Grants

Improving Veteran Mental Health | The Cigna Group

The Cigna Group Foundation is committing $9 million over three years to improve the mental health of veterans by helping address the significant impact that social determinants of health, specifically housing stability, have on mental health.

We seek to collaborate with and support nonprofit organizations that leverage evidence-informed programs and services (such as the Housing First model) to help veterans feel stable where they live and ultimately create positive impact on their mental health.

Our grant program goals are as follows:

• Increase permanent housing available for veterans.
• Improve affordability of housing for veterans through rental or mortgage assistance.
• Enhance the offering of wraparound services for veterans transitioning from shelters.

Grant program process, eligibility and requirements

• The RFA and full application are two distinct steps. First step: The RFA link available on our website will direct you to the grant application portal to complete the RFA. Second step: If eligible and invited to submit a full application, you will receive an email with a link to access it. Please note the dates in the timeline for these steps.

• The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization and within one of the specific subsections of the Internal Revenue Code (see FAQ).

• The budget narrative should reflect eligible expenses required for the specific grant request only. Salaries for staff members are allowable for related program implementation. Non-eligible expenses include fringe benefits, payroll taxes, general operating expenses, and administrative and indirect costs.

• Progress and impact measurement, including activity-tracking practices, outcome measurement and evaluation methodology, should be clearly articulated in the application.

• The measurement approach should include connecting how program outputs and activities related to housing stability result in long-term, sustainable improved mental health among veterans. For example, for the grant program goal to enhance the offering of wraparound services for veterans transitioning from shelters, we’ll seek to understand an aligned measure, such as number of veterans served by a program that delivers mental health treatment (or other wraparound services).

• Grantees awarded funding will be expected to complete a progress report (at 6 months) and final report (at 12 months/end of term).

• Additional details, including the link to the RFA, can be found on The Cigna Group Foundation website.