MICROGRANT PROGRAM TO ADVANCE DISABILITY HEALTH CARE EQUITY FOR SAFETY NET ORGANIZATIONS

The U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness (CDHW) is excited to announce its initial call for applications from safety net medical and dental organizations within Michigan who are interested in enhancing health care access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities from low-income and traditionally underserved communities.

• Grants will be for amounts up to $5,000 to support the one-time purchase of equipment, the development of material or educational programming or support of training activities associated with improving accessibility and quality of health care to individuals with disabilities.
• All projects will demonstrate involvement of local disability representatives and show how the project will have a broad impact on people with disabilities in the identified community.
• The project must be realistic and achievable within a six-month time frame.
• We expect to award at least eight grants this year.

While we welcome new initiatives, we encourage applicants to leverage existing projects that could benefit from additional funding to enhance or expand disability access and inclusion.

Projects that are eligible for funding may include but are not limited to the following categories:

• Improving access to health care for people with physical, cognitive, sensory and developmental disabilities.
• Inclusive wayfinding and accessible route planning to health care settings at the community level.
• Training for health care providers and staff to improve the quality of care available for people with physical, cognitive, sensory and developmental disabilities.

This grant program is supported by the University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness (U-M CDHW) in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Funding to be provided by Blue Cross and through a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research through the Advancing Health Equity among Adults with Disabilities from Diverse Communities Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (AHEAD-DC RRTC).

For the first year of this program, only Michigan nonprofit health care safety net organizations that provide direct patient care are eligible to apply for this funding.

• Safety net organizations are organizations that provide free or discounted health care to vulnerable populations. These organizations include public hospitals, community health centers, free and charitable clinics, rural health clinics, school-based and school-linked health centers and federally qualified health centers as well as community and migrant-worker health centers, health services programs for homeless children and adults, local public health departments, and Indian, Tribal and Urban Indian health programs. Clinics embedded within health systems, including Michigan Medicine, are not eligible to receive funding through this award.
• Independent health care providers and private organizations are not eligible to apply.

Project requirements:

To be considered for funding, your project proposal must:

• Clearly demonstrate the potential to increase health care access and quality for people with disabilities from traditionally marginalized and underserved communities.
• Show how the project will have a significant and lasting impact on people with disabilities within an identified community.
• Ensure that local disability representatives, either individuals with disabilities or representatives from organizations that serve or advocate for persons with disabilities, are actively involved throughout the project.
• Identify staff to participate in virtual training and utilize technical assistance provided by CDHW.
• Provide progress updates and a brief final report, using a template provided by CDHW within 30 days after completion of the project.
• Agree to have your project publicly shared and reported by CDHW and the AHEAD-DC RRTC.

The following types of projects will not be considered for funding:

• Projects that require ongoing support, including providing sign-language interpretation
• Projects that are typically the funding responsibility of federal, state or local government
• Projects that do not include disability representation on the project team
• Projects that are not at the community level and are only accessible to a limited number of people
• Projects that do not involve community feedback and engagement

Who can apply?

This funding opportunity is open to any safety net or non-profit organization, group or agency that has demonstrated reach at a community level. Preference will be given to applicants that are not current Blue Cross grantees.

Award Information:

Award ceiling: $5,000
Estimated number of awards: Eight 
Length of project period: Six months
Proposal deadline: March 1, 2025
Award announcements: April 1, 2025
Estimated start date: May 1, 2025

Funding decisions will be made for a project period of six months, starting on May 1, 2025, and concluding on October 31, 2025. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of satisfactory progress reports. Payment of funds will occur through a fee-for-service contract with 50% of the grant award issued at startup and the remaining 50% paid upon submission of the final report. Please note that indirect costs or overhead expenses are not permitted.

*The first month (May 2025) will be used for planning, contracting, and the microgrant program kickoff.

An invoice for any grant-associated activities starting on or after May 1, 2025, can be submitted upon completion of all required documentation.

Grant Applications

Completed grant applications, including a cover letter, are due to the U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness by the end of the day March 1, 2025. If your application is received after the deadline, it will not be considered for the current funding cycle.

Find the grant application here: 

Disability Healthcare Equity Grant Application (Word document)

Grant applications can be submitted by email to India Foy at [email protected] or by mail:

U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness
ATTN: Community Grants Program
325 E. Eisenhower Parkway
Lower-level Suite 4
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
 

Feel free to contact India Foy at [email protected] or 734-936-5260 with questions about the application process or requirements.

The contents of this page were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTHF0005).  NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The contents of this page do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.