Food as Medicine Initiatives

The Elevance Health Foundation has released its 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Food as Medicine initiative, inviting applications from nonprofit organizations with a successful history of community-based work in nutrition and health. The Foundation serves as a strategic philanthropic arm aiming to drive positive, scalable change through investments addressing physical, behavioral, and social health needs. Its five-year investment strategy supports innovative approaches that enhance access to nutritious food and improve health outcomes for populations experiencing food or nutrition insecurity. The primary objective of this grant opportunity is to support programs that enhance clinical health outcomes for individuals with diet-related conditions, particularly those facing high social risks, and to increase the availability of nutritious foods in underserved communities. Proposals may originate from either national initiatives capable of creating systemic change or localized programs specifically serving residents in ten eligible states: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. Proposals that integrate culturally relevant interventions, promote whole-person health, and generate measurable, scalable outcomes will receive priority consideration. Grant awards will cover only the direct costs necessary for the implementation of proposed interventions, including expenses related to evaluation, reporting, and metrics tracking. The grant term is flexible, spanning from one to three years in 12-month increments, depending on the nature and duration of the project. The grant range is open-ended, meaning applicants must justify funding requests based strictly on project need. Programs are expected to meet specific metrics, including improvements in biometric health data and increased delivery and access to nutritious food. To qualify, applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations under one of the following IRS subsections: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) — including Type I, Type II, and Type III functionally integrated supporting organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to define measurable goals, implement accountability standards, and track long-term program outcomes. All proposals must be submitted by July 31, 2025. The review period will last between four and six months. Elevance Health Foundation will contact applicants for additional information as needed or to inform them of award decisions. No rolling applications are accepted, and no pre-application deadlines are listed. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit elevancehealth.foundation/for-grantseekers for additional guidance and to access the application portal.