Our Rapid Response Fund is designed to provide short-term financial relief to organizations dealing with the immediate effects of federal funding reductions. Our goal is to support essential community services and ensure nonprofits can continue their vital work during this critical time. The Rapid Response Fund is not intended to sustain programs impacted by long-term funding cuts. 

This fund will help cover: 

• Bridge funding while awaiting new or restructured resources 
• Costs related to service discontinuation or workforce reductions 
• Strategic litigation or community defense efforts 
• Transitioning clients to new providers or services 
• Costs associated with nonprofit mergers and collaborations to sustain programs 

Requests will be thoughtfully reviewed, and we will respond swiftly during this urgent time. Funding can be used for a period of one to six months, with the potential for extensions based on the applicant’s needs. Grant awards may be up to $75,000, depending on the demonstrated need and proposed activities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis; however, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. We aim to notify applicants of funding decisions within five business days of submission.

Eligibility: 

• Must have received funding (grant/sponsorship/donation)  from the Health Foundation in the past three years (2022 – present) 
• Must have been in operation for at least three years 
• Must be a tax-exempt nonprofit within our service area (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties) 
• Must have received formal notification of loss of federal funding 

Scope: 

• Focused on addressing sudden disruptions that impact essential community needs, such as health, wellness, safety, and a sense of belonging

Requirements:

• Most recent 990
• Organizational budget
• Proof of federal funding loss

As we work together to navigate these challenges, the Health Foundation remains committed to supporting the nonprofits and organizations that are essential to the wellbeing of our communities. We look forward to supporting your work through this crucial initiative! Please see our RAPID RESPONSE GUIDANCE for more information. 

Please reach out to us directly at rapidresponse@thegrhf.org with any questions or for additional information. We are here to help. 

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation recognizes that engaging community events and fundraising events can forge meaningful connections between nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. Through our Community Event Fund, open to Health Foundation grantees as well as other mission-aligned nonprofit organizations in our nine-county area of service, we strive to support events that advance health equity and initiatives within the region. 

These events can include: 

• Annual dinners, luncheons, and galas 
• Athletic fundraising events (golf tournaments, charity runs, etc.) 
• Health fairs/screenings/vaccine clinics 
• Educational events for the community  
• Staff trainings 

All applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and we ask that all applicants follow these guidelines when submitting a request: 

• We only accept submission of request through the online portal. No telephone requests or emailed applications will be reviewed.  
• Submission request maximum is $5,000.

Ineligible applicants and activities: 

• We cannot fund government entities, political groups or organizations, or capital campaigns.   
• We only support events where both the planning and the funding are handled locally. If your organization is part of a national entity, please ensure that any sponsorship funds will be received and used directly by your local chapter. We no longer fund events where payments are routed through a national headquarters before reaching the local level. 

The Health Foundation reviews event sponsorship requests on a rolling basis within each quarter. While you may apply at any time up to one month before your event date, funding is limited and may be fully allocated before the quarter ends due to high demand. To increase your chances of receiving support, we strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible.  We review event sponsorship requests by quarter, based on the date of your event, not the date you apply. Our quarters are:

• Q1: February, March, April 
• Q2: May, June, July 
• Q3: August, September, October 
• Q4: November, December, January 

We structure our calendar this way to ensure we can support events happening in January, without delays. Make sure to check which quarter your event falls into and apply as early as possible within that quarter to increase your chances of receiving funding. 

Please note: 

• You must apply at least four weeks (1 month) prior to your event. Events applied for less than 1 month in advance will be declined.
• If your event is in the current quarter, you will typically receive a decision within one month of your application. 
• If your event is in a future quarter, you will not hear from us until the quarter in which your event occurs.  

If we are unable to sponsor your event due to limited availability of funds, we encourage you to apply again for a future event in a different quarter.  

We kindly ask that you refrain from reaching out for updates prior to the notification timeline outlined above.

Greater Rochester Health Foundation will consider funding one event per organization per calendar year. Submission of an event does not guarantee funding.