We’re dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities, creating better places to live, work, play, and raise families. We focus on supporting initiatives that address health disparities, social determinants of health, and discrimination impacting our members and their neighborhoods. Through our partnerships, we strive to make a lasting difference for our members.

Healthier communities help us all

Being a local nonprofit health insurer challenges us to rethink our role as an insurer to broaden the definition of health and make care more accessible and affordable. This is key to our mission and the role of community investments.

The health of a community, including ease of access to care and community resources available that encourage and enable healthy habits can have a positive impact on a community. Community Investments supports, collaborates, and partners with local community-based organizations that promote healthy communities.

How we are helping

We are working every day to create better places to live, work, play, and raise families. This is a continuing commitment that you can count on. Take a look at the community impact we had in 2024 and continue to work towards.

 

Oswego Early Childhood Alliance

To fight the increasing trend of the diaper need among lower-income families in Oswego County, we recently provided funding in support of the establishment of a diaper bank at the Oswego County Early Childhood Alliance (OCECA).

 

United Way of CNY

A group of 60+ CNY-based Excellus BCBS employees volunteered for the 2024 United Way of Central New York’s Annual Day of Caring. They joined a record-breaking 1,444 other community volunteers who provided their assistance to more than 100+ local nonprofits and community organizations throughout Central New York.

 

Common Ground Health

The Get It Done program allows African American and Latino barbers and beauticians to serve as community health educators to increase health knowledge and community outreach.

 

The Purse Project

Health isn’t just about going to the doctor’s office. The foundation of health starts when you have your basic needs met. That’s why we partner with The Purse Project to provide even more women in Monroe County dignity and support via purses filled with personal hygiene necessities.

 

The Center

The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees received support for their Women’s Wellness Group, which supports mental health and social engagement among the refugee and immigrant women.

 

Johnson Park Center

We’re here for healthy, happy smiles! Oral hygiene is an important part of overall health. That’s why we partnered with the Johnson Park Center's Go Back to School with a Smile Program to provide toothpaste and toothbrushes (along with information and training) to more than 1500 local students.  

 

YWCA Mohawk Valley

The YWCA of the Mohawk Valley received support the Herkimer County Child Advocacy Center to provide therapy services for survivors of child abuse and/or sexual violence. 

Investment opportunities

It is our mission to support impactful community programs, opportunities to seek and apply for funding, and continue to make a real difference. Additional information is available for funding opportunities, guidelines, and timelines.

Sponsorships

Application submissions are available January – September

These awards support programs and events that share our mission of promoting access to high-quality, affordable health care, such as a fundraiser, health fair, health seminar, or other health-related event.

Submit Application

Health and Wellness Awards

Application submissions available March – June

These awards support programs and initiatives that improve health and health outcomes associated with Social Determinants of Health. Proposals focusing on improving health conditions and factors linked to adverse health outcomes will be given preference.

Submit Application

Health Equity Innovation Awards

Application submissions available September – October

These awards support impactful programs and initiatives that significantly improve health and health outcomes.

Read about the 2024 Health Equity Innovation Awards Recipients

Member and Community Health Improvement (MACHI) Grants

Applications available based on regional availability

This grant program aims to improve the health of our members and communities. We are committed to positively impacting all members of our communities, especially the marginalized or minoritized, by enhancing their health and quality of life. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s current goals are improving behavioral health, maternal health, and chronic condition management for members. Programs and initiatives focused on these areas are our current priority. We are interested in multi-year initiatives involving multiple community organizations with specific objectives and measurable outcomes.

Application Requirements

Employee Volunteerism

Employee volunteerism aligns with our company’s vision and values of improving the health of our community. We provide employees with volunteer time off hours to cultivate community connections through volunteer service, engage with the community via board membership and help nurture meaningful community relationships. Community Based Organization’s that are seeking new applicants for their board of directors can contact a Community Investments and Partnerships lead for more information.

Contact us

Have a question? We are here to help.
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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield receives hundreds of corporate giving requests every year. Each corporate giving request that benefits a charitable organization will be reviewed. Our corporate giving must follow all applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies and refrains from contributing to political organizations, political candidates and labor unions (unless the payees are registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations). In addition, we will not fund organizations that conflict with our corporate mission, goals, policies or products, including organizations that discriminate against persons or groups on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or religion.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 31-county region includes: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates counties.

 

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