Opportunity Overview
The CareSource Foundation transitioned to an invitation-only grantmaking process effective July 31, 2026. The Foundation identifies organizations for possible support based on strategic alignment, community need, evidence-based practice, and demonstrated impact. Organizations cannot self-initiate an application without an invitation.
Funding Structure and Deadline
CareSource identifies two request classes: Community Grants for requests below $100,000 and Signature Grants for requests of $100,000 or more. The current public guidance does not publish a universal maximum award. There is no public application deadline or public deadline time zone for this invitation-only process. Invited organizations receive portal access, instructions, supporting-material requirements, and the applicable due date directly from the Foundation.
Eligibility
The Foundation supports organizations that are tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and prioritizes programs in CareSource service areas, while considering other locations case by case. Organizations must be invited to apply. The Foundation states that organizations less than three years old, for-profit organizations, individuals, scholarship organizations, fraternal organizations, sporting clubs, organizations outside the United States, political organizations, redistributors of funds, and several other categories are not eligible. An organization that receives funding is generally eligible for one grant award per calendar year.
Ohio Health and Education Priorities
Current Ohio priorities include health education and healthy habits; access to health and dental screenings and preventive care; community-based delivery of care; mental and behavioral health access; chronic-disease self-management; aging in place; support for people with disabilities; maternal, infant, and child health; prenatal and postpartum access; youth development; health-care workforce development; student access to pediatric health and dental services; and social, mental, and behavioral health services that support student academic success.
Application and Required Content
The process begins with direct Foundation outreach and an introductory conversation. Organizations selected to proceed receive access to the online grantmaking portal. The application must describe program activities, participants or beneficiaries, measurable short-term outcomes, long-term impact, and success indicators. Multi-year requests are permitted and must include all years in the budget and applicable timelines. Additional documentation may be requested through the online system during review. The public guidance does not state a mandatory match or cost-share requirement.
Material Restrictions
Among the excluded requests are medical research, salary-only requests, first-time grantee general operating expenses, deficits or debt reduction, reimbursement for completed projects, and organizations that discriminate on protected grounds. Applicants should rely on their invitation and portal requirements for the final controlling documentation and deadline.
Atlas Strategic Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 90/100. The Foundation’s priorities strongly overlap with community health, behavioral health, maternal and pediatric care, preventive services, disability services, school-linked health, and health-workforce development. The principal constraint is that the process is invitation-only, so Atlas should not conduct cold grant solicitation or represent that an organization can apply without a CareSource invitation.
N9+ Fit Score: 20/100, conditional. The Foundation explicitly supports access to screenings, preventive care, community-based care, chronic-disease support, and pediatric health services, but the general public guidance does not specifically authorize medical-device or telehealth equipment costs. N9+ should only be evaluated after an invited applicant’s specific portal instructions and allowable-cost rules are available.
Direct-Vendor and Outreach Path
Dr. Miltie is not a direct applicant under the published eligibility rules because the Foundation limits grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. No cold applicant outreach should be initiated for this invitation-only opportunity. Atlas may support an organization that has already received a CareSource invitation, subject to the invitation’s exact deadline, requirements, and allowable costs.
Controlling sources: CareSource Foundation Ohio How to Apply, CareSource Foundation FAQs, and CareSource Foundation Ohio Priorities, verified September 14, 2026.