Home » Humana Foundation opens applications for $2.2M Community Partners Program

Humana Foundation opens applications for $2.2M Community Partners Program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Humana Foundation, philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. for the past 38 years, today announced the details of its 2020 Community Partners Program. Through this initiative, The Humana Foundation will award $2.2 million to Louisville-area organizations working to make the city a more appealing place for all.

The 2020 Community Partners Program will feature a two-pronged approach to creating greater health equity in Louisville. Local organizations may apply for awards ranging from $25,000 to a maximum of $100,000. A portion of available Community Partners Program funds will support local organizations with continuing Humana and Humana Foundation relationships.

Application details for the 2020 Community Partners Program include:

  • Applications are available from Jan. 6 to Feb. 21 at HumanaFoundation.org, with award recipients announced in late May.
  • Special consideration will be given for collaborative proposals among nonprofits, grassroots organizations and other sectors with joint applications.
  • Grants will be for $100,000, $50,000, or $25,000, with collaborators sharing funds they receive.

“We are committed to improving and sustaining health equity in our headquarters city, and we are committed to making Louisville a more appealing place for all who live here,” said Walter D. Woods, CEO of The Humana Foundation. “This year’s Community Partners Program includes a dual strategy. By funding organizations with existing relationships and opening program funding applications to the community at large, The Humana Foundation will have the greatest possible impact on quality of life and quality of place for all residents.”

As The Humana Foundation works to determine grant recipients, it will use the following criteria:

  • Strong alignment to focus areas, including nutrition and food security, shelter, personal safety, healthcare services, built and natural environment, arts and culture, and education and early childhood development.
  • Strong alignment to Humana values: Inspire health, cultivate uniqueness, pioneer simplicity, rethink routine and thrive together.
  • Focus on inclusion, diversity and equity.
  • Data-based evidence of past success.
  • Focus on building sustainable solutions for program and participants.
  • Broad reach in terms of people impacted.
  • Collaboration across community and among community organizations.
  • Broader impacts for participants and community.

Special consideration will be given to those applications that:

  • Propose collaborative initiatives from diverse and inclusive organizations that address the underlying factors that impact health equity, etc.
  • Propose initiatives with a strong focus on inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging, breaking down barriers that keep all Louisville citizens from engaging the many services and opportunities our city has to offer. This includes working to make individuals in marginalized populations feel more included, connected and welcome in our community.

Initiatives taking place in the following counties in the Louisville-area will be considered:

  • Kentucky: Bullitt; Hardin; Henry; Jefferson; Nelson; Oldham; Shelby; Spencer; Washington
  • Indiana: Clark; Floyd; Harrison

The 2020 Community Partners Program features an expanded emphasis on skills-based volunteerism programs for Humana employees in the Louisville area. Humana employees reported more than 77,000 volunteer hours in Kentucky from January through November 2019. The 2020 Community Partners Program will build on this and make it easy for Humana employees to put their strongest business skills to work for areas nonprofits, increasing their capacity, access and sustainability.

Organizations interested in applying for one of these grants will do so from Monday, Jan. 6, through Friday, Feb. 21. The Humana Foundation expects to announce the recipients of the grants in mid-May. Interested organizations may access the online application by visiting The Humana Foundation’s website.