Overview
The Social Impact Partnership Program (SIPP) supported by Franciscan Health, seeks to partner with community organizations in an effort to improve health and wellbeing. By working collaboratively towards meaningful and sustainable change, community residents will be empowered to take better care of themselves and their families.
With this program, Franciscan Health strives to create mutually beneficial partnerships which are centered on improving significant health issues in our most vulnerable communities. Technical assistance and other types of support may be requested to ensure success.
Organizations may apply for existing programs and services that can expand the number of individuals served with additional support. While general operating support alone will not be funded, organizations may include the administrative costs of providing services in their requests.
Funding
Franciscan Health reviews proposals that focus on priority health needs and in geographic areas served by the health system. Applicants must serve or propose to expand services to Franciscan Health communities, but are not required to operate a physical location in these geographic areas.
All proposals and use of SIPP funds made by community partners must be in alignment with Franciscan Health's mission, vision and values as well as the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Organizations may apply for up to $10,000.
2025 - 2026 Timeline
- May 1: Information session for potential partners
- May 5 - May 30: Applications accepted
- Mid-July: Partners announced
- July 31: Welcome session for partners
- January 14, 2026: Check-in meeting, 6-month report due
- June 30, 2026: End of 2025-2026 SIPP cycle, final report due
Data & Resources
Franciscan Health relies on good data to help inform decision making.
For additional resources, Franciscan Health's Community Health Needs Assessment is available at www.franciscanhealth.org/communityhealth. These booklets offer even more data, including results from primary data collection.
Criteria
Franciscan Health will review proposals that focus on priority health needs and in geographic areas served by the health system.
Priority Health Needs
Franciscan Health has identified the following priority health needs based on its Community Health Needs Assessment processes.
- Chronic Disease Prevention & Management: Preventative programs and interventions that address key health outcomes associated with the leading causes of death - heart disease, diabetes, and preventable cancers. Early detection and management activities, agriculture and nutrition education, and physical activity programming will be considered. Community garden programs that are unable to produce food throughout the year will not be considered.
- Healthy Relationships: This category includes programs and interventions related to building peer and family relationships, such as parenting education, peer mentoring, family interventions, adolescent/teen programs, or positive relationship development.
- Mental Wellness: Programs that promote positive mental health strategies or assist with depression, anxiety, stress, or suicide prevention will be considered.
Geographic areas and communities
Applicants must serve Franciscan Health communities, with a preference in areas with high Area Deprivation Index scores found in Franciscan Health's Community Needs Assessment. This includes:
- South Suburban Cook County, IL, with preference to Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, and Park Forest
- Lake County, with preference to Hammond, East Chicago, and Cedar Lake
- Porter County
- LaPorte County, with preference to Michigan City
- Jasper County
- Tippecanoe County, with preference to Lafayette
- Montgomery County
- South Marion County, with preference to Beech Grove and the Townships of Perry, Decatur, and Franklin
- Northern Johnson County, with preference to Greenwood and Bargersville
- Morgan County, with preference to Mooresville, Monrovia, and Eminence
Organizations do not need to operate a physical location in these geographic areas, but they must serve or propose to expand services to residents in one or more areas listed above.
Application Process
To apply for SIPP, submit an online application and support documents by May 30, 2025. In addition to basic contact information, application will require answers to the following questions:
- If a current SIPP recipient, a brief review of current efforts.
- Description the geographic location/boundaries of the proposed services, including details such as zip codes, townships, county, and/or villages/towns/cities, and targeted audience.
- Description of the program or service, including number of anticipated individuals served, evidence-based practices followed and/or long-term evaluation results.
- Existing collaborations or partnerships related to this project.
- Description of the role in which the organization wishes for Franciscan Health to participate, such as patient referrals, technical assistance, reduction of barriers, promotion, etc. This portion is negotiable, based on availability of Franciscan Health staff and resources.
- Explanation of the anticipated outputs and outcomes.
- Explanation the data collection and evaluation process.
- Budget narrative that includes the organization’s contributions and how the funds will be used.
- Description of program sustainability. After the funds are depleted, or after one year, how will this effort continue?
The following additional documents are required:
- Logic model or other graphic that shows the process of the program or service (2-page maximum)
- Evaluation example
- Tax Exempt Certificate
- Annual Report
- Board of Directors listing
- Most recent financial statement
Activities upon award
Partners will be notified by email, and a phone session will be set up to discuss support. New partners will be required to have a representative at a virtual welcome session on July 31, 2025. A short report at six months and one year must be submitted in order to be considered for future funding and support.