Solutions for Healthy Communities
Solutions for Healthy Communities (SHC) is our global grants program focused on investing in innovative solutions to advance equitable access to health around the world.
SHC: grounded in the power of communities
Our company has set a public commitment to advance access to health for people in low- and middle-income countries and for underserved populations in high-income countries. As part of that commitment, SHC launched in 2023. The program aims to catalyze innovation in locally led solutions that facilitate access to health care for underserved populations in areas where our company has a presence.
SHC was developed based on the belief that local organizations know their communities best, and are best positioned to create meaningful, lasting change in the regions where they work.
How SHC drives access to health
- Empowering people and communities with health knowledge
- Designing and testing models of care that better meet the needs of underserved populations
- Strengthening and expanding the community healthcare workforce
- Building capacity of community health organizations
- Strengthening regional and national health systems
Selection process
We select grantee organizations that leverage local knowledge and skills to advance access to health. They are serving those living in poverty, in underrepresented ethnic groups, who have diverse gender identities and/or sexual orientations, or who are displaced by humanitarian crises or conflicts. Learn more in our FAQs below.
Interested in applying for the SHC grant program?
Resources
Our 2023 cohort
Of the 385 applicants, 36 projects representing 24 countries were selected from around the world; they collectively received $7 million over two years to advance their proposals. Projects in our inaugural cohort spanned multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health. Learn more in our FAQs below.
2023 cohort members
- Association Dar Zhor
- Beebe Medical Center Inc. d/b/a Beebe Healthcare
- Blue Ridge Free Clinic, Inc.
- Business for Health Solutions, International, Inc.
- Cancer Buddies NPC
- Comie En Union para Salvadorenos (CEUS)
- Community Servings, Inc.
- Foundation Center for Health Policies and Services
- Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
- Friends of Puerto Rico
- Fundación Mexicana Para la Salud, A.C.
- Fundación Plan Ecuador
- Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc.
- HMH Hospitals Corporation
- Impulso
- Kenan Foundation Asia
- Kilkenny Cancer Support Centre Ltd
- The King Hussein Cancer Foundation
- Last Mile Health
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Mersal Foundation
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Ovacome
- Place Tokyo
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
- Saint Francis Foundation
- Sexual Health West
- Shel Bar – The Sarit Levy and Bracha Rosenberg z”l organization for Women’s Cancer (RA)
- UNICEF – Guatemala
- UNICEF – Peru
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia
- University of Nebraska Foundation
- Valley Youth House Committee, Inc.
- Vishwanath Cancer Care Foundation
- Wesley Shelter, Inc.
- Yayasan Jalin Komunikasi Indonesia (Jalin Foundation)
Frequently asked questions
What are the characteristics of a successful grant applicant?
Grant applicants must be consistent with the following:
- They seek to expand health care access via community-led solutions that reach historically underserved populations.
- They implement innovative solutions in their community to improve the reach and impact of health services.
- Those solutions should drive impact across therapeutic areas, including, but not limited to, oncology, vaccines, infectious disease or diabetes.
The SHC team recognizes that organizations know the health needs of their community best and as such will evaluate grant proposals based on the information communicated in the proposal.
Who is eligible to apply for an SHC grant?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations within 50 miles of an MSD site and have program objectives that align with SHC’s goal to advance access to health care for historically underserved populations. A full list of eligibility requirements can be found in our program announcement & application guidelines.
How can my organization apply?
Applications for the 2026-2027 SHC cohort open January 13, 2025, and close February 28, 2025. To apply, complete the application template. For the full list of proposal requirements, read the program announcement & application guidelines.
How are applications evaluated?
Proposals are evaluated based on criteria, including, but not limited to, clarity of objectives and outcomes, demonstrated understanding of locally relevant barriers and opportunities to advance access to health care for specific underserved population groups, demonstrated capacity and capabilities to carry out proposed activities, anticipated reach and opportunities to leverage, scale and sustain efforts beyond this grant. For the full list of evaluation criteria, read the program announcement & application guidelines.
What is the term length of the grant?
Contracts will be fully executed no later than December 2025. Program implementation is expected to begin January 2026 and be completed by December 2027. This is a two-year funding commitment.
Where can I apply?
You can apply by completing the application template.
Where can I find the eligibility criteria?
You can find the eligibility criteria in our guidelines.