Covered California is expecting $40 million in federal funding for the Outreach and Education Grant Program. $20 mil will be awarded in Phase One, with award winners to be announced on April 1, 2013. Covered California still has to come up with an application process and performance guidelines for interested applicants. Covered California will make multi-year grants as well as long as federal funding exists. Grants are not expected to exceed $250,000 each.

Eligible Organizations

The grant money is for “organizations and entities with trusted relationships with California’s uninsured markets”. Eligible organizations to be considered are:

• 501(c)(3) and non-profit organizations
• School districts or community colleges
• Trade, Industry, and professional organizations
• Public agencies
• Collaboratives that can coordinate services and are under the coordination of a 501(c)(3) or other public agency

Selection Criteria

• Level of access to target markets and ability to leverage resources.
• Federal or state guidelines restricting eligibility to receive federal funds.
• Alignment of vision, mission and values with the Project Sponsors.
• Established relationships with target markets.
• Demonstrate experience performing outreach activities .
• Provide access to those counties and markets where the greatest opportunity exists in terms of number of uninsured and eligible Californians.
• Ensure that all regions of the state, including hard-to-move (e.g. “invincibles”), limited-English proficiency, and rural populations will benefit from the program.
• Reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the target markets.
• Demonstrate the capacity to deliver a cost-effective and evidence-based program likely to result in increased awareness, fewer perceived barriers and ultimately, a commitment to act.