The focus of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is to provide leadership and administer grant funding to improve the overall health and well-being of the people of Mississippi through the following:
Support of health promotion programs specifically targeted to improve health through increased health literacy, healthy eating and exercise;
Support of community-based programs that promote health, quality of life and well-being; and
Support of school-based programs that promote health learning and healthy lifestyles among students and their families and school personnel.
Support programs in Mississippi communities that improve access to high quality healthcare services where access to high quality healthcare services is limited.
To be eligible for funding consideration from the Foundation, an organization must meet the following guidelines:
Be located in Mississippi or, if not located in Mississippi, agree to use grant funds only the benefit of Mississippians;
Benefit the communities in Mississippi;
Serve the community with no discrimination by age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability;
Not duplicate or significantly overlap the work of public agencies;
Be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (but not a private foundation) and provide proof of such current designation in the form of an IRS determination letter, or a municipality, county, school or college or university; and
Cannot have a contractual relationship with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, its subsidiaries or affiliates.
The Foundation does not provide funding for the following:
Individuals;
Denominationals or religious organizations;
Political caucuses, candidates or campaigns;
Sponsorships of special events or commemorative advertising, i.e., journals or dinner programs, unless part of an overall grant initiative or program;
Providers unless to a charitable branch (501(c)(3)) of a provider; or
