MSHF announces grant deadlines

WASILLA — Mat-Su Health Foundation is seeking applications from eligible organizations for its Healthy Impact grant program, which twice annually awards more than $15,000 grants to fund programs that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough.

A free training session to help potential grantees understand MSHF’s granting guidelines and the application process is at 2 p.m., Nov. 14, at 950 E. Bogard Rd., Suite 220 in Wasilla. Interested parties can sign up by calling 352-2872 or send email to vreese@healthymatsu.org.

Application deadlines for Healthy Impact grants to be awarded in 2013 are:

• Cycle One: Project Pitch: Nov. 26 to Jan. 10, 2013.

• Full application: Jan. 18, 2013 to Feb. 28, 2013.

• Cycle Two: Project Pitch: April 22, 2013 to May 30, 2013.

• Full application: June 14, 2013 to Aug. 1, 2013.

MSHF uses a two-part application process for Healthy Impact grants. The first phase of the process, the Project Pitch phase, is completed online at healthymatsu.org and includes information about the applying organization and a description of the proposed project.

The foundation reviews all pitches and invites projects that most closely align with the foundation’s criteria to move forward to the full application phase.

Potential grant applicants are encouraged to review the “Who and What We Fund” section of the foundation’s website for information on the grant process and guidelines. MSHF supports organizations and activities that empower people, employ creative responses to problems, address root causes rather than symptoms, build upon community strengths and offer measurable improvements in health and wellness.

Although Healthy Impact grant requests must be in excess of $15,000, smaller grant amounts are considered continuously under the Foundation’s Target Wellness grant program. As with Healthy Impact grants, Target Wellness grants must be applied for online at healthymatsu.org.

Applicants with questions about MSHF’s grant programs may contact Vickie Reese, program assistant, at 352-2872 or vreese@healthymatsu.org.