Minnesota 2026 Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) Grants — 2027–2031 Cycle
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released its new 2026 Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative Request for Proposals on October 22, 2026. Applications are open for competitive grants to address health disparities through community-driven, promising or research-based approaches. The controlling 37-page RFP sets the submission deadline at December 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Individual awards and statewide funding
MDH anticipates approximately 20–30 awards with an estimated individual award range of $170,000–$258,000 annually; final annual awards can be lower or higher, so this range is not a hard maximum. Applicants request a consistent annual amount. Awards may continue for four years, July 1, 2027–June 30, 2031, subject to performance and appropriations. The $5,142,000 annual program funding pool is an aggregate allocation, not an individual applicant award. It comprises approximately $3.142 million in state general funds and $2 million in federal TANF funds restricted to teen-pregnancy prevention in service of reducing infant mortality.
Eligible applicants and geography
Applicants must be located in Minnesota and perform grant activities in Minnesota; qualifying faith-based organizations, social service and community nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments, community health boards and community clinics are examples. Applicants need formal state or federal organizational recognition (such as an EIN); otherwise an eligible fiscal agent may take legal and fiscal responsibility. Fiscal agents may be outside Minnesota. Collaboration is encouraged. Non-Tribal-led projects on Tribal lands require Tribal government approval before the agreement is finalized.
Priority health areas
Projects may address up to three related priority areas: breast and cervical cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; adult and childhood immunizations; infant mortality and prenatal-care access; sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS; teen pregnancy prevention in service of reducing infant mortality; and unintentional injuries and violence. Projects should demonstrate meaningful community participation, work plans and evaluation. State TANF funds bring separate participation and service limitations; not all applicants or projects qualify for the TANF-funded category.
Funding conditions and restrictions
No matching funds are required. Allowable grant expenses include directly related program planning, implementation, staff, community engagement, evaluation, and collaborative efforts in the approved budget. Costs incurred before the fully executed agreement and its effective date are not reimbursable. The RFP excludes unrelated spending, political lobbying, fundraising, personal debts, alcohol or cannabis, and supplanting other funding; additional TANF restrictions apply, including limits on direct clinical services, certain individual reimbursements and activities outside its allowed purpose. Grant payments require documentation, approved budgets and progress reporting. Indirect costs are limited by the funder’s policies (generally up to 15% of direct costs absent a qualifying negotiated rate).
Required submission
Submit the completed MDH Application Form, Work and Evaluation Plan, Budget, Due Diligence Review Form (not required for Community Health Boards and Tribal Nations), and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form according to the RFP. Applications must be sent by email to ommh@state.mn.us, using the subject EHDI RFP Application – [applicant organization name]. The RFP requests questions by November 30, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
Application deadline: December 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. See the official Minnesota 2026 EHDI RFP application page and controlling 37-page RFP (PDF) for all detailed eligibility, special restrictions, forms and submission rules.
Official RFP and MDH application page reviewed October 24, 2026. Statewide program pool, estimated annual applicant awards, and four-year funding period clearly distinguished. This is a competitive applicant grant, not procurement.