Message from Bob

Welcome to another edition of the CEO's Grantee Circular.
 
As you browse through the content of this Grantee Circular, I hope that what's included sparks reflection on the health of our region and the area's most pressing health issues. I invite you to share your grantee experience with me and any ideas you may have that are geared toward improving the health and well-being of those most in need. I can be reached via email at president@mffh.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
   
 
 
 
 
Bob Hughes
President and CEO


 
        
 
             
 
        
 
                    
 
        

Grantees in the News




As MFH partners, you know firsthand that grantmaking is one  
of the primary ways we work to be a catalyst for change in our region.  
However, this is just one of the strategies we utilize to strengthen our  
state and build capacity among the many organizations that share  
our hopes for a healthier Missouri  
 
 
Our MoCAP program takes a different approach to this goal, and it is steadily gaining momentum. Short for "Missouri Capture," MoCAP works to leverage the Foundation's resources to attract national and federal funding opportunities that otherwise might not have made it to the region.
 
Through MoCAP, we offer Foundation-sponsored grant-writing services and technical assistance to help eligible nonprofits and governmental health organizations pursue federal or national funding for specific health-focused programs. Not only that, through our MoCAP mailing list we work to keep interested organizations up-to-date about upcoming funding opportunities. If you visit our MoCAP webpage, you'll also find a collection of grant-writing resources, a list of frequently asked questions, and a worksheet for potential participants to fill out. With this worksheet groups are able to give themselves a self-assessment, identifying the depth of their own experience, strengths, and opportunities for improving their capacity.

Since we began MoCAP in 2010, we've supported more than 350 proposals and helped attract a total of $118.5 million to our region. 2015 was the program's biggest year yet, with more than $33 million captured. Additionally, the benefits of the program last far beyond the grants themselves. Many of the participating groups have never applied for federal funding before, and after their experience they discover that these national awards really are within their reach. Moving forward they are much more likely to apply again, with or without our direct help. Naturally, this increased capacity helps the nonprofits themselves, but it also directly aids in our broader mission of improving the health of the people in our region.

 
 
The MoCAP program has assisted a variety of organizations with diverse areas of focus, including community health centers, local public health agencies, local nonprofits, and state agencies. For example, of the 20 Missouri groups awarded funding by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Oral Health Expansion Supplement program in 2016, eight of them were supported through the application process by MoCAP. Those eight groups alone netted nearly $3 million to help the underserved.

Other funding agencies that have awarded grants to MoCAP-assisted proposals include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and many more.

A great deal of credit goes to our own Health Policy Officer Jessi LaRose, who spearheads the program and coordinates assistance for an average of 50-60 applications per year. If you haven't already, please visit our MoCAP webpage to learn more and to access some of our informative resources. To receive a monthly email of federal and private funding opportunities, simply write us at mocap@mffh.org. Not all groups that apply for support will be accepted. You do not have to be a current or previous Foundation grantee to take advantage of all that MoCAP has to offer, but as partner organizations we certainly encourage you to explore the different ways MoCAP might be able to help you help your community
 
You do not have to be a current or previous Foundation grantee to take advantage of all that MoCAP has to offer, but as partner organizations we certainly encourage you to explore the different ways MoCAP might be able to help you help your community.

On the Horizon