Icon of a clipboard with check marks and a dollar sign, representing a grant opportunity.

Grant Opportunity

Community Engagement Grants

Community engagement is a vital component to the success of public health. In an effort to overcome common participation barriers, MTPHI will fund community engagement activities led by local and tribal health departments aimed at addressing public health priorities. For this funding category, health departments may request up to $1,500 per award. Funding will be issued as direct vendor payments unless otherwise requested. Health departments are eligible to divide this into multiple requests through June 30, 2026.  If funding is being requested for a re-occurring event, such as a quarterly meeting, only one application is required.

Examples

  • Food & refreshment for meetings / events

  • Venue rentals

  • Outreach materials

  • Honoraria for speakers

  • Event supplies

  • Incentives for community members to participate in a survey

Timeline

MTPHI accepts applications for community engagement projects on a rolling basis – health departments may submit an application for this category at any time. MTPHI will provide a funding decision with 2 weeks of submission.

Application

Support & Technical Assistance

To help advance equitable public health outcomes, MTPHI is committed to keeping the application process low-barrier, inclusive, and supportive. All applicants will have access to the following resources:

Kickoff Webinar

MTPHI will host a kickoff webinar on January 9th at 10am to introduce the grant opportunity, review eligibility and application requirements, and answer questions. Register for the session here.

Dedicated Staff Support

Each applicant will have access to a designated staff member who can provide free technical assistance at every step of the process, including:

  • Idea development and refining project concepts

  • Budget planning and allowable cost guidance

  • Crafting a compelling story of need and impact

  • Understanding the review and reporting process

After funding decisions are made, each awarded health department will be paired with a MTPHI staff liaison who will serve as their ongoing point of contact for questions, reporting, and vendor payment logistics.

Eligibility Criteria

These opportunities are open to any local or tribal health department in Montana.

Selection Criteria

MTPHI recognizes that each application is different and reflects the unique needs of each health department. When we review proposals, we look at the overall picture – what’s strong, what might need more support, and what challenges could come up.

When reviewing community engagement grant applications, MTPHI considers whether the proposal:

  • Enhances a public health community engagement activity

  • Effectively reduces barriers for the health department to conduct the activity

  • Aligns with eligible uses of this funding

More information about our selection criteria can be found in the MTPHI Community Engagement Grants Overview document.

Questions

MTPHI staff are available to answer questions and/or help health departments with their application. If you have questions or would like to request support, please contact grants@mtphi.org