Systems Change Grants

Overview

Arizona faces complex health problems, including limited access to healthcare, differences in community conditions, and unequal health outcomes across the state. These issues are connected and form systems that lead to the health disparities we see every day. As part of our mission to improve health in Arizona, Vitalyst Health Foundation is dedicated to supporting systems change efforts across the state through our grants.

What is Systems Change? Systems change is a way to address root problems by improving how systems work, leading to long-lasting, widespread improvements in health. Systems change can occur when collaboratives work to change structures like policies, practices, or resource flows that leave out groups most impacted by conditions. Changing systems can also happen by shifting power dynamics, relationships and connections, or mental models (the way we think about things).

You can read about what systems change means in the Spark Report Understanding Systems Change.

Our Systems Change Grants support collaboratives in implementing their desired systems change. By the end of the grant period, collaboratives will have either fully implemented or made significant advancements toward their systems change project.

Grant Criteria

1. Systems Change Project Design 40 POINTS
   Describe the systems change initiative, the problem and system it targets, the barriers and goals, strategies aligned with systems change conditions, timing, and anticipated challenges.
   
    
2. Collaborative 20 POINTS
   Explain the partner organizations’ roles, history, and alignment; how community voices are included; and why the collaborative is positioned for successful implementation.
   
    
3. Elements of a Healthy Community Outcomes 15 POINTS
   Identify the health outcomes targeted, their alignment with Healthy Community Elements, and how improvements will be tracked with specific metrics.
   
    
4. Health Equity 15 POINTS
   Detail how the project will reduce health disparities using data, especially disaggregated data, and demonstrate the involvement of impacted communities in shaping the change.
   
    
5. Budget 10 POINTS
   Provide a narrative and spreadsheet showing how the grant and other funds will be used to support equitable systems change, partner compensation, and the collaborative’s financial capacity.

Grant Process
Applications due October 9, 2025.
Presentations for selected applicants January 12 – January 16, 2026.

To learn more about what Systems Change means to Vitalyst, click here. For collaboratives interested in our Systems Change Grants, we are hosting our Systems Change Grants Information Session via Zoom on September 9 at 9:00 A.M.