Web: www.hnhfoundation.org
Office: 49 South Main Street, Suite 204
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Phone: 603-229-3260
Fax: 603-229-3259
Email: [email protected]
Request for Proposals
About the HNH Foundation
The HNH Foundation is New Hampshire’s leading funder dedicated to increasing health and dental
insurance coverage for children, promoting children’s oral health, and preventing childhood obesity.
The Foundation was formed in 1997 as a result of the merger between Blue Cross/Blue Shield of
New Hampshire and Matthew Thornton Health Plan. Over the years, the Foundation has learned
the importance of leadership, planning, establishing strategic focus, convening and collaboration to
meet the critical components of our mission. These qualities, while they have always characterized
our work, are essential for meaningful, sustainable change to support and promote the health of
New Hampshire residents.
Mission and Values
Our mission is to improve the health and wellness of New Hampshire’s population, with a focus on
its most vulnerable children.
The values of the HNH Foundation:
 The health and well-being of all vulnerable children and their families are our priorities.
 The Foundation supports innovation with its inherent risk as well as evidence-based and best
practice models which facilitate systemic change resulting in measurable, long-term results.

Though the Foundation values its independence as a decision-maker, it believes that the
greatest potential to effectuate systemic change is through collaboration and constructive
engagement with stakeholders at the local, regional, state and national levels.
 The Foundation will conduct its business in an environment of respect for diversity and
awareness of the importance of public involvement in order to be accountable to the needs of the
community.
 The Foundation will conduct its business in a manner that is financially responsible and that
preserves the founding endowment while balancing the need to fulfill its mission.

We value our ability to act quickly and be flexible enough to accommodate changing needs
when they are within the scope of our mission and goals.
The HNH Foundation Goals
The Foundation focuses its grantmaking in targeted areas in order to achieve the greatest impact.
The HNH Foundation is making grants to advance the three following goals:
1. To increase the number of New Hampshire children who have access to health and dental
insurance coverage, with a priority on children through age 18.
2. To promote preventive oral health care for children through age five and pregnant women.
3. To prevent childhood obesity with a focus on children through age five
The HNH Foundation selects targeted strategies to achieve our objectives and ultimately, our long-term
goals. Strategies are periodically revised after sufficient progress is made and, following evaluation of
outcomes and progress, challenges and successes, replaced with new strategies.
A. Background and Information Regarding Funding from the HNH Foundation
The HNH Foundation uses its endowment to award grants to public or private tax-exempt New
Hampshire organizations that support the Foundation’s mission and goals. The strategies listed in the
RFP are designed to help achieve these goals. Grant awards typically range from $3,000 to $50,000.
The Foundation’s grantmaking is intended to result in long-term, systemic change by supporting
activities that inform or result in policy, system and environment (PSE) change. Examples of PSE
changes include:
 Improving the delivery of preventive oral health services to children through better data
collection, analysis and reporting (system).
 Improve access to safe places to walk in towns and cities through planning (environment),
informed by local and state-level advocacy efforts (policy).
 Assure access to children’s health and dental insurance coverage through CHIP, or comparable
coverage (policy, system).
The following are not eligible for funding:

Biomedical or scientific research

Capital campaigns

Expenses already incurred

Fundraising events

Out of state projects that do not benefit New Hampshire

Sectarian or religious activities

Support for political activities

International travel expenses

Organizations or projects that discriminate based on age, sex, religion, race, color, creed,
sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, national or ethnic origin.
B. Types of grants – indicate the type of grant you are seeking in your funding request
1. Planning: Recommended for applicants seeking to initiate system change activities. Planning
grants provide funding to: 1) assess current conditions and needs; 2) determine readiness for
change and/or; 3) plan for system change that addresses need. Requests may be made for one or
more of the activities mentioned above. Requests may be made for funding up to three years.
2.
Project: Provides funding to advance systemic change through implementation of policy, system,
or environment change based on demonstrated need. Requests may be made for funding up to
three years. Requests for project funding must include:
 Data that demonstrates need for the proposed project
 Readiness assessment for the proposed project
 A plan for measuring the impact of project activities and progress toward stated outcomes
3. Capacity Building: Provides funding to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Requests may be made for funding up to three years. The mission and goals of the organization
must be aligned with the mission and goals of the HNH Foundation. Examples of funding
requests include:
 Board development
 Long-term sustainability planning
 Evaluation activities
 Skill and knowledge building for staff
 Technology improvements
4. General Operating Support: (available by invitation only) Provides operating support for
statewide organizations to carry out their mission by ensuring sustainability and responding to
new challenges and opportunities. Grants are available for a minimum of three years and a
maximum of five years. The mission and goals of the organization must be aligned with the
mission and goals of the HNH Foundation.
Additional Grant Opportunities from the HNH Foundation –
5. Support for Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) NH Communities*: Provides funding up to
three years for policy, system, and environment change strategies listed in your HEAL community
action plan. The community action plan must accompany the Letter of Inquiry. Requests may be
made for funding up to three years. *Ashland, Berlin, Cheshire County, Franklin, Laconia,
Manchester, Nashua, the Upper Valley
6. Leverage Grants: Provides funding to applicants who need matching funds or seek to enhance
their chances of receiving funding from other entities. Requests may be made for funding up to
three years. Applicants are encouraged to contact Foundation staff when leveraging
opportunities arise throughout the year. There is no deadline for this type of request.
7. Sponsorship: Provides funding to sponsor meetings, e.g. conferences, trainings, that build
knowledge to advance one of the three Foundation goals. Letters of Inquiry are accepted and
reviewed throughout the year. There is no deadline for this type of request.
For more information contact Patti Baum, Interim President, [email protected]
C. Responding to the Request for Proposals – Submitting a Letter of Inquiry
All applicants are required to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), not to exceed two pages, in response to
the Request for Proposals. Requests for funding must align with one of the goal-related strategies
listed in the RFP. Refer to “Submitting a Letter of Inquiry” and the LOI evaluation criteria to guide
your request. Include a budget, using the HNH Foundation budget form, with the LOI. A separate
LOI is required for organizations applying for more than one type of grant. The LOIs that best meet
the criteria for funding will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Funding is available for the priority interventions identified within each funding strategy, listed on
the pages following the RFP.
Evaluation of the Letter of Inquiry will be based on the following criteria:
 The organization’s eligibility, i.e. tax exempt status;
 Proposed activities are supported by data that demonstrate need;
 Meets the description listed under each grant type;
 Proposed activity aligns with the goal and current strategy in the RFP;
 The intended audience or population demonstrates readiness for participation or change;
 The intended outcome aligns with the mission of the applicant organization;
 The funding request appears reasonable for the proposed activity;
 The funding request leads to or results in sustainable outcomes;
 For HEAL Communities: progress and status of strategies listed in current community HEAL
action plan;
 The concept proposed appears to advance the HNH Foundation goals and;
 Availability of HNH Foundation grant funding
D. Submitting a Full Grant Application
If your Letter of Inquiry results in an invitation to apply, use the Grant Application Checklist,
found on the HNH Foundation website under Apply for a Grant to assure the required
documents are included in your application package.
Proposal Narrative (maximum 7 pages) - Include the following in your funding request:
1. State your organization’s mission.
2. State the HNH Foundation goal and type of grant for which you are seeking funding.
3. Identify and describe the target population that will benefit from HNH Foundation
funding.
4. Describe the need for this program/project and how the proposed activity will address
or inform the long-term need. Use available data, assessments, surveys, etc. to
support the need and provide the citation for each source.
5. Define the activities, partners, collaborators, and a timeline for completing the project
6. Describe the intended outcomes for the target population.
7. Describe the organizational experience and capacity to carry out and sustain the
proposed activities.
8. Describe how you will measure the program/project effectiveness.
9. Attach funding related detail, e.g. job descriptions, letters of commitment from
collaborators or partners, and other documentation as reference in the narrative.
Evaluation of the Grant Application will be based on the extent to which it demonstrates:
 The applicant organization aligns with the mission and values of the HNH Foundation;
 Alignment with one of the Foundation goals;
 An understanding of the root causes of the need or problem, supported by valid data;
 The potential for broad impact and measurable, long-term benefit;
 Realistic, measurable activities and/or outcomes as described in the work plan that can
be sustained beyond the funding cycle;
 The budget is reasonable based on the proposed activity;
 Organizational capacity to meet the proposed activity outcomes;
 Reaching or responding to highest need populations, or communities in high-risk
regions, as listed in the New Hampshire 2013-14 Third Grade Healthy Smiles—Healthy
Growth Survey1 (for oral health and obesity prevention proposals).
E. Due dates and notification timeline for Funding Inquiries: check the HNH Foundation
website, under the Grant Center tab, for grant-related submissions.
1.
New Hampshire 2013-2014 Third Grade Healthy Smiles – Healthy Growth Survey.
Funding Strategies 2015
Goal: To prevent childhood obesity
Obesity rates have continued to steadily increase among New Hampshire (NH) children over
the last ten years. In 2007-08, 36.5% of NH’s 2-5 year old low income children were either
overweight obese1. In 2013-14, 28% of NH third grade students were either overweight or
obese.2 Childhood obesity increases the risk for several chronic diseases including Type 2
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, asthma, liver disease and depression. Obese
children are more likely to become obese adults, increasing the severity of risks.3
As the evidence base has accumulated over the last several years regarding best practices to
prevent childhood obesity, the role of policy, system and environment change strategies (PSE)
have emerged as critical components because they reach, and can impact, a wider segment of
the population.4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “reversing the
U.S. obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that uses policy and
environmental change to transform communities into places that support and promote healthy
lifestyle choices for all U.S. residents.” PSE interventions may require a longer period to
effectively implement, but sustaining results requires fewer resources than individual behavior
change strategies.
Funding to prevent childhood obesity is available to increase access to healthy food and places
for physical activity for children up to age five, and their families. For the purposes of this RFP,
funding strategies include strengthening the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) NH
community network; increasing local policies that enhance physical activity through changes to
the built environment; and building advocacy for state-level changes to prevent childhood
obesity. Funding strategies will be updated as the HNH Foundation moves through its Theory
of Change to prevent childhood obesity.
Current Funding Strategies
Applications for funding are being considered for strategies that help achieve the Foundation’s
short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes to prevent childhood obesity. Currently,
applications are being considered for the following strategies:
1. For HEAL funded communities: to establish a PSE community action plan or update an
existing plan, and to implement PSE strategies in their community action plan
2. To inform, plan and implement community-level PSE that enhance safe places to walk
and bike
3. To strengthen the HEAL statewide network
4. To build statewide knowledge and capacity through training and technical assistance for
PSE approaches for healthy eating and active living
5. To inform and establish an advocacy agenda to prevent childhood obesity
1New
Hampshire Head Start Survey, 2007-08.
New Hampshire 2013-2014 Third Grade Healthy Smiles – Healthy Growth Survey.
3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Basics About Childhood Obesity.
4Frieden TR. A framework for public health action: the health impact pyramid. Am J Public Health. 2010;100(4):590-595.
2
Funding Strategies 2015
Goal: To prevent dental caries (tooth decay) in children up to age 5
The HNH Foundation oral health strategies seek to establish policies and systems that result in
increased access to preventive and restorative care for children’s oral health. Specifically this
includes increasing access to comprehensive preventive oral health care, identifying best
practice education for oral health preventive care in young children, and increasing knowledge
and awareness of the importance of early oral health preventive care among decision makers.
Tooth decay (dental caries) affects children in the United States more than any other chronic
infectious disease.1 However, unlike medical health insurance coverage for children, dental
health insurance coverage does not always lead to access for preventive and restorative care.
Children seeking access to care are limited by: the number of dental health providers and their
location throughout the state; the limited scope of practice for mid-level practitioners, the lack
of providers willing to see children before their first birthday, and the reluctance to serve
children covered by public dental programs. For this reason, in addition to promoting
increased access to dental insurance coverage, the HNH Foundation also provides funding for
preventive and restorative care for children in Coos County, the county with one of the highest
rates of oral health and untreated decay, and lowest rates of dental sealants for children in third
grade.2 (Note: Funding for these services has been granted and is currently obligated in a multiyear commitment. Funding is not available for individual restorative care outside of Coos
County).
Current Funding Strategies
Applications for funding are being considered for strategies that help achieve the Foundation’s
short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes to prevent dental caries (tooth decay) in children
up to age 5. Currently, applications are being considered to:
1. Support the development of a system for training and certification of public health
dental hygienists
2. Support the identification, training, and implementation of best practice education
program for women during pre-conception and pregnancy, and parents of children up
to age 5
3. Identify and implement effective advocacy tools and strategies to improve oral health
outcomes for children up to age 5
4. Establish a system to collect, analyze and disseminate data that informs and strengthens
oral health preventive services for New Hampshire children (please contact Patti Baum
if you are interested in seeking funds for this strategy).
1Centers
2
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Children’s Oral Health.
New Hampshire 2013-2014 Third Grade Healthy Smiles – Healthy Growth Survey.
Funding Strategies 2015
Goal: To increase access to children’s health and dental insurance coverage
The HNH Foundation has a long history of supporting the state-based Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP). Health insurance coverage for New Hampshire’s children provides
a foundation to a positive start for a productive and healthy life. Without coverage, children are
less likely to receive preventive and needed care and delay care, making future treatment more
extensive and expensive.1 Delay in care when needed may prevent kids from participating fully
in classroom learning.2
The HNH Foundation strategies and objectives seek to establish policies and systems that result
in increased access to children’s health and dental insurance coverage. Specifically this
includes: Breaking down all barriers to apply for, enroll in and retain coverage; supporting
advocacy and education regarding the importance of coverage for NH’s children and best
practices to achieve this coverage; maintaining benefits for children that at a minimum, are
aligned with the current NH CHIP coverage; and collecting, analyzing and reporting data that
track application, enrollment and retention numbers. We are committed to achieving longterm, sustainable change by funding proposals most likely to succeed in systemic change
beyond the grant period.
About Current Funding Strategies
Due to recent and several changes to the health care coverage landscape both nationally and in
New Hampshire, the HNH Foundation has been responding to needs as they emerge. This
includes convening stakeholders to develop an outreach and enrollment plan for the NH Health
Insurance Marketplace, collecting, analyzing and disseminating data to inform outreach and
enrollment activities, and, as a result of Medicaid Expansion and upcoming Marketplace open
enrollment, updating tools and resources in response to current and anticipated needs.
For now, the HNH Foundation is encouraging organizations and agencies to submit a Letter of
Inquiry or call with your ideas; we can talk them over together and determine if HNH
Foundation funding will contribute to making a positive difference in coverage for NH’s
children.
1
2
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, The Uninsured: Key Facts About Americans Without Health Insurance, October 2011
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Children’s Health, Why Health Insurance Matters, May 2002