Discovery Grants help fund projects over $15,000 which address recommendations found in MSHF-sponsored research reports. The goal of the Discovery Grant program is to encourage innovative responses to address key areas identified in the reports that impact Mat-Su Health Foundation Focus Areas. The projects must respond to the specific recommendations in the reports. Discovery grant applications are accepted online year-round and the application is linked here.
Applicants for Discovery Grants are encouraged to solve problems, redesign systems or subsystems, and fill gaps using evidence-based practices OR promising practices OR innovative solutions. Proposals that incorporate new uses of technology to solve problems, involve nontraditional sectors in problem solving, and promote collaboration in new and innovative ways are welcome. Additionally, pilot projects that propose to test a solution on a small scale are also eligible. Grantees may be required to participate in cohort learning experiences and/or technical assistance provision that accompany a grant award. Discovery Grant applications must respond to specific recommendations in MSHF-sponsored research posted here.
Please note that on July 1, 2021, a new grant program was implemented for funding related to the Mat-Su COVID-19 Related Behavioral Health Needs Report. More information on COVID-related grants is available here.
Programs and initiatives funded by Discovery Grants can include:
- Public/private partnerships
- For-profit/non-profit partnerships
- Community awareness campaigns
- Training Programs
- Initiatives to enhance the social fabric within Mat-Su to support the emotional well-being of residents
- Faith-based initiatives
- Peer-support initiatives
- Youth-led initiatives
- Community Council initiatives
- Media projects
How to Apply
Step 1: Project Pitch
Applicants seeking funding under the Discovery grant program must first submit a Project Pitch online with the application linked here.
Project Pitches are evaluated and then applicants are advised whether they are being invited to move forward to the full application process.
The following information is needed to complete the Project Pitch:
- Legal Name, Organization Name (d.b.a.) and Tax ID Number
- Organization Type
- Physical Address and Mailing Address (if different from physical address)
- City, State and Zip
- Website Address
- A brief description of your organization
- Primary Contact Information
- Prefix, First Name, Middle Name (if applicable), Last Name, Suffix (if applicable) and Title
- Office Phone and Office Fax
- Email Address
- Executive Director/CEO Contact Information
- Prefix, First Name, Middle Name (if applicable), Last Name, Suffix (if applicable) and Title
- Office Phone and Office Fax
- Email Address
- Project Information
- Project Title, Amount Requested, Project Budget
- Project Description and duration of your project
- Project start and end date
Step 2: Confirmation & Invitation
You will receive an email confirming receipt of your Project Pitch. This email will also include a link that you can use to log back into your account to complete your application if the Project Pitch is accepted. Healthy Impact payment requests and reporting requirements are still submitted using the PDF form. As the online process progresses, information will be provided to our grantees online.
You can also use this link to forward copies of grants to coworkers for review, or to access a copy of all of your grant applications submitted for future reference.
Step 3: Full Application Process
If you are invited to complete the full application, you will be able to access the rest of the application by logging into your account.
The following information will be required to complete your application:
- Project Pitch Information – this will automatically transfer from your project pitch application. These fields can be changed if they are incorrect. You must complete any remaining fields.
- Attachments: A complete application must have all of the following attachments submitted in PDF format:
- Audited Financial Statements: Provide your most recent audited financial statements, if your organization is audited by an independent firm
- Current Year Operating Budget: Provide the current year operating budget showing anticipated expenses and sources of revenue
- Budget to Actual: Provide a Budget to Actual comparison for the most recently completed year
- Brief history of the organization, its mission and vision, and services provided
- Geographic area served
- Number of beneficiaries in Mat-Su and total served statewide
- Description of the project for which funding is requested
- Identification of the need for the project specifically as it relates to the Borough Health Factor(s) highlighted in your Project Pitch; and its current status
- Implementation timeline for the proposed project
- Description of total cost of the project, including a list of specific items and costs
- Source and amount of any project funds raised to date or pending; the amount requested from MSHF; and if relevant, how the organization anticipates raising the balance.
Before submitting your grant application, please ensure that it conforms to the following criteria:
- Application is complete and accurate. MSHF will not consider incomplete applications or applications that are submitted after 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.
- Project budget is arithmetically correct.
Step 4: Notification
Grantees will be notified of their grant application’s funding status within approximately 120 days following receipt of the full grant application.
Additional Information
If you start a Discovery grant application and then need to finish it later or make changes, click here. Enter your email and password, and you will have access to all grants associated with your email address. The information is divided showing incomplete applications first and submitted applications at the bottom.
Progress Report Form
To submit a progress report, log into your account and then click on the “Requirements” tab. Choose the document you need, complete it, and then click on review and submit.
Payment Request Form
To submit a payment request, log into your account and then the “Requirements” tab. Click on the document in questions and when it is complete click on review and submit.
Information About Financial Statements
Prospective grantees applying for funds from the Mat-Su Health Foundation will be required to submit financial statement information about their organization as well as their project. Grantees who submit well-prepared financial statements will have an advantage over grantees who submit poorly prepared ones. With that said, we understand that Mat-Su Valley non-profit organizations are a diverse group, some with many employees, others with only volunteer staff. It is with this understanding that we have divided the financial statement requirements when submitting for a grant into two different categories:
- Those with full time employed accountants.
- Those without full time employed accountants.
The difference in requirements between the two categories is derived from the level of accounting experience within each grantee’s organization. These requirement differences are not intended to be punitive towards the grantee for having a more robust accounting function. Rather, they are standards of business within the non-profit community that each grantee should be upholding, at minimum. Grantees that receive an annual audit by an independent accounting firm should also include a copy of their most recent audited financial statements, as well as management letter and letter to the board. We’ve provided an example of what we expect at minimum from our grantees, depending on the category they fall into. These financials are intended only as an example, and we encourage our grantees to modify the forms so that they capture the uniqueness of their own situations and activity.
If you have any questions about the application process, please email grantsmanagement@healthymatsu.org.