The Healthy Behaviors Initiative Program Grant funding opportunity is open and consists of a two-stage submission process. The deadline for Letter of Intent submissions has passed. 

An invitation to submit a Full Proposal is required to participate in the second stage of the submission process. Invited applicants will receive an invitation via email from The Rapides Foundation Program Staff by 5 p.m. CT on Monday, February 27, 2023. Full Proposal submissions will be due no later than 4 p.m. CT on Monday, April 10, 2023, and are only open to invited applicants. Applicants submitting Full Proposals will be notified of grant award via email from The Rapides Foundation Staff by 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 1, 2023. 

Purpose

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. 

Grant Awards

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. 

Eligibility 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.

Proposal Submission Process

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.

Key Dates

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

An Informational Webinar about this grant opportunity was held on Thursday, October 27, 2022. To view a recording of the webinar, click the button below.  

The presentation from the webinar can be found in the Key Materials section below.

Full Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, April 10, 2023, no later than 4:00 p.m. CT. An invitation to submit a Full Proposal is required to participate in the second stage of the submission process. All Full Proposals must be submitted using the online submission process.
*Please note: All required documents for the Full Proposal must be fully submitted by the deadline, therefore, you must begin uploading the completed proposal prior to that time. It is suggested you allow a minimum of three (3) hours for the upload process.

Please review thoroughly before applying.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to schedule a call or meeting with Foundation staff to discuss alignment and feasibility of their Letter of Intent or Full Proposal before submission. Please schedule the meeting at least three weeks before the submission deadline.

For questions related to this funding opportunity, contact:
Dallas Russell, Program Officer
The Rapides Foundation
Direct line: 318-767-3005
Main phone lines: 318-443-3394 or 1-800-994-3394
Email: dallas@rapidesfoundation.org