Investing to Support Diverse Nonprofits and Small Businesses

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) recently announced a grant investment of up to $2.2 million to 16 diverse small businesses and nonprofits in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia collectively serving over 30,000 people. These grants will provide resources and guidance to new and existing nonprofits and small businesses to address obstacles that negatively impact company growth, scalability and long-term sustainability. The investments build on CareFirst’s commitment to address economic inclusion in its region to improve social support, minimize barriers to accessing care and social services and address essential environmental conditions that shape the health of its communities.

Since medical care only accounts for 10-20% of a person’s health, CareFirst priorities for philanthropic grantmaking and funding have a wide scope including equitable access to affordable, high-quality care, economic inclusion, educational opportunity, behavioral health support, resources for chronic condition management, and social responsibility & impact.

So why is a healthcare insurer investing in economic inclusion? Factors such as economic stability, jobs with fair pay, and more have impact on individual and community health outcomes. CareFirst’s goal of achieving health equity means addressing all factors that may be obstacles to good health, factors usually steeped in racism, poverty and discrimination.

To understand the specific needs and challenges in economic development in our communities, we conducted key interviews with community-based organizations which informed the priority areas for the funding which include capacity building, capital enhancement and workforce development.

Capacity Building

Capacity building includes providing training and technical assistance to elevate operations such as resource generation, professional development, technical assistance and more.

• Bmore Empowered: Grassroots Collaborative’s Holistic health and Capacity Building Initiative
• Fusion Partnership/Brioxy: Capacity Building Pipeline for Jobs & Health
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW): Capacity Building at BGCGW – Social Determinants of Health Development
• Human Services Coalition of Prince George’s County: Nonprofit Resource Center
• Heaven on Earth Now: Capacity Building at Heaven on Earth NOW
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green Racial Equity Fund
• Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations/Maryland Latinos Unidos: Strengthening the Ecosystem for Latino-Led and Latino-Serving Nonprofit Organizations
• The Urban Oasis: The Urban Oasis – Capacity Building

Capital Enhancement

Capital enhancement includes positioning new or existing nonprofits, small businesses, or entrepreneurs with securing and increasing their access to and managing new capital and in-kind resources.

• Parity Baltimore Incorporated: Parity – Home Is Where The Health Is
• Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif): Driving social determinants of health and health equity through inclusive entrepreneurship in underserved DC area communities

Workforce Development

Workforce Development includes assisting new or existing nonprofits or entrepreneurs in implementing employment initiatives that help hire locally and create, sustain, and retain a viable workforce.

• Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP): Fathers in Tech
• Friends of Anacostia Park: Anacostia Park Friends Corps: Increasing Park Access Through Community-led Stewardship
• Greater Washington Urban League: Center for Financial Inclusion
• INROADS, Inc: Collage Links: A College Readiness and Preparatory Program
• Safe Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE): Educational programs and career training at the SAFE center and SAFE Workforce Development Center
• ServiceSource: IT Training Pilot Program

Special consideration was given to organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), returning citizens, disconnected youth, seniors, individuals with greater health risks, persons experiencing homelessness, populations with limited English language proficiency, structurally disinvested communities, developmentally disabled, justice-involved individuals, LGBTQ+, physically disabled, veterans, etc. Special consideration was also given to organizations that support or directly provide healthcare-related services or programs addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) or social and environmental factors that impact health outcomes.

For more information about CareFirst’s Community Impact, please visit CareFirst.com/Community.

Read about CareFirst’s Economic Inclusion grants.