Accepting Applications: Connect for Health Challenge Community Reviewers

As a community reviewer for past Challenges that the Citizens League has helped to facilitate, I can't recommend enough the opportunity to help read through some of the most creative and thoughtful ideas that Minnesotans have to address the issues facing our communities. The Connect for Health Community Challenge has launched and Cat Beltmann at the League is still looking for a few more good reviewers to support the process. If you're up for meeting some great people, helping evaluate plans and proposals, and giving back in a time-limited way, this could be the gig for you! Contact Cat to express your interest and for more details!

The Connect for Health Challenge is a new grantmaking initiative of the Blue Cross Foundation, in collaboration with InCommons, which plans to award up to $500,000 to nonprofits, schools and local units of government to support efforts that strengthen social connections in low-income communities across Minnesota.  Strong connections with friends and neighbors mean people are more likely to be involved in their communities, perform better in school and live happier and healthier lives.

The Connect for Health Challenge will award up to 20 grants of up to $20,000 and one larger grant of up to $100,000. The Blue Cross Foundation wants to engage the public in decision making by asking volunteer community reviewers to determine the Challenge semi-finalists and ultimately asking Minnesotans to vote for the up to $100,000 grant recipient.

Community Reviewers will participate in the challenge by reading and ranking all entries using an online tool. The review period will take place between roughly May 1st and June 13^th, and will consist of reviewing ideas online and participating in a selection meetings. The dates and times for the selection meetings will be determined based on the availability of the pool of community reviewers. The estimated time commitment will be 10-15 hours.

If you are interested in participating in this challenge please let me know.

Best,

Cat