Grants to Support a Healthy Community

Healthy Communities

If you had the resources, what would you do to make your community a healthier place to live, work and play?

We know the people in the Pioneer Valley are focused on community and we are pleased to be able to offer a chance to help you put your ideas into action.

Through its Healthy Communities Committee, Cooley Dickinson is offering several mini-grants of up to $5,000 each to support community projects.

About the Grants

There are many ways to make a community healthier: it all starts with a commitment to working together. Grants may be used for program planning or to support new initiatives. Priority will be given to projects in the Cooley Dickinson service area.

Examples of Uses

  • Create a community health program
  • Grow an organic garden for a food pantry
  • Form a neighborhood health group
  • Form a tenant association
  • Create an emergency preparedness plan
  • Offer caregiving education

Who Can Apply

  • Community organizations
  • Civic organizations
  • Neighborhood groups
  • Any group with a great idea
  • Schools

Application Details

To apply, you must complete a detailed application form or by calling (413) 540-0600, ext. 101.

The application seeks the following information:

  • Who are you and what are you planning to do?
  • Who and how many will benefit your project?
  • Why are you interested in this project
  • Why do you think this project will be successful?
  • How do you plan to go about the project?
  • Who will be involved?
  • Offer a projected time frame
  • As a result of this project, what will change? How will this change be sustained?

Please include a budget for the project and identify a key contact person for follow-up.

Submit Your Proposal

Submit your proposal to Jeff Harness on or before March 31, 2008. You can send your proposal in via e-mail, mail, or fax.

Evaluation Criteria

The Healthy Communities Committee will weigh and balance the following criteria:

  • Ability to offer marked improvement of quality of community life
  • Feasibility
  • Collaboration
  • Innovation
  • Inclusiveness
  • Ability to lower barriers to healthcare access
  • Value to all cultures
  • ability to have a lasting impact

Decision on Awards

The Health Communities Committee of Cooley Dickinson Hospital will meet in April and will notify grant recipients within 45 days. The decision to award grants is entirely that of the committee. Distribution of awards will be by check and will be mailed to the recipient.

Please note that a one page summary of the effects and use of the grant, including a tally of the number of people the grant affected (or if a planning grant, the number of people the program is expected to affect) must be submitted to the Healthy Communities Committee six months following the award. If a multiple year grant is proposed, please not we will also require a one page summary in each of the grant years.