Full Grant Implementation