Grants are an important part of nonprofit funding, so much that many people in the industry devote a great deal of time and energy learning how to apply for them in just the right way.
Knowing how to go about it is important, but the how-to-go-about-it part is undergoing change, and applicants need to be aware of that evolution.
During the 2014 Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) International Conference, Louise Mathias of Innovative Funding Partners and Laurel Hunt of Mission Health System said that three emerging grantmaking trends are strongly influencing the healthcare sector. Those three trends are:
- The Triple Aim. The three interlocked parts of this are the Patient Experience (Better Care), Reducing Per Capita Cost (Better Value) and Health of Populations (Better Health).
- Patient Centered Care and Outcomes. Guidelines have come from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and filtered down through other federal agencies. It means having patients involved in the entire grant cycle, from development of the actual project all the way though dissemination.
- Evidence-based Care. There is an increased focus on measurable outcomes. This can result in evidence-based care vs. promising practice. The expectation is that the healthcare provider will tailor care for its unique population/patient needs.
