Our Grant and Sponsorship Programs

Each year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois supports non-profit organizations working to improve health equity in divested communities throughout the state. Through its grant and sponsorship programs, BCBSIL seeks to support and learn from community partners with missions to build a healthier Illinois. Charitable contributions allow BCBSIL to resource local non-profit leaders to support innovative, sustainable, and impactful organizations that strengthen and enrich Illinois communities.

The FY25 Blue Impact^SM Grant application process is now closed. The next application cycle will open in early 2025. However, the BCBSIL sponsorship program is now open. See below for information.

BCBSIL supports community-based non-profit organizations that share a mission to build health equity and align with our strategic priorities. BCBSIL accepts requests for sponsorships and grants from non-profit organizations that are located within and serve Illinois residents and are defined as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

As a company, investing in our communities is paramount to the BCBSIL mission. Access to care and easing social determinants of health (SDOH) are important to community wellbeing. BCBSIL provides grants in five areas of focus, which are comparable to the SDOH outlined in Healthy People 2030. The five areas of focus are:

Economic Opportunity and Stability: Addressing issues such as poverty, removing barriers to employment, providing good jobs, and upskilling.

Food Access and Nutrition: Supporting efforts to decrease hunger and increase access to nutritional food.

Neighborhood and Built Environment: Focusing on affordable healthy housing, access to transportation, safe outdoor spaces, and access to physical activity.

Locally Defined Health Solutions: Addressing hyperlocal health and human service needs, community collaborations that improve community wellbeing, interrupt violence, or build peaceful communities.

Optimal Health Outcomes: Helping close gaps in care, specifically around six priority areas: immunizations; diabetes care; cardiovascular care; behavioral health; early detection cancer screening and maternal & infant health.

FY25 Blue Impact Grant Timeline

The Blue Impact grant program year will run from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.

Grant Range: Awarded grants range from $25,000 to $100,000. Requests should stay within this range to be considered for funding.

The criteria required for review of all grant proposals includes, but is not limited to:

• The community lead organization must be a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization.
• The community lead organization must demonstrate organizational and fiscal capacity to provide work proposed.
• More extensive qualifications may be found in the FY25 Blue Impact Grant Guidelines.

FY25 Blue Impact Grant Application Process Timeline

Letter of Interest (LOI) Submission Period: January 29 – February 9, 2024

This is the initial step in the process to apply for an FY25 Blue Impact Grant. After review, all applicants will be notified. Those selected to advance will receive instructions for the second stage of the application process.

LOI applicant notification: March 29, 2024

Full Application Submission Period (invitation only): April 1 - April 19, 2024

FY25 Full application notification and funding: July 1, 2024

BCBSIL Sponsorships

Organizations working to improve community health and wellness may request sponsorship support from BCBSIL. Sponsorship awards are smaller than grants, ranging between $250–$5,000. Examples of sponsorship awards include galas, dinners, health fairs, luncheons, seminars, conferences, walks and/or runs and similar activities. The range may be higher ($5,000–$15,000) for community-based health fairs, drives, etc.

Please note: To increase the number of organizations who have access to BCBSIL community investment support, an organization may receive a grant or a sponsorship, but not both, within a given year. Requests for sponsorship consideration must be made at least 2 months in advance of project or event.

Request for sponsorship consideration must be made through our online application. For questions about sponsorships, contact Vivian Mikhail.

What BCBSIL Does Not Fund

For the grant and sponsorship programs, the BCBSIL focus is health and human services; therefore, priority is given to organizations addressing community needs in the specific areas above. Only requests that directly benefit Illinois residents are considered for funding.

The following requests will not be considered for funding:

• Organizations or projects with written policies that discriminate against individuals based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
• School athletic programs
• Applications from individuals or support for a sole individual
• Applications that do not align with our funding priorities
• Subscriptions
• Telethons
• Political campaigns
• Religious activities
• Fraternal activities
• Animal welfare