Blue Safety Net Grant

For the Foundation, improving access to care means strengthening the health care safety net with health centers and working together to bridge the health disparities gap in underserved communities.

Blue Safety Net grants are awarded by the Foundation to nonprofit, privately funded community health centers that provide free or affordable care to diverse communities across our region.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please contact us or call 1-855-422-3386.

Reaching Communities

In this edition of the Journal of Change, we highlight the evolution of health centers nationwide, and the many factors that contribute to their successes and challenges. See how health centers are Reaching Communities everywhere and delivering care where it’s needed most.

Learn More

Strengthening the health care safety net

Since 2011, the Blue Safety Net program has awarded more than $28 million to community health centers that:

  • Increase access to care in medically underserved communities
  • Improve patient coordination and communication
  • Develop innovative approaches that achieve sustainability
  • Promote projects that address specific health care gaps and obstacles to care
Reaching Communities

In this edition of the Journal of Change, we highlight the evolution of health centers nationwide, and the many factors that contribute to their successes and challenges. See how health centers are Reaching Communities everywhere and delivering care where it’s needed most.

Learn More

Blue Safety Net eligibility requirements

Blue Safety Net grants are awarded to support the following:

  • General operations. These grants support operating expenses that are critical in the delivery of care.
  • Special projects. These grants support projects or programs that seek to expand access to health care within a defined population, improve chronic conditions, reduce specific health care disparities, and/or educate parents to encourage appropriate use of medical resources.

Guidelines

Organizations may request up to $100,000 to fund general operations or a special project. To be eligible for a Blue Safety Net grant, an organization must:

  • Be a nonprofit, privately-funded health clinic or health center (note: a clinic may receive federal funding as part of its revenues)
  • Provide free or nominal-fee primary medical, dental, or vision services to the uninsured and underserved
  • Be located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia county
  • Have a mission that aligns with that of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation
  • Meet the Independence Blue Cross Foundation's general eligibility guidelines

Evaluation criteria

An organization’s grant request is evaluated based on the following:

  • Access to quality health care services
  • Increasing or expanding delivery of care
  • Improving the health and wellbeing of populations served
  • Reducing identified barriers to health care
  • Sustainable funding, innovative and collaborative partnerships
Reaching Communities

In this edition of the Journal of Change, we highlight the evolution of health centers nationwide, and the many factors that contribute to their successes and challenges. See how health centers are Reaching Communities everywhere and delivering care where it’s needed most.

Learn More

Blue Safety Net application process

Applications must be submitted electronically. If you are a new applicant, you will be required to set up an account. Please follow the directions on the grant application site.

The Blue Safety Net application process opens June 11 and closes July 23. Apply now.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please contact ibxfoundation.org or 1-855-422-3386.

The Blue Safety Net application process opens June 11 and closes July 23.

Reaching Communities

In this edition of the Journal of Change, we highlight the evolution of health centers nationwide, and the many factors that contribute to their successes and challenges. See how health centers are Reaching Communities everywhere and delivering care where it’s needed most.

Learn More

2021 Blue Safety Net grant recipients

  • Abington Jefferson Health — Children's Clinic
  • Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Community Practice Center
  • Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic
  • Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor
  • ChesPenn Health Services
  • Community Volunteers in Medicine, Inc.
  • Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc.
  • Covenant House Pennsylvania
  • Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc.
  • Esperanza Health Center, Inc.
  • Face to Face
  • Family Practice and Counseling Network
  • Greater Philadelphia Health Action - Dental Services
  • Gwynedd Mercy University - Adult Health Center
  • Harcum College — The Cohen Dental Center
  • HealthLink Dental Clinic, Inc.
  • Kids Smiles, Inc.
  • La Comunidad Hispana, Inc.
  • Manor College - Dental Center
  • Mazzoni Center
  • Pathways to Housing PA
  • Penn Dental
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Foundation
  • Philadelphia FIGHT
  • Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Inc.
  • Project HOME - Health Services
  • Public Health Management Corporation
  • Puentes de Salud
  • Salus University — The Eye Institute
  • South Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition
  • Spectrum Health Service, Inc.
  • St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children
  • St. Mary Medical Center - Community Ministries
  • Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University
  • The Clinic
  • Vision to Learn — The Eagles Eye Mobile
  • VNA Community Services, Inc.
  • Youth Service, Inc.