You can make a real difference in Arkansas communities with the right support. The Blue and You Foundation offers health grants that empower nonprofits, schools, and government agencies to tackle pressing local challenges.
Their funding targets everything from emergency medical equipment to clinical care services to behavioral health programs, ensuring resources reach those who need them most. Think about how your organization could use these grants to create lasting change, especially for those struggling with shelter assistance and other essential needs.
Key Takeaways
- Blue and You Foundation offers mini-grants for health improvement projects across Arkansas.
- Grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, with no fixed annual deadline.
- Funding supports a variety of health initiatives, including community engagement and health equity.
- Eligible applicants include nonprofits, governmental agencies, schools, and other organizations in Arkansas.
- Mini-grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 for targeted health improvements.
2026 Social Determinants of Health Grants
Although the 2026 Social Determinants of Health Grants are open to organizations across Arkansas, you’ll want to focus your application on initiatives that tackle key factors shaping health outcomes: economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhoods and safe housing, and social/community context.
These grants, ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, emphasize community engagement to improve health equity statewide. Submit your letter of intent by January 12, 2026, and if approved, apply by February 20.
Prioritizing collaboration will help your project address health disparities through innovative, locally driven solutions in Arkansas, especially for former service members, faith-based groups, and those relying on nutrition assistance.
2026 Behavioral Health Grants
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Six major Behavioral Health Grants from the Blue & You Foundation are making a significant impact across Arkansas, targeting critical areas like mental health access, suicide prevention, and substance use treatment for youth.
You’ll find that these grants directly address addiction recovery programs, with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences receiving over $2.3 million for adolescent treatment initiatives.
The Wolfe Street Foundation’s $850,927 award expands substance use services for students in grades 7–12, while Immerse Arkansas’s $1.4 million grant improves mental health resources for vulnerable youth.
These strategically allocated funds guarantee you’re addressing Arkansas’s most pressing behavioral health challenges comprehensively—creating opportunities that complement educational financial awards and support programs serving individuals with impairments.
Mini Grants for Community Health
Blue & You Foundation’s Mini Grants provide accessible funding opportunities for Arkansas organizations pursuing targeted health improvements in their communities.
You’ll receive $1,000–$5,000 to strengthen community engagement and health initiatives across your region.
Your eligible organization—whether nonprofit, governmental agency, school, college, university, or church—can apply during January and the first day of each quarter.
Consider these funding categories:
- Emergency medical equipment like AEDs, Stop the Bleed kits, and Naloxone with training
- Food pantry supplies and hygiene products
- Health programs including calming rooms and financial literacy
Applications close at quarter’s end, with decisions delivered in March, June, September, and December.
Eligibility and Geographic Coverage
If your organization aims to improve health outcomes in Arkansas, you must be an eligible entity such as a 501(c)(3) public charity, governmental agency, public school, college, university, nonprofit hospital, church, or food pantry based in Arkansas.
The foundation’s nonprofit eligibility criteria focus on groups dedicated to health initiatives within the state. The geographic focus is strictly on Arkansas, serving projects that benefit local communities exclusively.
You’re encouraged to collaborate regionally to strengthen statewide health efforts. Eligible projects include emergency response equipment and training, emphasizing practical impact on Arkansans’ well-being through targeted health interventions.
Application Process and Timelines
Once you’ve confirmed your organization’s eligibility, you’re ready to navigate the foundation’s structured application process. The journey begins with submitting a letter of intent, an essential first step before accessing full application requirements.
Here’s what you’ll encounter:
- Social Determinants Grants: Letters of intent accepted January 1-12, with full applications due February 20
- Behavioral Health Grants: Submit intent July 1-13, with applications due August 20
- Mini Grants: Applications open January 1 and quarterly, evaluated monthly
Submission deadlines vary by grant type, so track your specific cycle carefully.
Approval notifications arrive in March, June, September, and December, ensuring timely feedback on your funding request.
Impact of Blue & You Foundation Grants
Since the foundation targets some of Arkansas’s most pressing health challenges, the impact of Blue & You Foundation grants extends far beyond individual awards—it reshapes the landscape of behavioral health services throughout the state.
You see real change as mental health initiatives reach more young people, breaking down stigma and expanding access to care. These grants build youth resilience, giving children and families the tools they need to thrive.
Recent Grant Recipients and Program Highlights
- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences received $1,610,477 to improve mental health services via the Pathways to Wellness program.
- The Wolfe Street Foundation was awarded $850,927 to broaden substance use treatment for students in grades 7-12.
- Immerse Arkansas gained $1,418,252 to deliver mental health resources for vulnerable youth facing hardships.
These investments powerfully increase behavioral health access and support for young Arkansans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does the Blue & You Foundation Decide Which Organizations to Fund?
The Blue & You Foundation decides which organizations to fund by evaluating funding criteria like relevance to health priorities, project feasibility, documented need, and community impact. You start by submitting a letter of intent, then proceed through a detailed application process.
What Is the History and Founding Story of the Blue & You Foundation?
You’re looking at an organization that’s distributed over $65 million since 2001. The Blue & You Foundation emerged from Arkansas Blue Cross’s founding vision to promote better health, establishing itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to community-based solutions and measurable health improvements across Arkansas’s 75 counties.
How Can I Track the Outcomes and Impact of Funded Programs in My Community?
You can track funded programs’ impact through outcome measurement tools provided by grant recipients and by collecting community feedback via surveys or forums to assess changes and satisfaction, ensuring clear evidence of progress in your area.
Does the Blue & You Foundation Accept Unsolicited Grant Proposals Outside Regular Cycles?
You can’t submit a grant application to the Blue & You Foundation outside their regular funding cycles; they require you to follow their specific timelines and funding criteria for eligibility and review.
What Training or Technical Assistance Does the Foundation Provide to Grantee Organizations?
The search results provided don’t contain specific information about training or technical assistance that the Blue & You Foundation offers to grantee organizations. While the results detail the foundation’s grant programs, funding amounts, and eligibility requirements, they don’t address capacity building or program evaluation support services you’d receive as a grantee. You’ll need to contact the foundation directly for details on their technical assistance offerings.
Conclusion
You’ll find that the Blue & You Foundation’s grants act like a modern-day Excalibur, empowering you to tackle health inequities in Arkansas with funding from $1,000 to $250,000. These grants support initiatives from emergency medical equipment to behavioral health programs, encouraging you to collaborate and make a measurable impact on your community’s wellness. Don’t miss deadlines for letters of intent and applications—you hold the key to transforming health outcomes for Arkansas residents.