Healthy Behaviors Initiative Program Grant

This Healthy Behaviors Program Grant funding opportunity is to support implementation of evidence-based, community-driven solutions for preventing and reducing obesity, preventing and controlling tobacco use, and preventing substance and alcohol abuse. Applicants are expected to use local needs and data to drive all strategy and intervention decisions. Applicants should focus on strategies with a broad reach and high probability of sustained behavior change. Proposals should consider community assets that enable healthy eating, active living and prevent substance and alcohol abuse and tobacco use, as well as any barriers to being successful. Effective interventions should include a mix of strategies. 

The grant offering does not accept proposals involving disease management or treatment as the primary emphasis. 

The Healthy Behaviors Initiative Program Grant awards up to $300,000. The grant term will be up to 36 months, beginning July 3, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026. The Foundation will consider only one application per organization; however, it is permissible for an organization to be listed as a partner organization in multiple applications. 

If your organization has received a Healthy Behaviors Program Grant or a Healthy Behaviors Substance and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Grant and you are solely proposing to continue an existing program(s) at the same level, a maximum of up to $50,000 per year for up to a three-year period is available with a maximum request of $150,000. Please note, the funding opportunity is competitive and continuation funds are not guaranteed. 

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. 

Eligible organizations for this funding opportunity may include, but are not limited to: community-based organizations; faith-based organizations; not-for-profit postsecondary institutions; and governmental organizations.

Primary applicants 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).
• Must be an organization within The Rapides Foundation Service Area or seeking funding support for projects restricted to the Foundation's nine parishes.

The Healthy Behaviors Initiative 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 February 2023 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.

• Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 10 a.m. CT: Informational Webinar
• Monday, December 19, 2022, no later than 4:00 p.m. CT: Letter of Intent Submission Deadline
• Monday, February 27, 2023: LOI Notification of Selection
• Monday, April 10, 2023, no later than 4:00 p.m. CT: Full Proposal Submission Deadline for Selected Applicants
• Thursday, June 1, 2023: Notification of Selection
• Monday, July 3, 2023: Grant Start Date