Strengthening health services in Greater Minnesota

Launched in 2003, New Times, New Tools is a funding initiative designed to improve organizational effectiveness and build capacity of health services organizations in Greater Minnesota. Under this program, now closed to new applicants, the Blue Cross Foundation has awarded organizations one-year grants of up to $10,000 for projects designed to improve the management, structure, or coordination of health services within an organization, community or region.

New Times, New Tools has provided funding to small hospitals, nonprofit clinics, community mental health centers, emergency medical services and parish nursing programs for a variety of organizational effectiveness and capacity-building activities such as:

• Strategic planning
• Organizational development
• Board development
• Employee development and training
• Volunteer recruitment and retention
• Community need assessments and surveys
• Planning and feasibility studies for shared services, restructuring and other strategies to promote greater efficiencies and access
• Technology applications and training

Rural health providers face challenges and opportunities

Across Greater Minnesota, health services delivery organizations face a tough economic environment. These new times present challenges as well as opportunities for improving organizational effectiveness and operating, structuring and coordinating services to better meet local health needs.

Philanthropy cannot possibly replace government funds or cover budget deficits; however, targeted foundation support holds potential for helping smaller health services delivery organizations improve their effectiveness and creatively respond to new operating realities — especially in Greater Minnesota where the health services infrastructure is stretched.

New Times, New Tools builds stronger health providers

New Times, New Tools grants are intended to help nonprofit health care delivery organizations in Greater Minnesota creatively meet the needs of their communities during challenging economic times and emerge with increased capacity to serve their communities in the future.