Letters of Intent Due: August 29, 2008
Full Proposal Invitations: September 30, 2008
Full Proposals Due: November 3, 2008
Notification of Awards: January 9, 2009
Project Year: Feb 2009 – Jan 2010

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 multiyear, multimillion-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.  Priority will be given to projects that, based on community needs, address increased access to care and/or prevention services to help reduce disparities in preterm birth.  Project interventions may be provider and/or consumer focused.

FUNDING PRIORITIES
Availability & Quality of Health Care/Prevention Services for:

All Women of Childbearing Age:
a) Increasing risk reduction education and/or services (excluding billable services).  This may include women at high-risk due to previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, chronic conditions or other risk factors in which pre/interconception or prenatal care could help prevent adverse outcomes. *
b) Increasing education and services (excluding billable services) for urinary and reproductive tract infections identified before or during pregnancy. This may include sexually transmitted infections.
Pregnant Women:
c) Increasing participation in state or local maternal child health programs (e.g. Medicaid, SCHIP, WIC) through enhanced outreach, education and public awareness.
d) Enhancing education and support services that focus on reducing disparities in birth outcomes. This may include March of Dimes programs such as Stork's Nest® and Comenzando bien®. **
e) Enhancing care through the CenteringPregnancy® model of group prenatal care and/or providing training to providers who plan on utilizing CenteringPregnancy®. ***
f) Increasing smoking cessation services. Preference will be given to prenatal health education and information/referral services that utilize the "5 A's" counseling approach. ****
g) Increasing health education and information/referral services available to pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs.
h) Increasing professional education about “17P” (17a hydroxyprogesterone caproate) treatment for women who have had a previous singleton preterm birth.

Availability of Genetics Services & Folic Acid Education
i) Enhancing the availability, quality and utilization of genetics services and/or other patient services related to preventable birth defects.
j) Increasing folic acid education and use of multi-vitamins among women of childbearing age.
 
   * For a list of specific risk areas, go to www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/19695.asp.
     ** For more information, contact March of Dimes at
    (206) 624-1373.
    *** For more information, visit www.centeringpregnancy.org
**** For more information on the "5'As" counseling approach, visit http://www.acog.org/

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 excluding Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania or Wahkiakum counties which are serviced by the Greater Oregon Chapter.  The chapter community grants fund for 2009 is approximately $143,000 of which $50,000 is committed to a multi-year grant.  It is anticipated that 5 to 6 projects will be funded, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 each.   Chapter community grants are approved for one year.

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-j).
The Letter of Intent must be received by email by August 29, 2009.  Please also attach the cover page found on the Chapter website at marchofdimes.com/washington and email both to kcoyne@marchofdimes.com.

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 30, 2008. Full proposals will be due to the chapter by November 3, 2008.  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 a list of allowable and unallowable expenses, please visit marchofdimes.com/washington.

QUESTIONS?
View the PowerPoint presentation found below and the other sample documents or contact Kimberly Coyne, Executive Office Manager, at kcoyne@marchofdimes.com or 206.624.1373 x14.
 
 
RFP Brochure

Grants Overview PowerPoint Presentation

 Letter of Intent Scoring Sheet

 Preconception Health Care Fact Sheet

 Full Application Instructions

Cover Letter

 Objectives & Activities Form for Application

 Budget Form for Full Application (Single Year)

 Budget Form for Full Application (Multi-Year)

 Progress Report Format

 Full Application Scoring Sheet

 Sample Grant Agreement

 Child Care Policy