The Paso del Norte Health Foundation seeks Letters of Intent (LOIs) from eligible organizations to promote healthy eating, specifically fruit and vegetable consumption.

A high-quality diet that includes fruits and vegetables and appropriate daily caloric intake can combat the onset of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Healthy eating patterns contribute to children’s healthy growth and development. Adults can reduce their risk of chronic illnesses or manage chronic conditions through a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables.

What We Will Fund

This LOI has two areas of interest.

Interest 1:

• Evidence-based programs to increase the knowledge and skills of individuals and families to choose, prepare, and consume fruits and vegetables.
• Environmental strategies that promote or increase opportunities for healthy eating.

Interest 2:

• An inventory report of nutrition educational and environmental assets in the Paso del Norte region that includes, but is not limited to, the following: Community gardens, School gardens, School-based nutrition and cooking programs, Community-based nutrition and cooking programs for children and adults, Nutrition and cooking programs for individuals with chronic diseases, Community-supported agriculture programs, Food pantries, Food assistance programs or meal programs for seniors and individuals who are disabled or have chronic diseases, Food-related coalitions or networks, Other assets may be proposed,
• Contractors may be hired to assist with the inventory and report design and layout.
• The inventory should be completed by January 2025 and will be shared with the Health Foundation Board and staff and healthy eating stakeholders.

Key Dates

Deadlines & Schedule

• Letters of intent due via the Foundation’s online application system: December 6, 2023
• Invitations for full proposals announced: January 5, 2024
• Invited applicants may meet with the Program Officer before submitting a full proposal
• Full proposals due: February 14, 2024
• Notice of grant award: June 1, 2024
• Funding cycle starts: The earliest grant start date is July 1 (June 1 for Interest 2), but later dates may be proposed. Most grants will be for one year but may be renewed annually with a new proposal.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, including churches and units of government, located in the Paso del Norte Region. See the Grant Center on the Paso del Norte Health Foundation website for more information about grant guidelines.

Service Region

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation operates in a unique binational environment, which stretches across two countries and three states. This region serves the 2.4 million people living in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in far west Texas, Doña Ana, Luna, and Otero Counties in southern New Mexico, and the municipality of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.