Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM (CCH) Next Generation Program Grant

Grants to USA and Territories nonprofit organizations, government agencies, public schools, and municipal institutions for community-based programs to improve cardiovascular health. Funding is primarily intended to support organizations that have not previously received support through this program. CCH-funded programs use culturally appropriate approaches with measurable outcomes to address specific unmet needs of communities across the country, especially underserved communities.

The intent of the grants is to support innovative initiatives or programs at the community level to help improve cardiovascular health in the community during the grant year and beyond. The Foundation's aim is for funded programs to maximize the benefit to participants and to work toward sustainability beyond the funding.

The CCH Next Generation open call for applications will provide Program Grant funding to organizations that have never been funded before by the Foundation’s Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program. CCH Next Generation may provide limited grant funding to previously-funded organizations on an invitation basis to support dissemination, sustainability and/or mentorship activities.

Applying organizations will need to align with one of six innovative approaches as the basis of their CCH Next Generation program or identify their own innovative approach. The six innovative approaches include:

• Leveraging access for uninsured and underserved participants to improve cardiovascular knowledge and health
• Bringing programs to participants
• Educating children to serve as heart health ambassadors
• Improving cardiovascular health through food-based programs
• Using health coaches/promotores to improve cardiovascular health
• Providing culturally sensitive program interventions to maximize participant outcomes

To qualify for a Foundation Program Grant, nonprofit organizations based in the United States must be engaged in charitable work (at the community level or otherwise) that addresses the Foundation’s Connections for Cardiovascular Health℠ (CCH) mission and meets five key criteria:

• Addresses cardiovascular health issues within the United States and its territories
• Recognizes and works to address an unmet need related to cardiovascular health in the community
• Responds to the urgency around addressing cardiovascular health issues, including cardiovascular disease or conditions contributing to cardiovascular disease
• Improves the quality of participants’ and non-professional caregivers’ lives in connection with the services provided and work done
• Demonstrates a clear plan for long-term program sustainability, to further improve cardiovascular health after Foundation grants are expended.

CCH Next Generation welcomes applications from every state in the nation and has a preference for funding applications from the top 20 states by cardiovascular disease mortality (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia). Additional preference will be given to applications from states where the Foundation has never previously funded a program (Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma).

For more information on program design, measurable outcomes, and participant goals, see: https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/content/dam/az-us/Documents/AZHCF/AZHCF_2020_CCH_Next_Generation_Web_Criteria_FINAL_v2.pdf#page=4