Apply for Funding
The focus of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation is creating active, healthy spaces across Tennessee that connect people and foster a sense of community. We also provide support to health-focused programs and organizations statewide through our Community Trust.
Learn more about BlueCross Healthy Place funding opportunities
BlueCross Healthy Place Program Criteria and Eligibility Guidelines
Before requesting funding for a BlueCross Healthy Place project in your area, get to know what we’re looking for in a proposal.
About Your Organization
We work with both government entities and non-profit organizations to create and revitalize their public spaces. Organizations must comply with our non-discrimination policy and be able to provide evidence of land ownership and community engagement.
About Your Proposal
We want to create spaces that bring communities together, so your proposed project must:
- Be free and open to the public
- Demonstrate a community benefit and include community input
- Commit to seeking community engagement throughout the planning and development process
- Include a project implementation timeline and budget, along with a sustainability plan
- Agree to exclusive BlueCross Healthy Place branding, naming and signage rights
Those guidelines help show the types of projects we’ll prioritize, but it’s also important to know what we are unable to provide funds for. Here are some examples:
- Purchasing land
- Private clubs or property
- Religious programming
- Individual schools
- Staffing pay
- Co-branded projects
Additional Application Guidelines
Please keep these additional guidelines in mind as you compile your proposal:
- Applications must include any known unique requirements for the project, such as city mandates or codes that would prevent work or add costs.
- The property owner must sign all contracts for awarded projects.
- Unforeseen costs (utilities, anything buried underground, etc.) are the responsibility of the property owner/requester – not BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is covering the costs of putting assets onto the property and is not responsible for moving utilities or anything found underground on the property.
The BlueCross Foundation accepts proposals for BlueCross Healthy Place grants Aug. 1-31 each year.
Notification Timing
Applicants who are not chosen as finalists will receive declination notices through our online portal no later than Dec. 15.
Finalists will receive proposal results no later than Feb. 1.
SUBMIT YOUR REQUESTFor more information about funding, email bluecrosshealthyplaces@bcbst.com.
BlueCross Community Trust – Criteria and Eligibility Guidelines
Here are the guidelines for sponsorship funding through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust.
About Your Organization
We support 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations, state colleges and universities, as well as government agencies. We are primarily focused on supporting charitable health clinics and organizations that focus on youth development or disease-specific research and advocacy.
Those guidelines help show the types of projects we’ll prioritize, but it’s also important to know what we are unable to provide funds for. Here are some examples:
- Purchasing land
- Private clubs or property
- Religious programming
- Individual schools
- Staffing pay
- Co-branded projects
The Community Trust supports organizations across Tennessee. Each submission will be reviewed for eligibility, funding priority and budget consideration. A committee will review each submission.
The Community Trust accepts funding applications on a semi-annual schedule:
- May 1 application deadline for support in July through December
- November 1 application deadline for support in January through June
We will not consider applications received outside of these deadlines, but we encourage community partners to apply again during the next funding cycle.
SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST