BUILD Health Challenge – Jun 30

The BUILD Health Challenge (BUILD) is an innovative funding collaborative and award program that seeks to put multi-sector, community-driven partnerships at the center of health to reduce health disparities caused by system-based or social inequity.

BUILD invites communities with innovative ideas to apply for its new fourth cohort to address health disparities caused by systemic or social inequities. With a specific focus on strengthening cross-sector and community-driven partnerships, BUILD awards are designed to support collaborations ready to put Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, and Data-Driven plans into action. Organizations applying for a BUILD award should have a strong track record of working together, have developed their joint priorities and implementation plans with strong community engagement and leadership, and be primed to advance equitable systems-level changes in their community.

For this fourth cohort, BUILD is looking to support up to 19 innovative community collaboratives that include a: community-based organization, hospital/health system and/or health plan, public health department, and residents, who are all working together in dynamic ways to address upstream challenges and drive sustainable improvements in community health. The inclusion of additional cross-sector partners such as businesses, universities, foundations, and others aligned with proposed efforts is encouraged.

Each award includes up to $300,000 in funding over three years, a robust array of coaching and support services, specialized training and capacity-building opportunities, participation in a national network of peers engaged in similar work, and the opportunity to spotlight local work on a national level.

BUILD awards are most appropriate for collaborations that have already developed a well-defined action plan with clear roles, strategies, and goals, and where an infusion of philanthropic support and access to a strong peer network could accelerate their work within three years and reinforce their path toward sustainability. Applications that address the BUILD principles in dynamic ways, prioritize health equity, and focus on population-level health outcomes will be considered the most competitive. Applicants need not be working specifically on health-related issues or have a health-focused mission. Outside sectors (e.g., community development, housing, food, transportation, etc.) are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible, the lead applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization; and proposals must be focused on a defined zip code(s), census tract(s), or neighborhood(s) experiencing significant health disparities within a city of 100,000 residents or more.

An application Q&A webinar with an Alumni Awardee from BUILD will be held on May 24, 2022, at 3 p.m. ET. 

Round 1 applications are due June 30, 2022, at 5 p.m. ET. Invitations will be extended to select applicants for Round 2 on September 12, with an optional application accelerator to be held September 26 – October 31, 2022, for invited Round 2 applications. Round 2 applications will be due January 13, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and to register for the webinars, see the BUILD Health Challenge website.