MHM 2025 Community Investments Grant Cycle Updates

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is excited to share the details of the next chapter in Community Investments grantmaking.

OUR JOURNEY

Last year, Community Investments took time to examine current philanthropic industry best practices, identify gaps in the service-area resource landscape, and consider how MHM grant support can be most impactful in serving the least served.

Building upon MHM’s health equity strategy, we incorporated equitable grantmaking principles to reduce administrative burdens for grantees and to provide more flexible funding. We sought and incorporated feedback from stakeholders across our region and within our organization. Many of you joined our effort by providing your feedback, and we are grateful. As a result, we will introduce new approaches to grantmaking starting in our 2025 grant cycle. These changes will continue going forward, and MHM will seek new ways to continue our improvement journey.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Two types of grant funding will be offered for the 2025 grant cycle.

• Open Grant Cycle: Proposals are welcomed from organizations serving communities within our 74-county service area. Applications selected for funding will align to priorities within each focus area as outlined by the Community Investment’s Theories of Change. The Theories of Change will provide clarity and offer potential measures for each focus area with the intent to inform the scope of applications, clearly communicate MHM priorities, and ultimately result in a more efficient and transparent process for grant applicants.
•  Cornerstone Grants: As illustrated in Isaiah 28:16, a Cornerstone serves as a critical beginning block in construction that provides a strong foundation to build upon as well as directional alignment. In this spirit of strong foundations, MHM will offer invitation-only Cornerstone Grants to select Access to Care and Food Security long-term partners who have consistently demonstrated outcomes aligned to Community Investment’s Theories of Change. Cornerstone invitations will be sent directly to organization contacts.

Applications for both grant types must align with one of our six focus areas:

• Access to Care: Mental & Behavioral Health
• Access to Care: General
• Digital Equity
• Food Security
• Housing
• Education & Workforce Development

Both grant types will follow a new payment schedule to move away from cost reimbursement, with no transactional documentation required for fund disbursements. We hope these changes will relieve some administrative burden and allow you and your teams to focus your time and effort on serving our community.

2025 GRANT CYCLE TIMELINE

MHM will launch the 2025 grant cycle beginning in September of 2024.

Additional information will be available on the MHM website in early September, including the link to the open grant cycle application and information to register for the Grant Cycle Webinar.

Current Grantees: We encourage current MHM grantees to reach out to your respective program officers to discuss your proposal. We look forward to learning about your great work.

New Applicants: New applicants may contact the Community Investments team at CommInvestments@mhm.org beginning September 1st to schedule a time to discuss your application.

Thank you for your work in your community and your partnership as we seek to improve wellness among the least served!