Alzheimer’s Awareness Grant Funding

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to health.healthybrain@state.mn.us. All questions and answers will be posted on this page within seven business days. Please submit questions no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on Jan. 15, 2024. 

• How long is this grant period?

  The Alzheimer's Awareness Grant RFP is designed to fund grantees over three months. The estimated grant start date is March 3, 2025, and the end date is June 30, 2025.

• Is this RFP Open to researchers?

  Researchers may apply, but the proposed work may not include research activities. The purpose of this funding is promotion and awareness.

  Eligible applicants may include but are not limited to: 

  • Community-based organizations
  • Tribal governments
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Social service organizations
  • Clinics or health care organizations
  • Community Health Boards/Local Public Health
  • Local government
  • Community Coalitions
  • Media and Marketing Companies 

• What is Dementia Risk Reduction?

  Reducing modifiable risk factors that may prevent or delay dementia or slow the progression for someone already living with dementia. The Alzheimer's Association lists that potential risk factors include high blood pressure, physical activity, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, tobacco and alcohol use, diet and nutrition, sleep, sensory impairments, and social connections. For more information visit: Risk Reduction | Alzheimer's Association. 

• What is early detection of dementia?

  The BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence Early Detection of Dementia defines early detection of dementia as "identifying the problem when it is affecting a person's life - before a crisis occurs." For more information, visit their website: Early Detection of Dementia | Bold Center of Excellence on Caregiving. 

• How many grants will be awarded?

  Up to four applicants will be awarded.

• What is the award range for each organization?

  MDH will award one to four grantees. The minimum award is $20,000 and the maximum award is $80,000. Organizations can ask for up to $80,000 though the estimated award is $20,000 per grantee. The funding must be spent over the course of three months. 

• Is there a match requirement?

  No, there is no match requirement.

• In the RFP it states projects must be "implementation-ready, what does that mean?

  Since this grant duration is short and focused on promotion strategy, we ask that organizations who apply already have promotional materials/event plans ready at the start of the grant (March 3, 2025). Ex: If the applicant has existing programming and materials created for outreach, this funding may be used to amplify outreach and education efforts. 

• What is the reporting requirement?

  The grantee will participate in bi-weekly meetings with MDH staff and must submit a final report due 30 days after the end of the grant cycle on June 30, 2025. MDH will provide a template for the report. Report will include successes, reach, and challenges experienced. 

• What is the Activity Tracker and how often is it due?

  The Activity Tracker is a spreadsheet designed to help grantees track their progress and activities. MDH staff will demonstrate how to use the Activity Tracker and provide grantees with the template. Activity Trackers will be due at the end of the grant with the Final Report. 

• Can we use grant funds to pay for food if we are holding a workshop?

  Yes, you can use funds to pay for a community workshop or event you are holding as long as it relates to this grant. See ineligible funds on pg. 9 of the Alzheimer's Awareness RFP. 

• Are you focusing on innovative and cutting-edge solutions or just education for people living with dementia, caregivers, and providers?

  We encourage applicants to submit innovative and creative activities and solutions that address the needs of the communities they work with and serve. The proposed activities should include promotion of culturally responsive content and materials that address: 

  • Benefits of early detection and cognitive testing, including the importance of discussing memory and other cognition concerns with a health care provider.
  • The early warning signs of cognitive impairment.
  • The difference between normal aging and the symptoms of ADRD.
  • Awareness of ADRD and what causes it. 

  Possible promotion tactics include: 

  • Community events or one-day workshops
  • Social media advertising
  • Digital media advertising
  • Print flyers and infographics
  • Videos
  • Television and radio
  • And other relevant promotional channels

• Can we use grant funding to pay for speakers for a community brain health workshop that is free to the public?

  Yes, funding can be used to compensate and sub-contract professional, academic and community experts and speakers for brain health and events hosted by the organization. Any funds used for this purpose cannot exceed $500 for each speaker and will have to be included in the budget and approved by MDH staff.

• How do we contact you?

  You can contact MDH Aging and Healthy Communities Unit staff by email at health.healthybrain@state.mn.us

• Is this RFP requiring we come to the March start date with materials already developed or is the task to develop materials and implement during the grant?

  The grant timeline does not include a planning phase. Selected applicants will have dissemination materials and tactics already developed or in development. The goal of the grant funding is to further disseminate materials to priority populations and/or expand reach to more communities or population groups. Examples include: 

  • Awareness materials that are already developed but need to be translated to be linguistically or culturally appropriate for a specific community.
  • An event for which the applicant has initiated planning, but the agenda, logistics, or promotional materials need to be produced or refined.
  • The applicant has produced culturally responsive messages on brain health or Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias but wants to boost the reach of their messaging through new or expanded dissemination tactics. 

  Materials must be made accessible, as MDH staff will share grantee materials on the MDH website as part of a statewide Alzheimer's Awareness campaign. MDH staff will work together with grantees to support accessibility of materials, identify dissemination tactics, and evaluate reach. 

• Can we apply to develop materials for just one marginalized community?

  Yes. We will work together to adapt materials for additional audiences/communities.

• Why is the timeline so quick?

  We recognize the three-month grant period is shorter than usual. The current state funds that support this work need to be spent by the end of the fiscal year. We encourage you to submit your proposals within this timeframe, and we are committed to supporting you throughout the process to ensure successful project implementation. 

• If we were recently notified that we were selected as a recipient of the 2025-2028 Healthy Brain Community Grants, does this mean we are not eligible for this grant?

  Yes, of you have received a Healthy Brain Community Grant in the past two years you are not eligible for this grant.

• Are there approved logos and font choices we can access and versions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for tools to generate content?

  The MDH Style Guide is linked here (https://www.health.state.mn.us/about/tools/branding.html). Though we are not looking for MDH branded materials. If necessary, we can work on MDH styling during the grant, but we would like community organizations to submit their materials as they are. 

  MDH does not have recommended AI tools.

• Wondering about stigma, we find there is stigma not just about having dementia but among the medical providers and figuring a way against and those who don't want to pay for dementia care. Are we allowed to promote what we are doing?

  As long as proposals follow the legislation, which are laid out in the 'Program Description' section of the RFP, we are open to any audience your organization wishes to message to. 

  Legislation asks for materials that: 

  • Promotes the benefits of early detection and the importance of discussing cognition with a health care provider;
  • Outlines the benefits of cognitive testing, the early warning signs of cognitive impairment, and the difference between normal cognitive aging and dementia;
  • Provides awareness of ADRD.

• Do you have a list of zip codes you would like to target for the focus of underserved communities?

  No, we do not have a list of zip codes. We will focus on each organizations proposed community. The RFP outlines the populations of focus, closely consider those in your application. 

• Can for-Profit healthcare agency apply?

  Yes, the list of eligible applicants can be found above.

• Is it okay that the samples are not currently the current color and accessibility?

  Yes, we can work MDH accessibility during the grant duration. 

• Do the work samples have to be related to Alzheimer's or dementia, or can they just be a sample of previous work in education and awareness?

  While we would like to see examples related to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias any samples related to education and awareness are applicable. 

• What if one of our objectives is to make a video series in a non-English language. How could MDH disseminate this video series?

  We would but the video on the MDH website and social media channels. Then perhaps the organization would use their funding to buy social media space or TV ads to reach priority audiences. 

• Can two organizations partner for the grant?

  Yes, organizations can partner for the grant but only one can apply as the lead organization. Please include information about partners in the applicant profile as well.

• We are currently doing awareness work for East African communities, the work is in the African language, does that align with what you are looking for?

  Yes, we are specifically looking for awareness focused promotional materials for ADRD, including materials that are linguistically appropriate for the community the applicant wants to reach. 

• Our 2024 audit is currently under finalization. Would our 2023 audit be acceptable for submission in the interim?

  Yes, we can take the most recent audit first and if you are selected, we can request the 2024 audit for due diligence review if it's finalized by then. 

• We understand a webinar was held on Monday. Will a recording of this webinar be made available to applicants?

  A recording of information session will not be available, but the information slides are available on the website and the FAQ section here reflects additional questions asked during the session.

• Is it impossible to include a timeline for the project within the proposal?

  Yes, you may include timelines in the project proposal.

• Can we attach the proposal PDF separately from the application?

  Yes, you may attach a PDF proposal.