The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences, is pleased to announce the Rural Health Grants (RHG) for 2026 with a focus on developing solutions to addressing social drivers of health (SDOH) at the local, community level.
Donor Name: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation
State: North Dakota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/14/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program is to focus on transforming the health and well-being of rural North Dakotans and address the social determinants of health affecting its communities so they can build a better future of opportunity, access, and full potential for health and well-being for all.
The program targets the following primary focus area(s):
- Economic stability
- Education access and quality
- Healthcare access and quality
- Neighborhood and built environment
- Social and community context.
Funding Information
The BCBSND Caring Foundation is investing a total of $40,000 in this rural-centered grant program. Grants will average between $5,000 and $7,500 per award.
Grant Period
The time frame for implementing the individual grants will be 12 months, with a funding period of January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- For purposes of implementing the activities described in the proposal, single healthcare entities or a network (informal/formal) can involve a variety of organizations, but not necessarily limited to, the following: hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, public health units, mental health facilities, dental clinics, tribal health facilities, home health agencies, pharmacies, emergency medical service units and other appropriate health organizations.
- The lead applicant on the proposal MUST be a healthcare provider (a provider is defined as a healthcare facility – hospital, clinic, public health unit, etc.). An individual person or non-healthcare entity may not be the lead applicant, it must be a healthcare business.
- Both established and/or new partnerships/networks are strongly encouraged to apply. If the applicant has had prior working relationships with the identified partner(s), this needs to be described in the grant application.
- The applicant may form a network with organizations that are public or private, for-profit or non-profit.
- Preference will be given to rural areas in North Dakota. The vast majority of the grant funds must be expended either in a rural area or in a manner that has direct impact on the rural service area.
- Grant awards will be made to one organization (the applicant). The applicant represents either itself in a solo proposal or an entire partnership under a network proposal. That organization must be capable of receiving and administering grant funds. If the proposal involves a network, the applicant is responsible for distributing any funds to the partners listed for their areas of responsibility.
For more information, visit BCBSND.
