This program will begin April 15, 2011.

At Cautious Patient Foundation, we believe that our mission is to improve the quality of healthcare by changing the way the patient interacts with his doctors, nurses, and hospitals. We're focused on educating and empowering the patient to improve the healthcare system. (We're not talking about confrontational techniques. We are encouraging patients to use the calmest way possible to help them get what they need.)

We believe: First, patients need to know that they're not getting the best of care and/or are at a risk for medical errors. Second, they need to know where to learn what they need (instead of leaving that to doctors and the system to tell them.) And third, they need to know how to approach their doctors, nurses, and hospitals to get what they must have.

CPF supports creative, grassroots programs that successfully motivate patients toward greater engagement in their personal or family healthcare processes. Specifically, Cautious Patient Foundation will prioritize grant funding based on a proposed project’s potential to affect a wide number of patients. Selected projects must align with CPF’s values and the specific areas of interest we have in improving patient-provider communication, efficiencies and successful outcomes through educational programs and/or technology-based tools.

Applicants may be individuals, groups or nonprofit organizations and must meet the stated areas of interest. We’ll support discrete special projects or components of larger projects but typically will not support general operating expenses.

CPF will not approve grants for capital expenses or renovation projects, research, programs with a religious message or a proselytizing approach, conferences or sponsorships.

Applicants must be based in the United States of America.

Requests are received throughout the year. There are no deadlines.

$2,000 to $7,000. Total annual grants: $100,000.

Applicants will be notified by e-mail of the funding decision. Prior to consideration of proposals, applicants may be requested to provide additional information by phone or e-mail. CPF will make every effort to respond to pre-application letters within 14 business days and full proposals within 30-45 business days.

Grantees are asked to submit a brief year-end report at the conclusion of the grant period.

We do not accept proposals by fax or U.S. mail, only by e-mail.

After four consecutive grants, applicants are asked to wait a full year before reapplying.

Pre-Application Letter. The first step in applying for a grant is providing a brief letter of inquiry (in Word or PDF file format), not to exceed one page. A bullet-point summary is acceptable. (This step is not optional – please do not send a full proposal until requested to do so.) Describe yourself, your organization or group and the project for which funds are requested. Include in this description the amount of the grant request. Attach a brief budget describing income and expenses. If your request is accepted for further consideration, you will be asked to submit a full proposal. Be sure to provide principal-contact information including name, address, telephone and e-mail.

Full Proposals. In the event you are invited to submit a full proposal, please prepare the following information. Incomplete proposals will not be considered until receipt of missing materials.

Narrative, not to exceed four pages. Describe who you are (individual, group or organization), explain the issue being addressed, be clear on specific strategies, and generally describe who is carrying out the work. An effective narrative will describe the problem to be addressed, who will benefit, projected impact, how you will determine the success or effectiveness of the project, and how your project aligns with any specific goals of the Cautious Patient Foundation.

Budget (one-page summary). Include any other sources of funds that are currently committed, pending or projected.
If the project for which you are seeking funds is a collaboration with other organizations or individuals, please include letters from the collaborating parties indicating their involvement.

If funding being requested will be granted to a recognized nonprofit organization please provide a copy of the IRS 501(c)(3) notification letter. It is not necessary, however, to be a part of an IRS-recognized nonprofit to apply for a grant.

Materials may be received any time during the year, but must be submitted via email.

Contact: Bill Thatcher
Phone: (206) 898-4473
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it