Funding Opportunity:
Funding Opportunity: Strengthening Primary Care

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The Colorado Health Foundation is pleased to announce a unique funding opportunity designed to increase the number of Coloradans receiving quality primary care services through both grant and loan funds.

The Foundation recognizes that Colorado primary care providers are continually adapting to a fluctuating environment and may lack flexible capital for facilities and growth, integration of services and improved data systems. This opportunity is intended to support primary care providers by offering low-interest loans in addition to grants so that organizations can access the flexible capital they need to increase access to and improve the delivery of comprehensive, person-centered care. Furthermore, loan options will be available to for-profit* safety net providers, many of which serve rural Coloradans.

The Strengthening Primary Care funding opportunity provides grants up to $500,000 and/or low-interest loans from $500,000 to $5 million for physical and information technology infrastructure as well as working capital related to expansion or improvements to care delivery. 

Low-interest loans available

Grant deadline: Not accepting applications at this time. This work is in progress.

Criteria

Projects funded by grants and/or loans must be for one or more of the following purposes:

  • Increase the number of people receiving quality primary care services, with preference for integrated physical, behavioral and/or oral health services
  • Improve the quality of primary care delivered through redesigned spaces for better team-based care or improved health information technology systems

Colorado organizations providing primary care** services may apply for funds to support the following projects:

  • Facility acquisition, construction, renovation or expansion
  • Medical and office equipment purchases
  • Hardware, software, installation and technical assistance costs associated with health information technology systems
  • Operating expenses associated with physical or information technology expansions/improvements
  • Loans only – Working capital for expenses associated with new or expanded services  

Requests will be reviewed with the following considerations in mind:

  • Number of additional patients and/or total number of patients impacted
  • Portion of patients who are low income (Medicaid/CHP+/uninsured)
  • Community need
  • Focus on improving team-based and/or integrated care
  • Past financial and operational performance
  • Financial need (current financial strength and availability of additional financial resources)
  • Past and current funding from the Foundation

Project expenses must be incurred during the grant period. Typically the grant period begins four months after the application deadline in which the application was submitted.   

Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to consider applying for loans or a mix of grant and loan funding if appropriate. Applicants may indicate their interest in applying for a low-interest loan within the grant application.  

The Foundation is partnering with Vital Healthcare Capital (V-Cap) to provide low-interest loans. V-Cap is accepting loan applications on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to contact Erica Snow, portfolio director, at the Colorado Health Foundation, or Lesley Reeder at Vital Healthcare Capital for more information.  

Associated Measurable Results

Applicants will be asked to indicate how their work will numerically:

  • Increase the number of Coloradans receiving comprehensive integrated primary care.

We often partner with third-party evaluators, contractors and other organizations over the course of our work with applicants and grantees. Your application and its attachments may be shared with these individuals or entities during the review process and grant cycle. All third-party organizations partnering with the Foundation have signed a confidentiality agreement and will not use or share the information for purposes outside of the scope of work specific to the grant application or grant award. If you have any concerns or would like additional information, please email [email protected] or call our Senior Director of Grantmaking Operations at 303-953-3600.

* For-profit organizations are eligible for loan funding only, and must offer full-scope primary care clinical services as well as be accepting current and new patients with Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and the uninsured. For-profit organizations may contact V-Cap directly for more information at 720.465.7070.

** Primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. 

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