Synergy Initiative

The Healthcare and Health Promotion Synergy Initiative (“Synergy Initiative”) provides funding for partnership-based projects that target significant health issues, especially inequities and disparities, in Central Massachusetts with integrated, comprehensive strategies with an end goal of systems or policy change. The Foundation seeks to support projects that aim to positively impact the most vulnerable residents of Central Massachusetts.

GUIDELINES & APPLICATION PROCESS

The Synergy Initiative typically invites applications every four to five years, and approximately four projects have been selected for funding per round.  The last round of Synergy Initiative projects (Round 6) was selected in 2023 and there are no open grant opportunities at this time.  For a list of projects selected for funding in previous rounds, please click here.

Selected projects generally progress from planning to pilot to full implementation over the course of three to five years, and requests for continuation grants are considered on an annual basis.  Project budgets vary for each phase, and total investment amounts have averaged approximately $2 million per project over the grant period. 


Please download the Synergy Initiative Grantmaking Guidelines and FAQs for information on key factors that influence the Foundation’s decision-making for selection of Synergy Initiative projects.

PARTNERSHIP MODEL

The Health Foundation’s Synergy Initiative embraces a philosophy of partnership between the applicant/grantee, the evaluator, and the Foundation in a shared aim of achieving success. This approach is operationalized through a planning and evaluation system called Results-Oriented Grantmaking and Grant-Implementation (ROGG, Copyright © by Dr. Janice B. Yost and Dr. Abraham H. Wandersman).

ROGG applies an empowerment evaluation approach to maximize a project’s chances of success whereby grantees are provided with documents containing ten guiding accountability questions that provide the structure for an effective problem-solving process and support the facilitation of program planning and monitoring, the documentation of outcomes, and the sustainability of interventions.  Program, evaluator, and funder partners work as a collaborative team throughout the process.

Questions about the Synergy Initiative:
Jennie Blake, Vice President for Programs
Phone: (508) 438-0009 x 6
Email:  jblake@thfcm.org