Frequently Asked Questions
Both are part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the state’s largest health plan, but they are two separate entities with different missions. The Center for Prevention works to advance racial and health equity to transform communities for a healthier Minnesota. Funded with $241 million from Blue Cross’ historic lawsuit against the commercial tobacco industry, the Center uses those resources to invest in community funding programs, public awareness campaigns, and actively advocates for policies, systems and environmental changes to advance community health and health equity across the state.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation was established in 1986, and works to address the social drivers that negatively impact the health of Minnesotans. The Foundation builds strong community partnerships to advance racial and health equity.
Are my premium dollars used for Center for Prevention projects?
No Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota premium dollars are used for Center for Prevention projects. All funding for the Center comes from Blue Cross’ historic settlement with the commercial tobacco industry.
No Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota premium dollars are used for Center for Prevention projects. All funding for the Center comes from Blue Cross’ historic settlement with the commercial tobacco industry.
Eligible applicants for funding include nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, government entities, tribal nations and partnerships. Applicants must be based in Minnesota and must be formal legal entities; no contracts will be awarded to individuals or groups of individuals.
For formed legal entities that wish to work together in partnership, but have not formed a legal entity specifically around the partnership itself, fiscal agents will be allowable.
In addition to our formal RFP process, we occasionally consider lower-level sponsorships and directly fund a limited number of initiatives that strategically support our goals.
For further questions about funding, please contact us via email at Prevention.Funding@bluecrossmn.com or call toll-free at 1-800-760-0052.
We fund community-led efforts to make healthy choices more accessible and available in the communities in which we live, work, and play. Our priority is on activities that result in lasting policy, systems and environmental changes related to our areas of interest: commercial tobacco use and healthy eating.
Visit our Available Funding page to see our current opportunities.
Want to be notified when new funding programs are announced? Send an email to Prevention.Funding@bluecrossmn.com to ask to be added to our notification list.
We focus on building community capacity to create policy, systems, and environmental change that will lead to long-term, sustained health improvement around two core issues: commercial tobacco use and healthy eating.
Individual choices for health are important, and they are easier to make when people’s surroundings support them. For example, you may want to eat healthier, but if you live in community without a grocery store it will be harder to find fresh fruits and vegetables. By focusing on PSE changes and using evidence-based approaches, we help create neighborhoods, communities, and a state where the healthy choice is the easy choice for all. Focusing on PSE also helps change norms, so healthier behaviors become routine where Minnesotans live, work, learn and play.