Outreach and Education Grant 2026

The FY 2026 Outreach and Education Grant, administered by the Black Physicians & Healthcare Network (BPHN), a program of the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), aims to promote health equity for Black residents in Montgomery County, Maryland. This initiative emphasizes improving health literacy, which the National Institutes of Health defines as individuals’ capacity to find, understand, and use health-related information and services. Disparities in health literacy, especially among African Americans, contribute to poor health outcomes and limited access to quality care. The grant encourages proposals that are community-driven and culturally responsive to these issues. The goal of this funding opportunity is to support organizations that enhance direct health engagement and education. Applicants are expected to implement outreach projects targeting Black communities, with a special focus on areas and topics such as men’s health, maternal and child health, mental health, returning citizens, dental and chronic disease education, and regions like Poolesville, Damascus, and Clarksburg. Proposals must include culturally competent strategies, and applicants should be prepared to carry out at least 80% of activities in person. Funding is intended for direct health interventions, resource fairs, workshops, and the creation of educational materials that are culturally tailored. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit, community-based organizations that serve Black residents in Montgomery County. These organizations must also demonstrate capacity to engage in person, attend quarterly coordination meetings, submit monthly reports and invoices, and participate in BPHN’s program evaluation. The grant offers cost-reimbursement funding of up to $75,000 for projects implemented from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. All expenses must align with Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ approved categories. The application process requires a proposal of no more than five single-spaced pages, including a cover letter. Key components include an overview of the community served, organizational capacity, a detailed project narrative with SMART goals and target population, projected outputs and outcomes, and a comprehensive budget and narrative. Budget categories include personnel, supplies, communication, food, and promotional costs directly tied to outreach activities. Certain costs such as office rent, utility bills, or gift cards are not reimbursable. Proposals will be evaluated on six criteria totaling 100 points: community context and organizational capacity (15 points), project narrative (30 points), outputs and outcomes (20 points), budget and budget narrative (15 points), innovation and cultural relevance (10 points), and promotion and engagement strategy (10 points). This rubric encourages applicants to clearly demonstrate their capacity, strategic planning, and alignment with community needs. The deadline for submission is 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Proposals must be submitted via email to Janelle Martinez at jmartinez@nccf-cares.org. The funders emphasize creativity, community alignment, and tangible impact, seeking proposals that effectively promote wellness and health literacy among Black communities in Montgomery County.