Healthy Communities/Healthy America
Because of the approximately 46 million Americans without health insurance, hundreds of communities nationwide have developed free clinics. These non-profit clinics bring together health care professionals and other community volunteers to offer free or low cost health care to low-income, uninsured and under-insured people. Funding is generally raised on the local level and there is little if any government funding or support.
While the AMA works to expand medical coverage at the advocacy level, the AMA Foundation supports these efforts by recognizing the extraordinary physicians and volunteers working at these free clinics.
Through the Healthy Communities/Healthy America program, the AMA Foundation awards $10,000-$25,000 grants to physician-led free clinics. To date, we have awarded over $600,000 to 26 free clinics across the country.
The 2010 program is supported by an educational grant from Lilly USA, LLC. For further information concerning Lilly grant funding visit the Lilly Grant Office.
Eligibility criteria
The 2010 program follows the National Association of Free Clinics' definition of a free clinic.
Further, grants will be awarded to free clinics that:
- at the time of application, have been incorporated as a 501c3, or equivalent tax-exempt status, nonprofit for at least 3 consecutive years, but no more than 10 years;
- provide 20 or more hours of medical care per week, not administration; this is defined as having clinicians (doctors/physician assistants/advance practice nurses) providing direct hands-on patient care; this does not include hours that involve the provision of pharmacy/medication/treatment or only blood pressure screenings/immunizations; (Note: clinics that provide both medical and dental services, but are requesting funds for a project that is dental care-specific will not be considered);
- have significant physician involvement (e.g. a physician serves as medical director or head administrator, or there are a substantial number of physician volunteers on the project); and
- are requesting funds specifically for diabetes management and education projects, not for activities such as routine clinic operations, maintenance or facility repairs.
Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate how grant dollars will be leveraged to provide the greatest amount of care.
Federally qualified health centers, and referral networks that coordinate care but do not provide direct care themselves (e.g. Project Access programs), are ineligible to apply. Past Healthy Communities/Healthy America grant recipients are ineligible to apply for the 2010 program. No grants to individuals; fundraising activities of any sort including endowment or other campaigns and grant preparation; debt reduction, deficits, or previous obligations; political projects or lobbying; or religious activities. Preference will not be given to free clinics that are subsidiaries of another organization such as a hospital system, university, church, or social service organization.
Grant amounts and timelines
In 2010, the AMA Foundation plans to award up to 10 grants of $10,000. Recipients will be announced in early March. The grant period and project duration is up to one year from the date of the grant check. The deadline for this 2010 program has already passed. There are no plans at the moment for another grant cycle. If there is another round of Healthy Communities/Healthy America grants, we will announce it on this Web site and in our newsletters.
Guidelines to request funding from the AMA Foundation
Tips on applying for funding and grant-writing, description of AMA Foundation funds, and links to other resources.
Recipient information
Grant recipients must submit a final report form upon completion of their project. All forms should be sent to the AMA Foundation office.
Grant outcomes
Read about key results from these grant projects
In their own words
Read how the Healthy Communities/Healthy America program has impacted free clinics.
In the news
Learn how our recipients are caring for those who have nowhere else to go:
- Pay what you can at the clinic, NBC Philadelphia, July 9, 2009
- Free clinics fill medical void, USA Today, April 10, 2009
- Volunteer clinic network turns focus on patients, Modern Physician, April 7, 2008
- 210 die each year because they lack health coverage, report says, The Charleston Gazette, March 19, 2008
- Ebenezer Medical Outreach celebrating fifth anniversary in Douglass Centre, The Herald-Dispatch, Jan. 16, 2008
- The uninsured plight is personal, Savannah Now, April 25, 2007
- I had no way to buy medicine, The Times West Virginian, Oct. 8, 2006
Volunteer opportunities
The National Association of Free Clinics is hosting several free C.A.R.E. (Communities are Responding Everyday) clinics across the country that need both clinical and non-medical volunteers. These C.A.R.E. clinics are similar to the free health clinic hosted by Dr. Oz, The Dr. Oz Show, in September in Houston that provided free basic health care to nearly 1,800 people:
Nov. 14, 2009: New Orleans, La. C.A.R.E. Clinic, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST)
Nov. 21, 2009: Little Rock, Ark. C.A.R.E. Clinic, 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Dec. 9, 2009: Kansas City, Mo. C.A.R.E. Clinic, 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (CST)
Dec. 10, 2009: Kansas City, Mo. C.A.R.E. Clinic, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (CST)
To volunteer at any of these clinics, register online at www.freeclinics.us.
TAP-IN, the Third Age Professional Initiative, connects health care professionals with free clinics.
Related links
American Association of Diabetes Educators
National Association of Free Clinics
Donate now
Donate to the Healthy Communities/Healthy America program to help free clinics across the nation provide medical care to the uninsured.
