What We’re Looking For

SLHI seeks opportunities to invest in organizations and groups that join together to develop and implement innovative ideas focusing on two priority areas: 1) healthy eating and/or active living (HEAL), and 2) value-based health care that improves health care system access, quality and cost (VBHC). In all cases, SLHI looks for the potential to lay the groundwork for long-term change.

We’re looking for people or organizations who spark ideas and don’t run the show on their own. This work is about people who partner and share leadership in the process of stimulating, promoting and making their communities better places to live and work.

Examples within the priority areas (HEAL and VBHC) might include:

  • Community asset mapping for efforts and partners.
  • Leadership development.
  • Projects that build on existing community resources.
  • Practice-based research.
  • Creative solutions to increase community engagement.
  • Innovative health system payment strategies.
  • Creation of tools or communication strategies for information and knowledge sharing.
  • Improvements in chronic disease management, including effective self-management efforts.
  • Community organizing and advocacy to promote healthy communities as well as improvements healthcare system access, quality and cost.

Communities of Practice (CoP)

SLHI is also looking for ways to leverage this work and have found Communities of Practice (CoP) to be an effective strategy. CoPs are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Although the term is relatively new, the phenomenon it refers to is age-old as the concept provides a useful perspective on knowing and learning.

Therefore, although all proposals received may not be funded, all those who submit proposals are invited to participate in the HNK Community of Practice for that grant cycle.

We seek a broad range of ideas. Funding can be used for a number of community-based efforts.

What We Are Not Looking For

Solo Acts

  • Services, programs, campaigns, or efforts that are “owned” by one person or organization, as opposed to a community decision process involving the perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Politically-Focused Projects

  • Lobbying or election campaign activities.
  • Ideas that represent a political view or ideology that excludes some groups of people.