The Consumer Advocacy for Transformation program will fund state-based or local consumer health advocacy projects that aim to develop and insert an organized, influential and permanent consumer voice in state and local health system changes. These health system changes should increase health care value by preserving efforts to increase access to care, improving health outcomes, and lowering costs, especially for populations with disproportionately poor health outcomes. Each of the selected projects should focus on building the capacity of consumer advocates to participate in public and/or private policy or health system change and ensure an ongoing infrastructure for consumer advocacy.
The applicant organization must meet certain eligibility criteria. The successful applicant organization must:
  • Be based in the United States or its territories;
  • Be a statewide or regional (state, region, county-level, multi-city) consumer advocacy organization with a documented track record of successful advocacy in health policy;
  • Have a history of engaging and collaborating with other consumer groups and key health care stakeholders, such as delivery system leaders, business groups, government officials, labor, payers and providers;
  • Have a state-level or local (state region, county-level, or multi-city) policy or system change agenda;
  • Be either a public entity or nonprofit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private foundation or nonfunctionally integrated Type III supporting organization. The Foundation may require additional documentation.
  • Have sufficient unrestricted funds to engage in any lobbying related to the project’s policy goals;
  • Have a demonstrated history of managing funds to support non-lobbying advocacy efforts;
  • Have strong relationships with legal counsel with expertise in the lobbying and political activity restrictions that apply to public charities and private foundations; and
  • Have a 2017 operating budget at least equal to the level of annual funding requested.