BlueCross Foundation

COVID-19 Vaccine Grants

Tennesseans need accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, and communities need the resources to efficiently distribute them. So the BlueCross Foundation has now awarded multiple grants, totaling up to $1.7 million, to help local communities address these needs.

Nurse with patient

Employer Resources Toolkit

We know it’s important for you to make sure your employees are protected and have access to all the care and information they need during this COVID-19 health crisis. They’re our priority too.

To help you, we’ve created this toolkit for handouts you can use to help your employees with maintaining health, understanding medical benefits, best practices for social distancing, and tips to consider for safely returning to work onsite. We update questions and resources anytime new information becomes available. These updates are broad to cover aspects of all our plans, so please check your plan details to see which benefits are included in your plan.

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Broker Resources Toolkit

We know it’s important for you to make sure your clients are protected and have access to all the care they need during this COVID-19 health crisis. They’re our priority too.

To help you, we’ve created this toolkit for handouts you can use to help your clients understand their benefits. We’re updating questions and new resources anytime new information becomes available. Please note these updates are broad to cover all aspects of all our plans and won’t apply to every group.

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Funding is underway

After an overwhelming response, the BlueCross Foundation has announced recipients for its COVID-19 vaccine grants. We have committed:

More than $400,000 to Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga for a communications and vaccine support program for vulnerable populations in the Chattanooga area

More than $200,000 to Camellia Foundation/Clínica Médicos in Chattanooga for opening a second vaccination site for underinsured populations

$13,800 to Healing Word Counseling Center in Memphis for medical-grade vaccine freezers and site support for vaccination events

Learn more about these recipients and the details of their grants.

More than $530,000 to City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods for the “Your Best Shot” campaign, with the goal of vaccinating 656,000 residents in Shelby County

More than $541,000 to First Tennessee Development District in Johnson City to address crucial social issues such as food insecurity, childhood literacy, workforce development and more

Learn more about these recipients and the details of their grants.

How we evaluated proposals

The program was designed to provide funding to leverage local knowledge, expertise, resources and relationships to increase vaccinations within communities.

Civic organizations, governmental entities and nonprofits submitted proposals for funding. Applications were reviewed and qualifying grants awarded on a rolling basis. All available funds have now been allocated.

For questions or additional information, contact Chelsea Johnson at chelsea_johnson@bcbst.com or (423) 535-3240.

Awarded funding must be used in Tennessee communities. Additional requirements included:

  • Research-based insights used in developing the campaign or program
  • Clear and detailed projected outcomes and measurements to be reported to BlueCross Foundation staff periodically while project is in progress and when the project is completed
  • Nondiscrimination policy in place and enforced
  • Recognition for BlueCross Foundation funding

The foundation prioritized proposals that involve:

  • Community coalitions and regional partnerships, including local governments, regional cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, civic service organizations, etc. with an identified lead organization and dedicated fiduciary agent;
  • Strategic plans to augment foundation funding with local matching funds and/or in-kind support;
  • Specific outreach to communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to address health disparities; and
  • Detailed information about programming, collaboration and sustainable funding in support of community vaccination efforts.