Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP)
About SHIP
The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) is a plan to make Minnesota healthier for everyone. It works in all 87 counties and 10 tribal nations. SHIP helps communities have better chances to get healthy foods, exercise more, and be tobacco-free.
In Olmsted County, this plan has been working for more than 10 years with people at work, school, healthcare places, and childcare centers.
2024 Community Partner Funding Award Application
Award Application Information
Important Dates
- Application opens: November 2023
- Application Close Date: December 15, 2023 at midnight
- Award Announcement: By January 31, 2024
- Project Implementation Timeline: February – October 2024
How To Apply
Apply for SHIP Community Partner Funding Award
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? Contact the SHIP team at OlmstedSHIP@olmstedcounty.gov.
Questions the SHIP Team receives and their responses will be posted under this tab.
Q: Can there be more than one application from the same institution?
A: At this time, we are requesting that only one application come from each organization to ensure that funds are distributed equitably. If your organization has multiple project ideas, we encourage you to gather feedback from participants to decide which project you would like to submit an application for. Community engagement and buy-in is essential to successful projects!
Q: How you define the evidence-based solution? Do you require specific certification of the program?
A: Evidence-based solutions are those that integrate the best available evidence and research findings to initiatives. These practices involve effective and validated methods while also considering the uniqueness of each community. SHIP seeks to fund sustainable projects and not one-time programs or individual treatment. Certification of certain initiatives are not required, but may be useful when explaining the 'why' of your funding request.
Q: Can religious organizations apply?
A: Yes, religious organizations can apply.
Q: Regarding financial wellness - can organizations apply for SHIP funds to advance health equity related to financial education and wellbeing?
A: The Minnesota Department of Health has clearly defined context areas that SHIP is responsible for focusing on MN Eats (healthy eating), MN Moves (active living), MN Commercial Tobacco Free (commercial tobacco reduction), and MN Wellbeing (wellbeing in the School Setting). Because financial wellness falls outside of these four context areas, SHIP cannot fund financial wellness projects at this time. It is also a requirement that any SHIP funded project be a Policy, System, or Environmental change (PSE). Individual financial counseling is a one-time program, which is not a PSE change.
Q: Instead of organizations being reimbursed, are there options to help organizations that do not have the up-front costs associated with their project idea?
A: If you feel that your organization would not be able to cover the up-front costs associated with the items you need to purchase for your project, please connect with the SHIP team by emailing: OlmstedSHIP@olmstedcounty.gov. Together we will develop a solution that will assist and ultimately ensure a successful project plan.
Q: Is sports equipment for community use allowable? For example, snow shoes or frisbee golf discs to use in community parks?
A: The Minnesota Department of Health has conditional parameters for SHIP regarding funding community sporting equipment.
- The equipment is shared by the community, not purchased for individuals.
- There is an accompanying policy that outlines how the equipment will be available to the community and maintained. The details of the policy do not need to be complete at the time of the application; however, it will be a requirement if the project is selected for funding.
- An explanation of how the request came from community engagement – in other words, did the community ask for this type of equipment?
Q: Can SHIP funding be used to purchase a refrigerator to use at a community park for healthy concessions at events and concerts, etc.?
A: This is an allowable expense. With this type of change, SHIP also requires that a policy coordinate with the change. For example, how will the group define “healthy,” and how will the change be maintained over time? The policy does not need to be specified at the time of application; however, it would be a requirement if the project is selected for funding.
Q: Are worksites allowed to receive grant funding for a well-being room?
A: At this time, the MN Wellbeing context area is only applicable for schools. As this strategy is still new to the SHIP grant, we are piloting this context in the school setting in hopes of opening this up to other settings in the future.
Q: Regarding the healthy pantry option - Even if we are not a school, can we (worksite) look to do that as well? Our Wellness committee is looking to get rid of our unhealthy vending machines and is looking for ways to offer healthier snacks for our staff and individuals served.
A: Organizations can apply for funds to promote healthy food/snack options in the workplace. The SHIP grant requires that the project is tied to a policy, system, or environmental (PSE) change. For example, an organization can work on eliminating unhealthy vending machines and, in their place, implement a healthy snack station that is sustainable. A policy could be written to address the use and purpose of having a healthy snack station at work. SHIP can fund the startup costs to get the healthy snack station going, but the organization must have a plan for future sustainability and maintenance.
Q: Are outdoor classrooms and gardens fundable? Walls, beams, roofing are on the not-allowed list under "Workplace Wellness," and I'm wondering if that means they would not be allowed for a shade structure for our outdoor classroom as well? How about a shed to store our garden tools and preschool outdoor play items?
A: There are slightly different allowances based on the setting. Permanent building structures are not fundable. A portable style shed, 8x12 or smaller, is allowable for the garden or outdoor classroom. Preschool garden items are allowed. Allowable outdoor classroom items are seating, portable tents, and shade trees.
Examples of Fundable Activities
SHIP offers community partner funding awards for PSE projects that will improve the health of the community by providing new or expanded opportunities related to physical activity, improved nutrition, commercial tobacco reduction and well-being. Funded projects are generally for startup projects that will provide an ongoing, sustainable resource through the support of the award recipient. SHIP does not fund one-time events, fundraisers, consumables (one-time use, food for events, art supplies, clothing, etc.) or staff time. SHIP does not fund maintenance or ongoing program costs. We are unable to fund items for individuals to keep, such as t-shirts, bike helmets, sports jerseys, or prizes for giveaways.
For examples of fundable activities that were awarded to 2023 Community Partner Funding Award recipients, please review the SHIP Community Partner slideshow.
Translated Materials
The Olmsted County SHIP team is working on translating materials for our community partners. Additional translated materials will be added to this page as they become available.
What are Policy, System, and Environmental Change Strategies?
Spanish translation coming soon.