The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is accepting applications for its OB3 Impacts Defense Fund.
Donor Name: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
State: Massachusetts
County: Berkshire County (MA), Bristol County (MA), Hampden County (MA), Hampshire County (MA), Nantucket County (MA), Worcester County (MA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The goal for the OB3 Impacts Defense Fund – Mitigating Coverage Loss grant program is to ensure eligible individuals impacted by Medicaid work requirements and more frequent renewals can keep their health coverage. The grant program has a geographic focus on those in the following communities: Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester and Bristol Counties, and the Cape and Islands. In Worcester County, the Foundation is looking for organizations that reach outside of the city of Worcester.
The Foundation developed the program goals for the OB3 Impacts Defense Fund Mitigating Coverage Loss after meeting with community-based organizations, state health officials, and other funders to determine how and where the Foundation could have the most impact in this challenging time, while also aligning with the Foundation’s strategic goals. This initiative will focus on regions with some of the most impacted MassHealth members and/or areas in need of resources and support based on data and existing enrollment capacity.
The program will accomplish this by:
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Supporting community-based Medicaid outreach, education, and enrollment efforts.
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Expanding community-based enrollment assistance and one-on-one support to MassHealth members to help eligible members demonstrate compliance with the new Medicaid requirements – including work requirements and ongoing renewals.
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Connecting individuals with essential wrap-around services and supports to meet their overall needs (food and housing assistance, etc.).
Funding Information
The Foundation anticipates funding 9 grants in the amount of $60,000 a year for two years.
Eligibility Criteria
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations incorporated in Massachusetts that primarily serve people who are socially, economically, culturally, or racially marginalized. This initiative will focus on regions with some of the most impacted MassHealth members and/or areas in need of resources and supports based on existing enrollment capacity. This request for proposals is only for organizations located in/serving the following communities: Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester and Bristol Counties, and the Cape and Islands. For Worcester County, the Foundation is looking for applicants who serve areas outside the city of Worcester.
Specific eligibility criteria include:
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Currently serving and/or located in one of the following areas: Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bristol and Worcester Counties, and Cape Cod and the Islands.
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Community-based organizations embedded in the most impacted communities, and which have a proven history of effective outreach and education efforts when it comes to connecting community members to health and/or social services.
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Experience working with MassHealth members.
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Existing or prior Certified Application Counselor experience will be prioritized.
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Community Health Centers and Navigator sites may be considered for key geographic areas. (This grant program is open to a limited number of organizations serving as Navigators. As part of this grant, selected Navigator organizations will focus on serving MassHealth members.)
Additional eligibility:
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It is the policy of the Foundation to only make grants to organizations described in Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) (i.e. 501c3 or public charities) or Section 170(c)(1) or 511(a)(2)(B) (governmental entities).
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If an organization does not have its own tax-exempt designation, it must provide proof of tax-exempt designation for a fiscal agent.
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The Foundation does not accept applications from religious institutions, for-profit institutions, or individuals.
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The Foundation does not fund proposals to support direct clinical care, long-term care, hospice and/or palliative care, or initiatives focused solely on the care of a particular disease or medical condition.
For more information, visit BCBSMA Foundation.
