2023 Grant Cycle FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions for 2023 Grant Cycle

Below are a few frequently asked questions you may have about our 2023 Grants Application Cycle.  Please contact MHM’s Community Investments staff at CommInvestments@mhm.org if you need further assistance. 

1. How do I know if an organization is eligible to apply for a grant?

Below are the criteria used to determine if the applicant organization is eligible to receive funding.  

2. How can an organization apply for a grant?

Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 2023 grant application cycle is a two-phase process. Eligible applicants must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) online by June 3, 2022. Applicants who have completed an LOI and are selected to advance to the next round will have an opportunity to submit a grant application. Organizations that advance to the application phase have until August 19, 2022, to complete the application.  

3. Can an organization apply for more than one grant?

MHM will only accept one grant application per organization unless the applicant organization is serving as a fiscal sponsor for another organization, in addition to applying for its own organizational needs. If the applicant’s grant application crosses multiple focus areas, please submit one application that addresses all needs. 

4. What are the grant application deadlines?

The LOI is open from May 5, 2022 – June 3, 2022. No LOIs will be accepted after June 3, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. If applicant LOI is selected to move forward, applicant will be invited to submit a grant application, which will be open from July 11, 2022 – August 19, 2022. No grant applications will be accepted after August 19, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.  

5. How will I know if an LOI and/or application was received?

Once the request is submitted through the online system, the applicant will receive an email confirmation stating the LOI/Application has been submitted successfully. If confirmation email is not received, please check the spam folder. 

6. What won’t MHM fund?

  • Audit fees (unless part of a capacity building request)
  • Endowments  
  • Fundraising events  
  • Grants or scholarships to individuals 
  • Financial deficits or debt reduction  
  • Insurance including general liability, professional liability, etc. 
  • Land  
  • Legal fees
  • Lobbying on behalf of political candidates 

7. What application request types will MHM fund?

    • Project/program (can include capital/capacity building) 
    • Capital/renovations 
    • Capacity building 

8. What is the duration for the grant period? (e.g., one-year, multi-year, etc.)

The grant period is for 12 months (January – December). However, a multi-year grant application, up to three years, will be considered for organizations who were funded for the 2022 grant cycle through the Community Investments Department. 

9. What does MHM mean by capacity building?

Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit. It is the process of building and strengthening the systems, structures, cultures, skills, resources, and power that organizations need to serve their communities.  

Sources: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/what-capacity-building 

Nishimura, A., Sampath, R., Le, V., Sheikh, A. M., & Valenzuela, A. (2020). Transformational Capacity Building. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 18(4), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.48558/B2F5-0904 

10. What kinds of organizational capacity-building areas can be considered for funding?

Capacity-building areas include, but are not limited to, the following organizational areas:  

  • Accounting/financial services 
  • Advocacy 
  • Business planning for sustainability 
  • Communications
  • Data management
  • Governance (decision-making processes and norms)
  • Grantwriting/development
  • Human resources
  • Impact measurement and evaluation
  • Information technology services
  • Marketing/social media
  • Strategic planning

11. What are examples of capacity-building funding requests?

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Assistance/consultation in a specific organizational area (see Question 10)
  • Board development
  • Consulting and staffing needs
  • Development planning
  • Development of a strategic plan
  • Executive coaching
  • Financial analysis
  • Marketing plan
  • Organizational assessments
  • Professional development/staff training
  • Program evaluation
  • Succession planning
  • Technical skills development to improve organizational effectiveness 

12. What is MHM’s definition of Health Equity?

Health Equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be healthy.  

Health Equity is both the process and goal by which MHM seeks to carry out its mission by “Serving Humanity to Honor God.” MHM recognizes there are inherent inequities within communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. 

MHM believes advancing health equity requires a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunities for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others. 

Source: Braveman P, Arkin E, Orleans T, Proctor D, and Plough A. What Is Health Equity? And What Difference Does a Definition Make? Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2017. 

13. How do the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) fit into MHM’s strategy in achieving health equity?

As MHM strives to achieve health equity and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, we will seek to support organizations, projects, and collaboratives working to address root causes and the conditions in which we are born, grow and age, live, and work, otherwise known as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). For the 2023 grant cycle, MHM will direct funding toward seven key focus areas of SDOH.

14. What do upstream, midstream, and downstream mean to MHM?

Upstream: Improving community conditions by addressing laws, policies, practices, and/or root causes. Upstream interventions are focused on community (not individual) impact.  

Midstream: Addressing individuals’ social needs. Midstream efforts are focused on individual impact. 

Downstream: Providing or ensuring access to clinical care. Downstream efforts are focused on individual impact.     

Click here to see a graphic of the Social Determinants & Social Needs: Moving Upstream from our Library & Resources.

15. What are MHM’s focus areas?

MHM’s goal is to increase grant investments in upstream strategies, strategies that improve community conditions, however, MHM will continue to invest in midstream and downstream efforts. For 2023, MHM will support grants in seven key areas with the following percentages allocated for each category: 

  • Access to Care – Mental & Behavioral Health (25%)
  • Access to Care – General (20%)
  • Digital Inclusion & Broadband Infrastructure (25%)
  • Food Security (10%) 
  • Economic Mobility: Financial Independence (10%) 
  • Housing (5%) 
  • Education &Workforce Development (5%) ​  

16. Is it better to address one focus area or multiple?

Address what is appropriate for the application and applicant’s organizational mission, whether one focus area or multiple focus areas. In the LOI the applicant will have the opportunity to select more than one focus area for the grant application. 

17. How will MHM decide whether to invite an LOI to submit an application?

MHM will use a scoring rubric to determine which LOIs to invite to the (second stage) application. The rubric categories and percentage weights are as follows: 

  • Criterion 1: Request Need & Feasibility – 25%
  • Criterion 2: Strategic Impact – 30%
  • Criterion 3: Budget Alignment & Request Design – 20%
  • Criterion 4: Organization Mission – 25%

18.) How will MHM decide whether to fund an application?

MHM will use a scoring rubric to determine which applications to fund. The rubric categories and percentage weights will be provided once the applications open.

19. When will an organization be notified of a grant award decision?

Organizations selected for a grant award will be notified in December 2022.  

Organizations not selected to move forward from the LOI to the application phase will receive a declination notice in July 2022. Organizations that complete the LOI and application and are not selected for funding will receive a declination notice in December 2022.  

20. If an organization is not selected for this funding opportunity, will the organization still be eligible for other MHM grant opportunities in the future?

Yes, an organization will be considered for funding based on MHM’s eligibility requirements and alignment with funding priorities for a later grant cycle. 

21. What are the programmatic reporting requirements if an organization is awarded funding?

Funded Partners will be expected to submit online mid-year and year-end reports on the progress of their grants. In addition to formal reports, Funded Partners will have at least one in-person or virtual site visit with MHM program and finance contacts.  

22. What are the financial reporting requirements if an organization is awarded funding?

Financial Statements: Funded Partners with multi-year grants must submit updated financial statements at year-end. 

Grant Disbursement: MHM grant funds are not fully disbursed upon execution of the award. Grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis and are not automatic.  

At the time of application, organizations select their payment schedule (monthly, quarterly, biannual, or advance – if eligible). Funded Partners must request their funds based on their selected payment schedule, with the required supporting documentation to include general ledgers. If a general ledger is not available receipts or other supporting documentation that can support the expenditures will be accepted. Grant expenses must align with the approved application budget. 

Financial Audits: All grants are subject to audits, with new Funded Partners audited the first year, and subsequent audits to occur at the discretion of MHM. 

23. What does Community Investments consider Economically Disadvantaged?

Any of the following are suitable to define economically disadvantaged for MHM Community Investment Grants.

  • Overall, to be classified as low-moderate income (LMI), an individual or family’s household income must be no greater than 80% of the area median income for the county or area where they reside. (Community Reinvestment Act)
    • Example: $59,280 for moderate; $37,050 for low (Bexar County)
  • Lowincome is defined as 80 percent of the median family income for the area, subject to adjustments for areas with unusually high or low incomes or housing (HUD).
    • Example: Bexar County is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX HUD Metro Area –   https://www.habctx.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-Income-Limit.pdf
    • Example: In 2021, $59,300 for a family of four is defined as low income (80% Area Median Income) in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro region according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

General Questions

24. Does an organization need an IRS designation to be eligible for a grant?

No. If an applicant organization does not have a 501(c)(3) designation, the applicant may use a fiscal sponsor to apply. The fiscal sponsor must have 501(c)(3) designation or tax exemption for at least one year.  

25. What is MHM's geographic service area?

MHM will consider grant applications that serve in its 74-county service area. Click here to see a map of MHM’s service area.

26. What is the maximum amount an organization can apply for within a grant cycle?

In general, MHM will not fund any amount over 20% of an organization’s overall budget.  

27. How much money does MHM expect to award in the 2023 grant cycle?

Approximately $25 million will be allocated to the 2023 grant cycle.  

28. What if an organization is using a fiscal sponsor to apply for a grant?

Please contact MHM’s Community Investments staff at CommInvestments@mhm.org for assistance. 

29. Can I speak to someone if I have additional questions?

Yes, please contact MHM’s Community Investments staff at CommInvestments@mhm.org. Please include the focus area related to your request in the subject line. Emails that do not include the focus area in the subject line may cause delay in staff response time.