Women's Health Initiative Grant Program

The Women's Health Initiative, administered by the Albany County Legislature in partnership with the Albany County Department of Health and the County Executive’s Office, offers a targeted grant opportunity focused on addressing critical health disparities among women, trans individuals, and gender non-conforming populations. With a total allocation of $200,000 for this cycle, the program seeks to fund organizations and initiatives that directly improve health education, accessibility, and equity for these groups. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded based on proposal scope and quality. This initiative emphasizes a holistic and intersectional approach to women’s health, recognizing the complex and layered barriers that historically marginalized populations face when accessing healthcare. The program focuses on issues such as menstruation, reproductive health, menopause, and the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases that disproportionately affect women. The initiative aims to address systemic health inequities tied to race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, and other social determinants of health. Funded programs are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes in reducing health disparities and improving health literacy. Allowable activities under the grant include providing education on pregnancy and family planning; offering counseling and emotional support for women impacted by gun violence; launching public health and awareness campaigns; promoting early detection and preventive health screenings; and delivering evidence-based interventions in underserved communities. Organizations must provide services within Albany County and may include community-based organizations, homeless and women’s shelters, private individuals with demonstrated expertise, and nonprofit entities. Applicants must submit proposals via email to the Albany County Legislature at [email protected] during the application window from February 2 to March 2, 2026. A new requirement for 2026 is the inclusion of a signed Legislative Grant Acknowledgement Form, completed by an authorized representative of the applying organization. Proposals must also include an executive summary, anticipated expense breakdown, benefits statement related to health equity and violence prevention, and a demographic analysis of the populations served. Projects should demonstrate alignment with evidence-based health interventions and broader health equity goals. All proposals will be evaluated by representatives from the Albany County Legislature, Department of Health, and County Executive’s Office. The final funding recommendations will be based on clear project scope, financial detail, reporting metrics, and demographic impact. Notification of awards is expected in the second quarter of the year. Reimbursement deadlines are set for early July (35% expenditure minimum) and mid-September (100% expenditure required), with all funding provided on a reimbursable basis. The program restricts the use of grant funds for salaries, compensation, capital equipment, operating costs, and construction unless explicitly approved. It also prohibits the use of grant funding for profit and enforces strict accounting and cost allocation principles aligned with generally accepted accounting practices. All awarded organizations must adhere to Albany County’s policies on cost allowability, reasonableness, and documentation standards. While prior recipients are eligible to reapply, preference will be given to new applicants.

Highlight evidence-based approaches; ensure demographic tracking; focus on underserved communities