The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and Bayfront Health have joined forces to increase the local grant funding pool. Bayfront Health will now issue a dollar-for-dollar match of the Foundation’s 2023 grant making funds. That means that instead of the Foundation awarding a total of $1.45 million in 2023 as planned, the two entities will now jointly award a combined $2.9 million to local organizations.
“We’re excited to partner with the Foundation to support the local St. Petersburg community in this way,” said Bayfront Health St. Petersburg President John Moore. “We always strive to be a resource our community can depend on. By matching the Foundation’s funds, we’re excited to support organizations whose work directly benefits our patients and neighbors in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.”
Grant making strategy
The hospital and the Foundation will each provide three members to serve on a six-member advisory board. This board will oversee the grant making strategy. Details of the awards process are currently being determined. So is the timing of the release of the grant making Request for Proposals.
“These matching funds from Bayfront Health confirm the importance of our commitment to achieving health equity through race equity as they will significantly increase the impact of our grant making this year,” said Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Donna J. Petersen. “We’re so excited to deepen our partnership in this way and look forward to continuing to build this relationship with Bayfront Health toward improving health and quality of life for everyone in St. Petersburg in the years ahead.”
So where is the money going? They will split the funds between the Foundation’s two 2023 strategic grant making priorities. $1.1 million for Mental Health and Wellness for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). And $1.8 million for work in Economic Equity and Justice.