Highmark BCBS Delaware BluePrints for the Community

In 2007, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware established BluePrints for the Community, a grant program to help address the issues faced by Delaware's uninsured and underserved populations. The program was established as a donor-advised fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that manages and administers charitable funds throughout Delaware. Since its inception, the grant program has awarded over 200 grants, totaling more than $21 million.

The grant program focuses on:

• Addressing social determinants of health
• Increasing access to health care for the uninsured/underserved
• Reducing health disparities in minority communities
• Supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health
• Recruiting and training health care professionals.

Request for Funding

Eligibility:

• Applying organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit (501c3) or eligible government agency (must operate to serve the public good and not generate revenue, i.e. libraries, parks, public school districts; not the office of Management & Budget or the Division of Revenue).
• BluePrints for the Community does not award grants to individuals.
• Applicants must disclose any conflict of interest due to representation by their organization on the BCBSD Advisory Council or Board of Directors or the Delaware Community Foundation Board of Directors.
• Organizations who have received BluePrints grants in the past, or have open applications in process, may still apply for funding for a different program or project. While there are no restrictions on number of applications or awards received, application and funding history are taken into consideration.

Standard Grant Requests

BluePrints for the Community standard grant requests, typically ranging from $51,000 to $200,000, should be submitted through the Delaware Community Foundation. Please create an account or log into an existing account. This budget template includes a list of acceptable items.

If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss BluePrints funding or if you are having technical difficulties with the application process, contact Denée Crumrine.

BluePrints for the Community Schedule

*Dates are approximate and subject to change

Submissions must be received no later than 5:00 pm on the due dates provided.

Small Grant Requests

BluePrints for the Community request for Small Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions announced to applicants at the beginning of each month. Small Grants cannot exceed $50,000.00. Small Grant applications should be submitted through the Delaware Community Foundation. Small Grants may not be used as supplemental funding for Standard BluePrints grants requests.

The budget template includes a list of acceptable budget items. Questions can be emailed to Denée Crumrine at denee.crumrine@highmarkhealth.org.

Past Special Grant Cycles

Social Determinants of Health Grant
In 2020, we gave nearly $2 million to 17 organizations that had programs and projects focused on a variety of social determinants of health, from housing and homelessness to food insecurity and access to care.

Opioid Grant
In 2019, we made a $1 million commitment to addressing the opioid epidemic and contributed $1.2 million to eight community partners.