Kresge Foundation - Health Program

Priority: 🟡 PURSUE (Invitation-Only - Build Relationship) Status: By Invitation Only

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🚫 INVITATION-ONLY: DO NOT SUBMIT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS

The Kresge Foundation Health Program does NOT accept unsolicited proposals.

This is a confirmed policy as of February 2026. All grants are made by invitation only through:

1. Direct outreach from Kresge program staff
2. Relationships built through prior partnerships
3. Response to specific RFPs when issued

Strategy: Build relationship through prior Catalyst Miami connection. Contact Managing Director Monica Valdes Lupi (248-643-9630) to express interest and explore potential collaboration opportunities.

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Quick Facts

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Critical Prior Relationship

⭐ LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITY - FIU HWCOM has prior funded relationship with Kresge through Catalyst Miami partnership ($200K award).

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About Kresge Foundation

• Mission: Expand opportunity in American cities
• Health Program Focus: Health equity, systems change
• Leadership: Monica Valdes Lupi (Managing Director, Health Program)
• Geographic Focus: American cities, climate-vulnerable communities
• Total Assets: $4B+

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Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) Initiative

Overview

• Total Investment: $18.6M announced
• Focus: Climate-vulnerable communities
• Approach: Health equity lens on climate impacts
• Miami Relevance: Miami is highly climate-vulnerable

Why CCHE Fits NHELP/FIU Thrive

1. Climate Vulnerability: Miami-Dade faces severe climate impacts
2. Prior Experience: NHELP delivered Americares climate/health work
3. Community Infrastructure: Mobile health reaches affected populations
4. SDOH Integration: Climate intersects with social determinants

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Key Kresge Requirements

From background research, Kresge requires:

1. Explicit Equity Lens - Health equity must be central
2. Genuine Community Priorities - Community-driven, not imposed
3. Community Leadership Development - Building local capacity
4. Cross-Sector Partnerships - Multi-stakeholder collaboration

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Strategic Alignment

Recommended Route

Route 4: NHELP as Vehicle - Community delivery for climate health

Why Kresge Fits

1. Prior Relationship: Catalyst Miami funding provides entry
2. Miami Focus: Climate-vulnerable city priority
3. Health Equity: Core to both organizations
4. Systems Change: Kresge seeks structural approaches
5. Significant Awards: $100K-$500K+ potential

Alignment Scores

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Relationship Building Strategy

Recommended Approach

Phase 1: Reactivate Relationship

1. Research Catalyst Miami partnership outcomes
2. Identify contacts from prior work
3. Prepare update on NHELP/Thrive progress

Phase 2: Express Interest

1. Reach out to Kresge Health Program
2. Reference Catalyst Miami partnership
3. Express interest in CCHE initiative for Miami

Phase 3: Propose Concept

1. Position NHELP as community delivery mechanism
2. Connect to climate health interventions
3. Propose Miami-focused climate health project

Recommended Outreach

"Dear [Kresge Health Program],

Building on FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine's prior partnership with Kresge through Catalyst Miami, we are writing to share developments in our NeighborhoodHELP mobile health program and express interest in the Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative.

Miami-Dade County faces significant climate health vulnerabilities, and NeighborhoodHELP has established trusted community infrastructure to deliver health interventions to affected populations. Our new FIU Thrive AI-powered screening platform enhances our capacity to identify and address climate-related social determinants of health.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how our community health infrastructure might contribute to Kresge's CCHE goals in South Florida..."

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Timeline

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Contacts

• Managing Director (Health): Monica Valdes Lupi
• Phone: 248-643-9630
• Website: kresge.org
• Health Program: kresge.org/our-work/health

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Catalyst Miami Connection

Prior Partnership Details

• Award: $200,000
• Focus: [Research specific project]
• Outcomes: [Document outcomes]
• Contacts: [Identify individuals involved]

Leverage Strategy

• Reference successful outcomes
• Show continued organizational development
• Demonstrate readiness for expanded partnership

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CCHE Initiative Alignment

Climate Health Intersections for Miami

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Supporting Documents Needed

In This Folder

• application/ - Concept materials
• research/ - Kresge program research
• drafts/ - Outreach drafts
• supporting-docs/ - Prior award documentation

Key Preparation Items

• Research Catalyst Miami partnership details
• Document Americares climate/health work
• Compile Miami climate vulnerability data
• Identify Kresge program staff contacts
• Prepare relationship reactivation materials

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Other Kresge Opportunities

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Notes

• Invitation-only - Must build relationship first
• Prior Catalyst Miami award provides credible entry point
• CCHE initiative is active and well-funded ($18.6M)
• Miami is priority geography for climate focus
• Kresge values systems-level change, not just direct service
• Connect to state/local policy where possible