Responsive Grants are one way we partner with and support a broad array of communities and organizations as they are best suited to understand their priority needs and to create solutions that improve health. Driven by community voice, Responsive Grants are nimble and responsive to emerging health issues and needs. These grants allow flexibility to test innovative ideas and different approaches to challenges and share what we and our partners are learning from the projects supported.
We’re now accepting proposals for our Responsive Grants 2026 Call for Ideas funding opportunity. Responsive Grants are one way we partner with and support a broad array of communities and organizations as they are best suited to understand their priority needs and to create solutions that improve health.
Non-profit organizations providing services in one of the nine counties we serve (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates) are invited to submit proposals by 4 p.m. on April 8.
We’re pleased to partner with Rochester Area Community Foundation again this year. Submitted proposals may be considered for co-investment, allowing us to expand the total investment in organizations and services advancing health equity across our region.
As funding and nonprofit landscapes continue to shift, we’re focused on supporting the stabilization of programs and organizations deeply rooted in community, working toward: sustaining community services; harm mitigation; and collective strength and security — particularly for populations facing heightened risk.
This multi-year funding opportunity allows for annual requests ranging from $25,000 to $175,000, up to three years. Our goal is to award approximately $2.5 million, across an estimated total of 15-20 grant awards.
Funding may support a variety of activities such as programs, general operating expenses, compensation, or advocacy efforts, and should benefit communities that have historically been impacted by health inequities such as immigrant, migrant, refugee, rural, disabled, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), older adults, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQIA+) communities, and people impacted by poverty.
While we know we cannot be all things to all people, our commitment is to be clear, responsive, and grounded while directing resources where they are most needed at this moment.
Click the button below for full details on our funding priorities this year, the process to submit, and information to include in your proposal.
For accessibility, unless otherwise noted, resources linked in buttons will open in Word
Our Responsive Grants team is available to answer any questions. Please reach out via email to ideas@thegrhf.org or contact a member of the team:
Hannah Castelli, Program Officer (585) 258-1703
Rachel Betts, Program Officer (585) 258-1730
Monica Brown, Senior Program Officer (585) 258-1710
We’d love to hear from you
