Opportunity Overview
CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital’s 2027 Community Health Improvement Grants are open for eligible nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable or underserved populations in the Chattanooga area. CommonSpirit uses the program to support defined community health projects aligned with needs identified through participating hospitals’ Community Health Needs Assessments and implementation strategies.
Funding and Deadline
The current 2027 Hospital List for Grant Applicants places Memorial Hospital – Chattanooga and Memorial Hospital – Hixson in the Memorial TN/GA granting cluster. The published grant range is $20,000 to $35,000. Applications are open through September 18, 2026. CommonSpirit’s current public program materials do not publish a specific closing clock time or time zone, so applicants should not assume end of day acceptance.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or use a qualified 501(c)(3) fiscal agent capable of administering project funds. Proposed projects must serve vulnerable or underserved populations in the participating hospital service area, address one or more current Community Health Needs Assessment priorities, and provide sustained activity for approximately 9 to 12 months.
Requests of $20,000 or more require collaborating partner organizations, other than the granting hospital, with distinct and substantive project roles. CommonSpirit generally limits projects to one year and permits no more than four consecutive years of funding for the same project.
Memorial Priority Needs
The current Memorial TN/GA cluster identifies priority needs including access to affordable health insurance and healthcare providers, mental and behavioral health resources, food insecurity, affordable healthy housing, transportation, poverty and low income, chronic disease, prevention, education and health literacy, and substance use disorder.
Allowable and Ineligible Costs
CommonSpirit states that equipment purchases are subject to program limits. Capital projects such as buildings and renovations, lobbying or political campaigns, unrestricted general operating support, event sponsorships, and contracts for services are not eligible. Applicants should confirm the current equipment cap and all detailed budget rules in the live application portal before finalizing a proposal.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 92/100. This is a strong Tennessee healthcare opportunity with a clear local hospital cluster, a published $35,000 applicant ceiling, and priorities that align with access to care, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention and management, health literacy, and social drivers of health.
N9+ Fit: 28/100 conditional. The Nonagon N9+ device and platform could have only a limited supporting role in an eligible nonprofit led access to care or chronic disease project if the live budget rules permit the equipment cost and the project remains a bona fide community health initiative. Because equipment funding is limited and contracts for services are ineligible, Atlas should not force N9+ into a proposal. QC Healthcare Fit: 5/100 conditional.
Submission Mechanics
Applications are submitted online through the participating hospital’s CommonSpirit application link. Applicants should use the hospital specific portal, verify all current budget and equipment rules, and define substantive collaborating partner roles when requesting $20,000 or more. General program questions may be directed to communitygrants@commonspirit.org.
Next Action
Identify a qualifying Chattanooga area 501(c)(3) applicant with a specific Community Health Needs Assessment aligned project, confirm the live portal’s detailed budget and equipment rules, document required partner roles for requests of $20,000 or more, and submit before September 18, 2026.
Official sources: CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants; 2027 Hospital List for Grant Applicants.