The Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds (MA CHHAF) comes from hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare entities that go through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Determination of Need (DoN) Program. DPH oversees the funds and determines the allocation of the resources for each of the individual funding streams: (1) Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change (PSE), (2) Healthy Aging, and (3) Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP). The total amount of funding available to the Funds is different for each funding cycle. For more information about the DoN program, click here. 

These funding opportunities are separate from local DoN funds. In January 2017, the DPH completed a landmark revision of the DoN regulation. The revised regulation authorized the creation of the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds. These statewide funds prioritize communities that have not historically and routinely benefitted from DoN funds. For more information on local DoN funds, click here.

Before the January 2017 revision of the DoN regulation, funding went primarily to the communities that hospitals were located in. This resulted in Boston receiving concentrated funding. For more information on the history of DoN contributions, click here.

The Funds are both a grantmaking and capacity-building resource. The purpose is to assist organizations and communities in addressing the root causes of health inequities. The Funds focus on addressing health and racial inequities through community-centered PSE-change approaches.

The Funds are guided by the following principles:  

• The Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) account for significant variation in health outcomes.
• Policies, systems, and social/physical environments are historically based in structural and institutional racism and other forms of oppression.
• Structural and institutional racism and other forms of oppression need to be understood and disrupted to eliminate inequities in population health outcomes and the SDoH.

Community can be defined broadly, both geographically or population-based, among people with shared identity, affinity, or affiliation.

There are many ways to define equity. The Funds use a definition from Human Impact Partners. They define health equity as everyone having a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. To achieve this, we must remove obstacles to health — such as poverty, discrimination, and deep power imbalances. We must also address the consequences, including lack of access to good jobs, quality education, housing, safety, and health care.  

There are many ways to define equity. The Funds use a definition from Human Impact Partners. They define health equity as everyone havin Your organization does not need to be located in a specific community to apply. In your application, highlight how your approach would seek to help populations (demographic or geographic) that are experiencing inequities. We welcome a range of information or data to help define/quantify health inequities in the communities/areas/populations you are working with. g a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. To achieve this, we must remove obstacles to health — such as poverty, discrimination, and deep power imbalances. We must also address the consequences, including lack of access to good jobs, quality education, housing, safety, and health care.  

No, this will not be considered a disadvantage. The Funds uses an approach known as “leading with race and racism.” This approach recognizes that people of color in Massachusetts have historically and consistently had less opportunity to lead a healthy life. The Funds also recognize that the root causes of health can create barriers to health for all types of populations, including those that are predominantly white. As a result, the Funds want communities to lead with race and racism, explicitly but not exclusively. We will prioritize approaches that impact communities – whether geographic or population-based – that experience high rates of health inequities. We encourage applicants to explain how their approach will work to disrupt the root causes of health inequities through PSE change approaches. 

Yes, the Funds will take applications from organizations that seek to move from short-term, time-limited efforts to long-term, sustainable approaches. Planning Grants will support planning, technical assistance, capacity building, and learning for emerging Healthy Aging, CHIP and PSE approaches. Recipients of Planning Grants are welcome to apply for a Full Grant in the next funding cycle. Please note that Full Grant funding is not automatically guaranteed for Planning Grant awardees.

The following Massachusetts-based organizations, who meet at least one of the criteria, are eligible to apply: 

• Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations
• Groups with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor
• Quasi-governmental organizations
• Municipalities
• Current awardees who are regional planning agencies (members of Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies) or statewide organizations and who are in their final 2 years of their current grant can apply for a Full Grant for an approach that reaches a different geography or population.

Hospitals and colleges/universities are not eligible to apply as lead applicants but – in places where they play key roles as anchor institutions – can participate as partners with a community-based organization as the lead applicant.

Hospitals that have contributed DoN funds are not eligible to receive any funding.

**For groups applying with the 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor, it is expected that your organization would be performing the majority of the work, with most of the funding used to support your proposed activities. Proposed budgets should include no more than 20% for indirect or “overhead” costs for your organization or your fiscal agent.

Yes, an organization can serve as a fiscal agent for multiple proposals.

Yes, single organizations can apply for funding. However, collaboration is strongly encouraged.

Yes, a single organization may apply as the lead applicant. However, collaborative proposals involving multiple organizations are strongly encouraged. If applying as a partnership, one organization should be the designated lead to manage the application and serve as the primary point of contact.

Yes, you are still eligible to apply. Even if your primary service is focused in the city of Boston, you are still eligible to apply. The city of Boston is not our geographic funding priority. We recommend that those who primarily serve in the city of Boston consider expanding their scope to include areas outside of Boston where you have authentic community partnerships and relationships with the population(s) your project will work with.

The city of Boston is not our geographic funding priority. We recommend that those who primarily serve in the city of Boston and other neighboring communities consider expanding their scope to include areas outside of Boston area where you have authentic community partnerships and relationships with the population(s) your project will work with. If you would like to learn more about DoN projects in the Boston area, please click here. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/don-completed-projects

If your contract ends on or before June 30, 2026, you are eligible to apply for a Full Grant. Current and previous awardees are ineligible to apply for a Planning Grant. 

Organizations that currently serve as fiscal sponsors or subcontractors of grantees are eligible to apply as a lead organization for this funding cycle.

Future funding opportunities will depend on the availability of funds. We anticipate future funding cycles being offered every two years.

Yes, if you were funded by another grant program at HRiA, you are eligible for this funding opportunity. While HRiA is the fiscal agent responsible for implementation of the Funds, they are overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

Organizations should propose activities that fit the purpose of the Funds as described in the FAQ Section above and meet the unique needs of their communities. Proposed activities can be new ideas or complement and enhance existing efforts in the community. A range of unique and creative ideas are welcome and will be considered. Applications should include a description of how your approach/activities address the root causes of health inequities through PSE change approaches.

Yes, proposals that have the potential to impact local and regional communities and that meet the criteria listed in the Request for Proposals (RFP) will be considered.

Yes, approaches that impact policies, systems, and environments are eligible, including internal policies and systems at organizations.

Yes, funds can support staffing costs. However, this funding opportunity is not intended solely to support funding for local boards of health or public health department activities. We encourage you to consider and explain how your approach is collaborating with the community to address the root causes of health inequities through PSE change.  

Funds cannot be used for research or capital expenses.

The award period will begin in July 2026 and end in June 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, or 2031, depending on the number of years of your award.

There are two grant types, Planning Grants and Full Grants:

Planning Grants:

• Planning Grants are intended for organizations that are seeking to move from short-term, time-limited efforts to long-term, policy, system, and environmental change sustainable approaches. Planning Grantswill support planning, technical assistance, capacity building, and provide learning opportunities for emerging PSE, Healthy Aging, and CHIP approaches. This opportunity is to support organizations that seek organizational capacity building and technical assistance with upstream approaches and are moving their work toward PSE Change.
• Planning grants have a duration of one to two years and a maximum award of $50,000 per year.
• Entities cannot apply for a Planning Grant and a Full PSE, CHIP or Healthy Aging Grant in the same application cycle. Recipients of Planning Grants are welcome to apply for a Full Grant in the next funding cycle; however, funding is not automatically guaranteed for Planning Grant grantees.

Full Grants:

• Full Grants will support implementation focused activities, including technical assistance, and capacity building.
• Full grants are usually three to five year periods with the maximum funding per year depending on the funding stream.
• Applicants can apply to more than one funding stream for the full applications only.

Planning Grants: 

• Applicants can only apply to one funding stream within the Planning Grants. 
• Applicants for Planning Grants cannot apply for a Full Grant during the same grantmaking cycle. 

Full Grants: 

• Applicants can apply to more than one funding stream for the full applications only. 
• Applicants may submit one application within each funding stream  

If you apply for the full application in any of the three funding streams, you cannot apply for a Planning Grant. 

Yes.

There are no set outcomes grantees are expected to achieve by the end of the grant period, and we look to applicants to define their intended deliverables or measures in their workplan. Our Evaluation staff will support grantees in the development of an evaluation plan to assess impact. We will engage grantees in annual conversations to learn more about their work and progress. Please see more about the expected administrative activities below: 

• Reporting: Awardees will take part in quarterly check-ins with a Program Officer throughout the award period. During quarterly check-ins, awardees can share feedback, success stories, lessons learned, and status updates. Awardees will maintain an up-to-date workplan that summarizes key activities and community engagement. Awardees will submit detailed financial expenditures each year.  
• Capacity Building: Throughout the duration of the award, HRiA will provide regular capacity building and peer learning opportunities. Awardees are expected to attend required sessions and are encouraged to participate in other opportunities. 
• Evaluation: 
  • Grantees will collect and report data metrics as developed in an evaluation plan, including: 
  • Progress of PSE change strategies 
  • Community engagement in their activities 
  • Changes in racial equity 
  • Community level data 
  • Grantees will also be expected to participate in overarching evaluation activities. Examples of these activities could include virtual site visits, short written reports, surveys, and/or focus groups. 

The maximum amount for each funding stream is: 

• Planning Grant:  
• Up to $50,000 per year for 1-2 years (PSE, Healthy Aging, and CHIP) 
• Full Grant:
• PSE: $200,000 per year, 3-5 years
• Healthy Aging: Up to $100,000 per year, 3-5 years
• CHIP: $375,000 total for 3-5 years 

Please note: 

• Requests cannot exceed the maximum each year. For example, the maximum you can apply for in 1 year for PSE is $200,000. For five years that would total $1,000,000. You cannot apply for any amount more than $200,000 per year whether your request is for a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-year period. The funding ranges apply to all applications, whether you are covering one municipality/population, or several. 
• Applicants could be conditionally accepted as a grantee pending revisions to their proposal including budget or workplan changes. Whether you are applying as an individual organization or a partnership of several entities, the maximum funding amounts still apply to the group’s application. You cannot request more than the maximum amount across all of the partner organizations, unless you apply separately. 

No, the amount you request is not tied to your organization’s annual budget. However, one of the four review criteria is feasibility. Please outline a realistic budget for the activities you are proposing and include context for why this project is feasible for your organization. 

The limit for indirect costs is 20% of direct costs per year. 

No, funds cannot be used solely to support general operating costs. This grant seeks to fund approaches and activities that address the root causes of health inequities through PSE change approaches.

Yes, those are eligible expenses. We encourage you to budget for in-depth community engagement. When compensating community members (those who are not paid staff by the organization or subcontractors) for their time, we recommend the following:

• A minimum payment or incentive amount of $25/hour or at least a living wage in your region. We encourage paying individuals with an extra role, such as a meeting facilitator, at a higher rate.  
• Translation, interpreting, childcare, and transportation reimbursement are offered to support participation in events.

Applicants are not required to show any match funding. In the budget form or your proposal, feel free to add information about other funding sources if it provides relevant context or helps explain why you are requesting funds for certain things. 

The workplan and budget work together, and there should be some alignment between proposed activities and the allocation of dollars. The purpose of the workplan document is to help you operationalize your approach and help us understand how you will implement the approach outlined in your proposal. Please include at least 3 major activities you will conduct as part of your approach. You are welcome to include additional details, but we understand that you may not yet have each specific detail of your approach for the full lifespan of the grant planned out yet. Our team will work with those applicants who are awarded grants to further develop their workplan.   

Similarly, for the budget, we would like to receive a budget for the full number of years you are requesting funding. However, we understand that some costs for future years may be estimates. There will be an opportunity for awardees to revise their budgets, not their budget amount.  

Please contact [email protected] for assistance with the application portal.

For programmatic questions, please contact: [email protected].

The Funds provides support throughout the application process including office hours and trainings for all interested applicants, especially those who may have limited grant writing experience or capacity. While we are unable to accept applications in another language currently, we have some resources and capacity to support language and accessibility needs throughout the application process. Please reach out to [email protected] if there are specific materials, formats, or resources that would be helpful to you. We will do our best to accommodate requests and make resources available to all applicants.

Please submit the following as attachments:

• Workplan (Template Provided)
• Budget (Template Provided)
• W-9*
• Tax-Exempt Designation* 

*If applying with a fiscal sponsor, please attach their W9 and Tax-Exempt Designation.

You can add visuals in both the narrative and presentation to show your project. However, these documents cannot be used to answer questions that are in the application as our reviewers will focus most on your written application to identify answers to the application questions. Please visit the RFP to learn more about the scoring criteria.

Applications will be reviewed and scored by individual members of a diverse Review Committee comprised of subject matter and lived experience and/or lived experiences of oppression. HRiA will facilitate a process in which Review Committee members will share and discuss their reviews. Applications will be reviewed based on the criteria of equity, impact, collaboration, and feasibility. Each of these criteria is explained in the RFP document.

Review Committee membership is available to individuals who are not knowingly affiliated with organizations applying for funding in the 2026 Funding Cycle. If you are interested, please fill out this short survey.  

The information gathered will be used to contact you with further details and instructions when we come closer to the review period in Spring 2026. Additionally, if you think of anyone who might be a good fit to serve on the Review Committee, please share this information with them. 

The Review Committee will read proposals and take part in an objective review and scoring process. The committee will make recommendations to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) and the Executive Office of Aging & Independence (EOAI) for further consideration of equity across the slate of recommended applications. The resulting recommendations will be reviewed by EOAI and DPH leadership, with final approval authority by the DPH Commissioner.

Applicants can expect to be notified regarding the status of their application in June/July. 

When decision notifications are made, we will share more information about how you can request and receive feedback. Due to the volume of applications expected, feedback will occur on a first come first serve basis for a limited time.

PSE change strategies are a way of making sustainable and lasting change within a community to support healthy environments and behaviors across populations.

• Policy change is not just legislation. It includes the passing or changing of laws, ordinances, resolutions, mandates, regulations, or rules.
• Systems change creates fundamental shifts in how problems are solved and changes the way resources and services get distributed.
• Environmental changes involve changing the economic, social, or physical surroundings or contexts that affect health outcomes.

Please check out this document for more information about PSE change approach.

PSE approaches can vary in scope. Strategies may focus on geographic or population-based communities at the local, regional, or statewide levels. The applicant can determine how broad their PSE approach will be based on need and capacity.

Gateway Cities are midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies around the state. The Legislature defines 26 Gateway Cities in the Commonwealth, which are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester. For more information, click here.

Applicants can address any of the eight Domains of Age-Friendly Communities in their approach.  

The Healthy Aging Fund will provide preference to those approaches that focus on housing or transportation but welcomes approaches that address any of the other domains as well.

Housing & Transportation, two of the Eight Domains of Livability for Age-Friendly Communities are also connected to two of the SDoH prioritized by DPH (Housing & Built Environment).

The Healthy Aging Fund places an emphasis on PSE change approaches. An applicant may request support for costs that address planning, or staff/personnel in support of a PSE approach. A full list of possible activities is included in the RFP.

There is no specific age group associated with this vision. However, this funding stream focuses on older adults, not life spans.

It is possible that proposals related to Healthy Aging could apply to the PSE and CHIP funding streams. For more information about the PSE change and/or the CHIP Process, visit the RFP.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CHIP is a long-term, systematic effort to address public health problems based on the results of community health assessment activities.  A CHIP is critical for developing policies and defining actions to target efforts that promote health. It should define the vision for the health of the community through a collaborative process and should address the gamut of strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities that exist in the community to improve the health status of that community. For more information, click here.  

Yes, the CHIP funding opportunity will support any steps in the CHIP Process. For more information, click here. However, we also know that there are many assessments happening or that have recently happened, and we will want to understand why an additional assessment in a region/community is a necessary step for the proposed CHIP process.

No, the Assessment is an important component of the CHIP, but on its own does not help the Funds reach its long-term goals to advance PSE change. If your organization is in the midst of an Assessment, your proposal should outline how the Assessment phase will inform and help you identify upstream public health issues in the Planning phase. 

CHIP planning processes are not prohibited from being included in the PSE or Healthy Aging funding opportunities if they meet the requirements. Applicants should review the eligibility requirements for each funding opportunity to determine the best fit.  

While there is no central repository for CHIPs, applicants are encouraged to connect with their local health departments, local human service departments, or local hospitals to see what CHIP plans are in place.

Yes, hospitals or ACOs can be partners. Hospitals who have conducted a Determination of Need project and therefore contributed to the statewide funds are not eligible to receive funding but can participate in-kind.