FAQ
Q. How did the Wellness Grant Program get started?
A. For thirty years OEA Choice Trust has provided cost effective health insurance plans to our members along with superior customer service. Recently the Trust elected to progress in a new direction. The Trust felt this was an opportune time to develop new ways of giving back to Oregon public school employees; as a result, the OEA Choice Trust Wellness Grant Program was launched.
Q. Who is eligible to apply?
A. Applicants must be located in Oregon and be a K-12 Oregon School District, Education Service District, Community College or Public Charter School.
Q. What are the major funding priorities of the Wellness Program?
A. Participants determine the program that will work best in their community setting, however, our greatest priority is to make sure the wellness grants are designed to support and motivate our members to bring about positive, sustainable changes in their health and wellbeing.
Q. What is the process for applying for a grant?
A. You may download a grant application packet from our website (oeachoice.com), or request one by mail.
Q. How do we get a copy of the guidelines?
A. Our guidelines are available on this website under Grant Awards, Terms and Conditions.
Q. Is someone available to meet with us to discuss the proposal?
A.Yes, we are happy to discuss your proposal with you; however we will not be able to tell you whether the application is successful until after the Board of Trustees have reviewed and made their final decision. We also encourage you to e-mail or phone us with questions. Our website is also a great place to see if your question may be answered in our Q & A section.
Q. What are the deadlines for applying for a grant?
A. View our timeline.
Q. How are decisions on proposals made?
A. The OEA Choice Trust Board of Trustees’ will review your proposal with care. They will determine whether the proposed request meets our funding guidelines and mission. The Board makes the final funding decision. They may also request a presentation of your request.
Q. Are there things that specifically will not be funded?
A. See the grant application guidelines/Terms and conditions section which lists out what cannot be funded. Generally we will not fund:
- Funds requested for political or religious purpose
- Items already purchased • Activities already taking place
- Deficit funding
Q. How much money should we request?
A. This depends entirely on the extent of your project and your organizational budget. Determine approximately how much you need to fund your project against the amount that you may be eligible to receive from the grant. Refer to the grant terms and conditions for information on this topic. The grant program requires a local match of at least 50%; which may be a combination of cash and in-kind donations or grant funds from other sources.
Q: Will you do a location visit?
A. Yes.
Q. Can we apply for multiple projects in the same year?
A. No. Most projects are covered under one application. For example, one project might include nutrition education combined with an exercise program.
Q. Do you give grants to individuals?
A. No we do not.
May we fax or e-mail our grant proposal?
A. Yes. Please refer to this website.
Q. May we apply for more than one grant at the same time, in the same area, addressing different health issues?
A. No. You may reapply at 12 month intervals up to a total of 36 months.
Q. How many copies of our proposal should we send?
A. Only one copy of your proposal should be submitted.
Q. May successful Grant applicants re-apply for funds to continue a program after the initial funding cycle ends?
A. The OEA Choice Trust Wellness Grant Program should not be perceived as a long-lasting source of funding for ongoing projects.
