GRANT SCHEDULE

Letters of Intent Due    August 28, 2006

Full Proposal Invitations    September 29, 2006

Full Proposals Due           October 27, 2006

Notification of Awards       January 5, 2007

Project Year                     Feb 2007 - Jan 2008

FUNDING PRIORITIES

Increasing Access to and Quality of Health Care for Women and Infants

a)  Enhancing education and support services for high-risk pregnant women.  Preference will be given to interventions that focus on reducing disparities in birth outcomes.  This may include March of Dimes programs such as Stork's Nest® and Comenzando bien®.

b)  Increasing participation in state or local maternal child health programs (e.g. Medicaid, SCHIP, WIC) through enhanced outreach, education and public awareness.

c)  Enhancing preconception/interconception education and support services for women at high-risk due to previous poor outcomes, chronic conditions (i.e. diabetes, hypertension) or other risk factors.

Increasing Availability of Genetics Services and Folic Acid Education

d)  Enhancing the availability, quality and utilization of genetics services and/or other patient services related to preventable birth defects.

e)  Increasing folic acid education and use of multi-vitamins among women of childbearing age.

PURPOSE

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies.

Launched in 2003, the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is a multi-year, multi-million dollar research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies. The campaign includes: 1) funding research to find the causes of premature birth, 2) educating women about risk reduction strategies, including the signs and symptoms of premature labor, 3) providing support to families affected by prematurity, 4) expanding access to health care coverage so that more women can get early and adequate prenatal care, 5) helping health care providers learn ways to help reduce the risk of early delivery, and 6) advocating for access to insurance to improve maternity care and infant health outcomes.

As part of this effort, the Washington Chapter community grants program is designed to invest in priority projects that further the March of Dimes mission, support national campaign objectives, and further our strategic goal of reducing disparities in birth outcomes.

Proposals will be accepted from organizations with the capacity, competence and experience to accomplish project goals and objectives through one of the following strategies:

1.  Increasing Access to and Quality of Health Care for Women and Infants

2.  Increasing Availability of Genetics Services and Folic Acid Education

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to receive a March of Dimes chapter grant, an organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) or for profit organization or government agency.  The March of Dimes does not award grants to individuals.  Applicants must disclose any conflict of interest due to representation by their organization on the chapter’s Program Services Committee or the Chapter or Division Board of Directors.

FUNDING AVAILABLE

The applicant must provide services in Washington State.  The chapter community grants fund for 2007 is approximately $105,000.  It is anticipated that 6-7 projects will be funded, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 each.   Chapter community grants are approved for one year. Community award applications for projects under $3,000 are available throughout the year on our website or by contacting the Chapter office.

LETTER OF INTENT FORMAT

The first step in the application process is to submit a Letter of Intent.  The letter is limited to two pages and must address the following eight questions:

1. Which of the funding priorities is the project addressing?

2. Who is the target audience?

3. How many people will the project reach?

4. What are the measurable objectives?

5. How will project success be evaluated?

6. What impact will the project have?

7. What is the amount of funding requested?

8. What are the major budget categories?

Proposals must address at least one of the funding priorities listed in this brochure (see priorities a-e).

An electronic copy of the Letter of Intent must be emailed to chart@marchofdimes.com by August 28, 2006. The letter should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Please include in the email your organization’s name and mailing address, and the phone, fax and e-mail of a contact person.

REVIEW AND NOTIFICATION

A multi-disciplinary Program Services Committee will review the Letters of Intent.  Applicants selected to submit a full proposal will be notified by September 29, 2006. Full proposals will be due to the chapter by October 27, 2006.  Please be advised that Letters of Intent and proposals are non-binding.

Please Note: 

March of Dimes chapter community grants do not fund scientific research projects.  For information about research grants funded by the March of Dimes national office, please refer to the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com, or e-mail the Office of Research and Grants Administration at researchgrants@marchofdimes.com.

For Additional Information Contact:

Cherish Hart, State Program Director

March of Dimes

Washington State Chapter

1904 Third Avenue, Suite 230

Seattle, WA 98101

Phone: 206.624.1373

Toll-Free: 800.291.3463

Email: chart@marchofdimes.com