Where Health Matters Grant Program

The Where Health Matters Grant Program is part of Health New England’s overall Community Benefits Giving program that looks to advance the health and well-being of vulnerable population groups living in Western and Central Massachusetts. Health New England will award three grants to non-profit community organizations; one organization will be awarded per focus area. Applicants have the option to apply for a 12-18 month grant or multi-year grant.

We fund evidence-based community programs that address one or more of the areas of our funding priorities and at least one health issue area or identified health priority area (social determinants of health) defined by the Attorney General Community Benefits Nonprofit HMO Guidelines. 

This year, we are interested in non-profit community organizations that collaborate with other community partners in the innovative delivery of programs that improve the health of people who live and work in our communities. Our focus areas for funding include:

  • Chronic Conditions: obesity, hypertension, diabetes and alcoholism
  • Meeting Basic Needs: food insecurity, housing needs and transportation
  • Social Environment: institutional racism, justice-involved children & youth, social isolation, and violence and trauma.

For additional insights into our priority funding areas, please refer to the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment for Health New England. Additional detailed information on the social determinants of health, which have been adopted by the Attorney General Community Benefits Guidelines, can be found in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Determination of Need Health Priorities Guidelines.  

Where Health Matters Grant Program Application Process

All applicants are asked to submit a Letter of Intent and complete the Request for Proposal (RFP) grant application, in additional to all supporting documentation. Only complete submissions made online will be considered. Only one application per non-profit organization will be accepted in each funding year. Non-profit organizations will only be eligible for funding once from Health New England in a calendar year.


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Step 1)  Review Grant Program RFP Guidelines and complete the required supporting documentation, which include the Budget Template, Evaluation Plan Template, Logic Model Template and Work Plan. These documents must be completed and submitted online as part of your Grant Application by May 10, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Step 2)  To submit your written question(s) about the Grant Application and request the supporting documentations listed above email CommunityGiving@hne.com. Grant questions are due by March 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Step 3)  Submit your Letter of Intent by March 25, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, through our online Letter of Intent form. 
Step 4)  A Grant Program Question & Answer Session will be held on March 25, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please sign up by March 24 if you plan to attend.
Step 5)  Submit your RFP Grant Application using our online form by May 10, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and be sure to upload all completed supporting documents as part of your application.
Step 6)  RFP Grant Applications will be reviewed by Health New England Grant Program Review Teams, consisting of Health New England Community Benefits Advisory Committee members, public health experts and community partners.
Step 7)  Grantees will be informed in July. Grantees will be required to attend a Grant Program Workshop with Health New England on August 4, 2021 from 12 – 3 p.m. via Zoom.
Step 8)  Funds will be distributed to grantees in October.
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