Grants to Minnesota Tribes, Nonprofits, and For-Profits for

Grants to Minnesota Tribes, Nonprofits, and For-Profits for Media Campaigns to Reduce COVID-19 Health Disparities in Minorities

COVID-19 Community Engagement and Diverse Media Grant

GrantWatch ID# 207101

Agency: State

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Funding Source

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) - Center for Health Equity

Geographic Focus

USA: Minnesota

Important Dates

Conference Date: 12/21/22
Deadline: 01/25/23 11:59 PM CT Receipt - Deadline for proposals that will primarily reach American Indian, disability, or LGBTQ communities.

Grant Description

Grants to Minnesota Tribes, media organizations, and nonprofit and for-profit community organizations to use media strategies to help reduce Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related health and recovery disparities in minority populations. Funding is intended for campaigns that will reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase community engagement in relevant programs.

The Minnesota Department of Health (“State”) is issuing a request for proposals to aid the State in communicating with and engaging communities most impacted by inequities around COVID-19 messaging. The goal of this funding is to increase community understanding of and engagement around COVID-19 and community recovery among residents of Minnesota and the 11 Tribal Nations that share its geography – particularly residents from communities of color, American Indian residents, LGBTQ residents, residents with disabilities, and residents with limited English proficiency.

This grant will serve:

African American communities
African immigrant communities
American Indian communities
Asian Pacific Islander communities
Hispanic and Latino/Latine communities
LGBTQ communities
Disability communities

Grant outcomes will include:

Increased community understanding of COVID-19 and public health guidance and recommendations related to COVID-19.
Decreased vaccine hesitancy, especially among communities with longstanding mistrust in government and/or scientific institutions.
Increased community participation in preventive behaviors including vaccination, masking, and social distancing.
Increased community participation in COVID-19 testing and appropriate isolation and quarantine.
Increased community engagement in COVID-19 community recovery programs and activities, including those that address mental health, social connectedness, food and housing stability, and other economic and social determinants of health that were exacerbated by the pandemic.

Successful applicants will propose a plan to aid the state in this effort through the use of diverse media strategies, community engagement and outreach strategies, or a combination of both. All strategies must be tailored to the specific communities reached by the applicant (e.g., culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, accessible, etc.). Grantees may share messaging and media content produced by the State, adapt those messages for their target audience, and/or create and disseminate their own culturally relevant content.

For a list of eligible activities, see https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/equity/funding/covidrfp2022/rfp.pdf#page=10.

Full Grant Text RFP

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Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Criteria for Eligibility

Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit organizations, other community-led organizations (may include for-profit organizations), Tribes, and diverse media organizations. Applicants must have state or federal recognition as a formal organization or entity, such as a Federal Employer Identification Number or 501c3 status. Organizations or groups that do not have state or federal recognition may apply with a fiscal agent. Applicants must be located in and conduct grant activities in the state of Minnesota, but fiscal agents may be located outside of Minnesota. Eligible applicants who wish to work together but have not formed a legal partnership may designate one organization as a fiscal agent.

Please note that organizations currently funded by MDH to perform COVID-19 related work, including COVID Community Coordinator (CCC) contractors, are eligible to respond to this Request for Proposals. However, organizations that are not already performing COVID-19 related work through a legal agreement (e.g., grant, contract) with MDH during the estimated grant period for this funding opportunity (April 2022 – June 2024) will be given priority.

Multi-organization collaboration is welcomed and encouraged. MDH recognizes that achieving health equity will happen only as we work together. Organizations that collaborate on proposals are encouraged to compensate partners appropriately for their contributions and to consider equity in deciding how resources are distributed among partner organizations. For applications that include multi-organization collaboration, the application must list one entity as the primary lead applicant. If awarded funds, that lead organization will be named in the grant agreement and manage the funds, and the partner organizations will be subcontractors.

Ineligible

Ineligible expenses include but are not limited to:
- Any expenses that do not directly contribute to the activities or deliverables in the grantee’s work plan
- Any individual piece of equipment that costs more than $5,000
- Bad debts, late payment fees, finance charges, or contingency funds
- Capital improvements or alterations
- Cash assistance paid directly to individuals to meet their personal or family need
- Fundraising
- Lobbyists, political contributions
- Ongoing medical care or treatment of disease(s) or disability
- Oximeters, syringes, or other medical equipment
- Paying for meals or food for community members or staff
- Paying for or providing housing, isolation, or quarantine space
- Paying rent or other bills for community members
- Providing incentives for community members (including incentives to get the vaccine)
- Providing or paying for transportation to testing sites
- Purchase of vehicle(s) for program use
- Purchasing computers, tablets, or any other purchases for community members
- Taxes, except sales tax on goods and services

Pre-Proposal Conference

All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the RFP informational webinar. The State will offer an informational webinar for prospective applicants on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, from 10-11:30 a.m.

In this webinar, State staff will walk through the goals, requirements, and process of the request for proposals and answer questions. Please note that staff will not be able to help with the drafting of proposals or provide feedback on proposals.

Pre-Application Information

*Deadline extended to Jan. 25, 2023 at 11:59 pm for proposals that will primarily reach American Indian, disability, or LGBTQ communities.

Timeline:
- RFP published: Dec. 15, 2022
- Questions due: Jan. 9, 2022 at 5:00 PM (submitting questions is optional)
- Applications due: Jan. 18, 2022 at 11:59 PM *
- Anticipated notice of award: Feb. 28, 2023
- Anticipated grant period begins: April 1, 2023

Staff will reply to emailed questions within 3 business days.

FAQs: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/equity/funding/covidrfp2022/faq.html

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$7,300,000

Number of Grants

60-70

Estimated Size of Grant

Estimated Award Maximum: $175,000
Estimated Award Minimum: $50,000

Term of Contract

Estimated start date is April 1, 2023, or whenever a grant agreement is negotiated and fully executed, whichever is later. Grants are expected to end on June 30, 2024.

Contact Information

Apply online: https://survey.vovici.com/se/56206EE3768574C8

If you have questions or need assistance with application files, please send an email to health.covidmedia.mdh@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5813.

Minnesota Department of Health
PO Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164

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