Opportunity Overview
Open now. CommonSpirit Health is accepting applications for its 2027 Community Health Improvement Grants through September 18, 2026. The program supports defined 9-12 month community-health projects led by qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or applicants using an eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal agent, that address priorities identified by participating hospitals and serve underserved or vulnerable populations.
Kentucky Participating Hospitals and Award Ranges
Current Kentucky award ranges vary by participating hospital or cluster. Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown and Saint Joseph Berea list awards of $10,000-$19,500. The Lexington cluster of Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, and Continuing Care Hospital lists awards of $20,000-$100,000. Saint Joseph London lists awards of $20,000-$91,000. Saint Joseph Mount Sterling lists awards of $10,000-$19,500.
Kentucky Hospital Priorities
Flaget Memorial Hospital, Bardstown: diabetes; nutrition, physical activity and weight; substance use; mental health; disabling conditions; and cancer.
Saint Joseph Berea: diabetes; nutrition, physical activity and weight; substance use; mental health; disabling conditions; and cancer.
Lexington cluster, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, and Continuing Care Hospital: mental health; substance use; diabetes; nutrition, physical activity and weight; heart disease and stroke; tobacco use; and cancer.
Saint Joseph London: substance use; mental health; diabetes; cancer; nutrition, physical activity and weight; and tobacco use.
Saint Joseph Mount Sterling: nutrition, physical activity and weight; substance use; mental health; diabetes; oral health; and cancer.
Eligibility and Project Rules
Applicants must be IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing or use a qualified 501(c)(3) fiscal agent. Projects must address a significant need identified by the participating hospital, serve communities within its service area, and sustain project activity for 9-12 months. Requests of $20,000 or more require at least two substantive collaborating partner organizations in addition to the applicant.
Proposal budgets may include equipment purchases up to $5,000 plus computer equipment up to $2,500, with total equipment costs not exceeding 50% of the request. The program does not fund capital projects, unrestricted operating support, lobbying or political campaigns, or contracts for services.
Required Application Materials and Controls
CommonSpirit’s current application questions require the applicant’s organizational and tax information plus document uploads including the IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, a signed and dated March 2024 IRS Form W-9, the board of directors list, and the most recent annual audit, review, or financial statement. The application also collects partner information and agreement to participate when partners are used.
The online narrative controls include a 2,000-character project summary, a 1,000-character population-served narrative, up to ten ZIP codes, a 1,000-character sustainability response, project activities with a 1,750-character limit per activity, measurable outcome goals with a 750-character limit per goal, and an online project budget covering grant-funded and other confirmed funding sources. Standard-grant requests require at least two substantive collaborating partner organizations.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 94/100. This is a strong current Kentucky community-health funding pathway with multiple hospital markets and awards up to $100,000.
N9+ Fit: 32/100, conditional. A remote physical-exam platform could be relevant only where an eligible nonprofit can structure a legitimate project within the program’s tight equipment limits. Contracts for services are excluded, so N9+ should not be forced into an application.
Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. The applicant must be a qualifying nonprofit or use an eligible nonprofit fiscal agent. Dr. Miltie may participate only in a compliant supporting role if the applicant’s project and budget rules permit it.
Next Action
Eligible Kentucky nonprofits should select the participating CommonSpirit hospital or cluster serving their community, review the local priorities and award range, secure the required substantive partners for requests of $20,000 or more, and submit through the hospital-specific application portal before September 18, 2026. The current CommonSpirit program materials publish the September 18 date but do not state an exact closing clock time or time zone. Atlas therefore keeps the opportunity published as active but does not initiate new applicant outreach under the Kentucky lane’s exact-deadline send gate unless that closing-time control is independently verified.
Official sources: CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants and the 2027 Hospital List for Grant Applicants.