The COMPASS Coordinating Centers provide community grants to organizations across the Southern United States to support the development of programs and activities that align with programmatic focus areas of the COMPASS Initiative. Three different funding mechanisms are available through the Coordinating Centers: Core grants, SPARK! grants, and Transformative grants.
Transformative Grants are focused on supporting the development and implementation of programs and activities that address the three programmatic focuses of the COMPASS Initiative®, including organizational capacity building; wellbeing, mental health, trauma-informed care, substance use, and telehealth; and HIV-related stigma reduction. The maximum amount an applicant can request is $100,000 (including overhead).
A brief description of the three Transformative Grant funding areas are listed below. For more detail about the funding areas and award, please review the Request for Proposals (RFP) application.
Funding Area: Building Organizational Capacity
Lead Coordinating Center: Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
This grant will allow applicants to seek funding to support organizational capacity building activities focused on infrastructure development and coalition and network building with non-traditional partners.
Funding Area: Wellbeing, Mental Health, Trauma-Informed Care, Substance Use and Telehealth
Lead Coordinating Center: University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
This grant will focus on enhancing service provision around wellness, mental health, trauma informed care, substance use (especially opioid use), and telehealth and its intersection with HIV in the Southern United States.
Funding Area: HIV-Related Stigma Reduction
Lead Coordinating Center: Southern AIDS Coalition
This grant will focus on supporting the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma.
ELIGIBILITY
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Geographic Location | Applicants must be be located in AND provide services in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas. |
| Non-Profit Status | Applicants must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply. |
| Grant Period | Applicants must be able to complete work proposed within a 12-month period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. |
| Award Amount | The maximum amount an applicant can request is $100,000 (including overhead). |
How to Apply
Transformative Grant applications are currently open and will close on 11:59 PM EST Tuesday, October 1, 2019. For your convenience, the application packet is available for download here. All sections of the application should be completed and submitted electronically.
2019 Transformative Grant Partners
 |
Affinity Health Center Rock Hill, SC // Funded by: Emory University Affinity Health Center serves the healthcare needs of our community by providing access to high-quality, comprehensive care with compassion, dignity and respect. |
 |
AIDS Alabama, Inc. Birmingham, AL // Funded by: University of Houston AIDS Alabama devotes its energy and resources statewide to helping people with HIV/AIDS live healthy, independent lives and works to prevent the spread of HIV. |
 |
AIDS Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance (ALFA) Hickory, NC // Funded by: Emory University ALFA’s mission is to improve the lives and health of those affected by HIV/AIDS while preventing transmission through education and testing. Our Vision is eliminating stigma and barriers to care to create a future free of HIV. |
 |
Aniz, Inc. Atlanta, GA // Funded by: University of Houston Aniz, Inc.’s mission is to promote emotional and physical wellness by providing mental health, substance use counseling, support services, sexual health education. |
 |
Brotherhood, Inc. New Orleans, LA // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of Brotherhood, Inc. is to develop and implement programs and services that impact the economic, social, and health disparities that exist within underserved and at-risk communities through education, empowerment and enlightenment. |
 |
Broward House Fort Lauderdale, FL // Funded by: Emory University The mission of Broward House is to improve the quality of life for individuals impacted with chronic health challenges, including HIV, by providing pathways to wellness. |
 |
Carolinas Care Partnership Charlotte, NC // Funded by: University of Houston Carolinas Care Partnership’s mission is to foster and to ensure a regional approach to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and to meet with compassion and dignity the needs of those affected by the disease. |
 |
Central Alabama Alliance, Resource & Advocacy Center (CAARAC) Wetumpka, AL // Funded by: Emory University CAARAC’s mission is to foster and to ensure a regional approach to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and to meet with compassion and dignity the needs of those affected by the disease. |
 |
Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services (CLASS) Alexandria, LA // Funded by: Emory University The mission of Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services (CLASS) is to improve the quality of life for those infected and affected by HIV; to reduce the risk of HIV transmission; to educate as many people as possible about the spread and prevention of HIV; and to raise community support and awareness of HIV. |
 |
CrescentCare New Orleans, LA // Funded by: Emory University CrescentCare's mission is to offer comprehensive health and wellness services to the community, to advocate empowerment, to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals, and to provide for an enlightened public. |
 |
Fundación Latinoamericana de Acción Social (FLAS) Houston, TX // Funded by: University of Houston FLAS is committed to enhancing behavioral health and wellness services for the Latino community. |
 |
Helping Everyone Receive Ongoing Effective Support (HEROES) Columbia, LA // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition HEROES brings lifesaving services and assistance to those who are impacted by HIV in the rural South and education to the community. Our outreach programs, retreats and educational initiatives are tailor-made for the issues we face in Northeast Louisiana. |
 |
IDEA Exchange at the University of Miami School of Medicine Miami, FL // Funded by: University of Houston With the premise of providing new syringes in exchange for used ones, the IDEA Exchange envisions health equity with a mission in increasing access to the tools necessary to keep people healthy, especially those who are most vulnerable. |
 |
Joseph H. Neal Health Collaborative, Inc. Columbia, SC // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition Joseph H. Neal Health Collaborative’s mission is to provide individuals living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases with comprehensive and multi-cultural testing, outreach, care coordination, and educational services regardless of their financial situation. |
 |
Latino Commission on AIDS Durham, NC // Funded by: Emory University The Latino Commission on AIDS public health mission addresses health disparities, spearheads health advocacy, promotes health education, uses national community mobilization models to create awareness, develops and replicates evidence-based programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and high-risk communities, and builds capacity across the public health sector including community-based organizations, health departments, healthcare organizations, and universities. |
 |
Latinos Salud Wilton Manors, FL // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition Latinos Salud's mission is to provide client-centered, culturally competent health education and integrated preventive, screening, and linkage services throughout South Florida in order to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and improve health outcomes. |
 |
Legacy Community Health Houston, TX // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition Driving healthy change in our communities. |
 |
Mississippi Center for Justice Jackson, MS // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition The mission of the Mississippi Center for Justice is to marshal legal resources to reshape the state's institutions, policies, and markets to achieve racial and economic justice, human dignity, and opportunity for all Mississippians. |
 |
Nashville CARES Nashville, TN // Funded by: Emory University Nashville CARES' mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee through education, advocacy, and support for those at risk for or living with HIV. |
 |
Open Hand Atlanta Atlanta, GA // Funded by: Emory University We cook. We deliver. We teach. We care! |
 |
Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services (PALSS) Columbia, SC // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of PALSS is to provide education, health, housing, and human services to persons living with and communities affected by chronic disease, with an historical focus on HIV and AIDS. |
 |
Partnership to End AIDS Status, Inc. (PEAS, Inc.) Memphis, TN // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of Partnership to End AIDS Status (PEAS, Inc.) is to maximize the effectiveness of service resources to ensure physical, mental, and social equality for all persons residing in the Memphis Transitional Grant Area (TGA) by providing residents with preventative tools to make healthier decisions. |
 |
Pridelines Miami, FL // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition Pridelines' mission is to support, educate and empower South Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and community in safe and diverse spaces to promote dialogue, wellness and to foster social change. |
 |
Rural Women's Health Project (RWHP) Gainesville, FL // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of the RWHP is to work with rural communities to strengthen their capacity to overcome barriers to health justice. |
 |
San Antonio AIDS Foundation San Antonio, TX // Funded by: Emory University The mission of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation is to prevent the spread of HIV and provide compassionate services to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. |
 |
SisterLove, Inc. Atlanta, GA // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition The mission of SisterLove, Inc. is to eradicate the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS and other reproductive justice health challenges impacting women and their families through education, prevention, support, and human rights advocacy in the United States and around the world. |
 |
Southern Black Policy & Advocacy Network Dallas, TX // Funded by: Emory University The mission of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network is to improve health outcomes and to reduce social, and economic disparities impacting Black communities living in the U.S. South. |
 |
Southern Health Commission Greenville, MS // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of the Southern Health Commision is to ensure that people with HIV/AIDS and other health disparities have access to high quality, affordable health and human services, assist communities it serves with strategies to change or modify community norms/behaviors as they relate to obesity, heart disease, stroke prevention and practicing safe or safer sex behaviors, conduct health disparities prevention workshops within communities and provide health disparities programs which teaches youth and other individuals about health disparities prevention programs. |
 |
Southwest Viral Med, Inc. (SWVM) El Paso, TX // Funded by: University of Houston The mission of SWVM is to provide exceptional patient care, improve education and engage in research that makes an impact on the health of West Texas and beyond. Southwest Viral Med is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of patients living with viral diseases HIV and HCV in El Paso. |
 |
Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) Tampa, FL // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition To provide result-driven programs that meet the economic, educational, health, housing, and social needs of urban and rural residents who experience challenges in accessing mainstream resources. |
 |
The Right to Choice Project Laplace, LA // Funded by: Emory University The mission of The Right Choice Project is to transform lives and add value to the holistic well-being of individuals though education, state-of-the-art laboratory testing, professional counseling, sex education curriculum, intervention services and treatment adherence services. |
 |
University of Memphis Memphis, TN // Funded by: Southern AIDS Coalition The University of Memphis is a learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship. |
About SPARK! Grants: Despite numerous studies, we still have much to learn about HIV-related stigma. Nonetheless, we know that the stigma we experience often results from ignorance, fear-based myths, and a general lack of awareness in our communities. Public marketing campaigns were once an important strategy for changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, these campaigns and other community-level education initiatives are scarce in the Deep South and their messages often do not reflect the landmark scientific advances that have transformed what it means to live with HIV. These campaigns and initiatives are key in removing the veil of shame and fear that has far too long existed around HIV prevention and care.
In response to the absence of such campaigns and education initiatives in the Deep South, the Southern AIDS Coalition introduced SPARK! (Southerners Promoting Awareness, Resources, & Knowledge), a grant program to fund community-led campaigns and education initiatives across the Deep South. With this program, we are turning to you–community-based organizations with the ability to implement grassroots approaches to reach the communities you serve. Funding for SPARK! campaigns range from $2,500 to $25,000, with the amount of funding reflective of the scope of the campaign and cost of planned media platforms.
ELIGIBILITY
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Geographic Location | Applicants must be located in and doing work in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas. |
| Non-Profit Status | Applications must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply. |
| Implementation Period | Your campaign should be able to be implemented within six (6) months of approval. |
| Evaluation | Applicants must agree to work with our evaluation partners, if funded, to help measure the impact of the funding support provided. All organizations will also be required to complete a brief organizational survey before funds can be dispersed. |
HOW TO APPLY
SPARK! Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. Applications are accepted via online submission (click on the apply button above) on a rolling basis and are reviewed at the close of each quarter. Applicants will be advised of funding decisions as follows:
| Funding Cycle | Application Deadline | Decision Announcement |
|---|---|---|
| January - March | March 31st at 11:59pm EST | April 30th |
| April - June | June 30th at 11:59pm EST | July 31st |
| July - September | September 30th at 11:59pm EST | October 31st |
| October - December | December 31st at 11:59pm EST | January 31st |
We offer two smaller grants to support organizations: 1) ACTION in the South - Latinx Grants and 2) Core Grants. Scroll down to see the details for each grant and learn how to apply.
ACTION in the South - Latinx Grant
About ACTION in the South Grants: The ACTION in the South - Latinx grant opportunity (Act with Communities To Increase Opportunities and address Needs in the South) is a 1-year grant for Latinx-led and/or predominantly Latinx-serving organizations focused on HIV prevention and care in the Deep U.S. South ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. ACTION grant funds should be used to develop and implement an action-oriented project that builds, enhances and/or reframes mental health, promote wellness, and strengthen harm reduction approaches to service provision. The proposed project should be culturally appropriate, multi-lingual (if applicable) and accessible to the Latinx community impacted by HIV.
View the detailed list of descriptions and eligibility here.
Sobre el financiamiento de ACTION in the South - Latinx Grant: La oportunidad de financiamiento ACTION in the South - Latinx grant es un financiamiento de 1 año para organizaciones dirigidas por Latinx y/o que predominantemente dan servicio a la comunidad Latinx enfocada en la prevención y atención del VIH en el Sur de los Estados Unidos es entre $5,000 a $20,000. Los fondos de financiamiento de ACTION deben de utilizarse para desarrollar e implementar un proyecto acción orientado, que construya, mejore y/o cambien el estigma de la salud mental, promueva el bienestar y fortalezca los enfoques de reducción de daños para la provisión de servicios. El proyecto propuesto debe ser culturalmente apropiado, multilingüe (si es aplicable) y accesible a la comunidad de Latinx afectada por el VIH.
Vea la lista detallada de descripciones y elegibilidad aquí.
Eligibility/Elegibilidad
| Criteria/Criterio | Description/Descripción |
|---|---|
| Non-Profit Status/Estatus sin Fines de Lucro | Applications must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply.
Los solicitantes deben ser organizaciones sin fines de lucro y exentas de impuestos, según lo establecido en la sección 501(c)(3) del Código de Impuestos Internos. Los solicitantes que no tienen el estatus 501(c)(3) deben tener un patrocinador fiscal para solicitar. |
| Geographic Location/Ubicación Geográfica | Applicants must be located in and doing work in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.
Los solicitantes deben estar ubicados y haciendo trabajo en uno de los estados de Sur de el país (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Luisiana, Mississippi, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Tennessee, Texas). |
| Latinx Criteria/Criterio de Latinx | Organizations should be led by Latinx individuals or the organization should primarily serve Latinx communities. Organizaciones deben de ser dirigidas por Latinx y/o que predominantemente dan servicio a la comunidad Latinx. |
| Content Areas/Áreas de Contenido | Projects must address HIV in the context of one of the following content areas: mental health, wellness, or substance use (particularly harm reduction approaches to services).
Los proyectos deben abordar sobre el VIH en el contexto de una de las siguientes áreas de contenido: salud mental, bienestar o consumo de sustancias (particularmente enfoques de reducción de daños en sus servicios) |
| Implementation Period/Período de Aplicación | Up to one year.
Hasta un año. |
| Evaluation/Evaluación | Applicant must agree to work with our evaluator.
El solicitante debe estar de acuerdo en trabajar con nuestro evaluador. |
Applications will open July 12th, 2019 and close August, 23rd, 2019.
Las aplicaciones se abren el 12 de julio de 2019 y se cerrarán el 23 de agosto de 2019.
Core Grants
Applications for Core Grants submitted after July 15, 2019 will be reviewed beginning September 1, 2019. During this time you may continue to submit applications, but we will not be available to respond to any correspondences in reference to your application until September 1, 2019. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
About Core Grants: These grants provide funding support, up to $4,500 per organization, for a variety of organizational and staff resources, including technology and software, meeting space costs, conference attendance fees, professional development, and continuing education. Funding requests cannot already be covered by your organization’s existing funding sources, and must be related to building organizational capacity in the following areas: governance and leadership; mission, values, and strategy; finance and administration; resource development; strategic relationships and coalition building; communications; internal management and operations; and service delivery and impact.
Three Funding Opportunities: Technology (up to $4,500), Staff Continuing Education Support (up to $3,000), and Community Convening Support (up to $2,000). View the detailed list of descriptions and eligibility here.
ELIGIBILITY
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Non-Profit Status | Applications must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply. |
| Geographic Location | Applicants must be located in and doing work in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas. |
| CBO Criteria | Applicants must be Community-Based Organizations that meet at least one (1) of the following: 1) Is an AIDS Service Organization (ASO) OR 2) Is a community-based organization that prioritizes HIV/AIDS prevention or care services, OR 3) Is a community-based organization with a substantial budgetary investment in HIV-related programming. |
| Other Funding | Funding requests should NOT include items currently covered by other funding resources. |
| Leadership Support | Requests must have the support of the applicant organization’s leadership. |
Interested organizations should submit an online application by clicking on the apply button below. Submissions will be reviewed on the 15th and 30th of the month.
