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Florida Blue Foundation Accepting Mental Well-Being Grant Applications for 2026

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 Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that improve health by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. The Foundation is now accepting applications for 2026 grants from organizations with documented expertise in mental well-being.
 
The Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities across Florida. Among its funding priorities for mental well-being grants, the Foundation supports innovative and effective solutions that promote whole-person health, address unmet needs, and foster a healthier and more resilient Florida.
 
The Foundation is looking for mental well-being programs focused on:
 

  • Enhancing Access to Mental Health Services.
Access to care and treatment for mental health issues remains out of reach for most of the population in the United States even though approximately 23% of adults experience mental illness and 16% of youth experience a mental health disorder each year. 1* This funding focus aims to bridge the mental health service gap for individuals and families across Florida, addressing pressing issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, and loneliness.
Proposed programs will enhance access to comprehensive mental health services, promote overall well-being, and foster resilient communities throughout the state. By targeting unmet needs and providing essential support, this funding seeks to improve the mental health and well-being of Floridians, empowering them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
 
  • Strengthening Florida’s Mental Health Workforce.
Currently, 40% (137 million) of the U.S. population lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (Mental Health HPSA). 2* At a state level, Florida has a severe shortage of mental health providers, with a staggering 550-to-1 ratio of residents to mental health providers, ranking 43rd in the nation. 3* This funding focus is intended to bolster Florida's mental health workforce by building a pipeline of professionals for enhanced care while addressing the state's growing need for mental and behavioral health services. By supporting the training, skills development and/or expansion of mental health professional programs, this funding aims to support licensed and qualified professionals entering the field, enhance their skills, and ultimately improve access to high-quality care for individuals and communities across Florida.
 
The Florida Blue Foundation is funding approximately $3.2 million for this grant program, offering four-year grants. The total funding request for the grant period should fall within the range of $300,000 to $400,000, with an approximate annual allocation of $75,000 to $100,000.
Applications for mental well-being grants are due Thursday, May 21, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). All applicants will be notified of their status in September 2026.
 
To access the online application for the Mental Well-being grant program, visit:  FloridaBlue.com/Foundation or click here.
 
Watch the 2026 Mental Well-being Informational Webinar for more information on the grant program.
 
1* National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Data is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and others. https://www.nami.org/mental-health-by-the-numbers/. You Are Not Alone infographic https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NAMI_YouAreNotAlone_2025.pdf. Accessed March 9, 2025.
2* State of the Behavioral Health Workforce 2025. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Workforce Brief.
https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/Behavioral-Health-Workforce-Brief-2025.pdf. Published December 2025.
3* Behavioral Health Data Profile for Florida. Data Brief. Florida Hospital Association.
https://fha.org/common/Uploaded%20files/FHA/Health%20Care%20Issues/Increasing%20Access%20to%20Behavioral%20Health%20Care/Issue%20Brief%20on%20B
ehavioral%20Health%20Data%20Profile%20for%20Florida%202024.pdf. Published May 2023.
 
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About Florida Blue Foundation
Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions, and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in communities across the state. An average of 10 million Floridians receive services each year as a result of its community investments. Founded in 2001, Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improving health by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit FloridaBlue.com/Foundation.
 

Florida Blue Foundation Accepting Mental Well-Being Grant Applications for 2026

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