community civic engagement program
Help Build Stronger and Healthier Communities
In collaboration with The National Association of Community Health Centers and AltaMed, Vot-ER’s Community Civic Engagement Program (CCEP) is our flagship small grant program that expands non-partisan civic engagement through voter registration and turnout initiatives in community health centers.
Together with Community Health Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other similar organizations, we promote civic engagement using trusted messengers –– ultimately building stronger and healthier communities.
Vot-ER’s CCEP program offers small grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to participating partners, enabling them to integrate civic engagement initiatives into their existing healthcare center operations. These efforts include non-partisan voter registration and voter turnout drives.
Applications are currently closed, but you can still express interest.
Complete this interest form to be notified when our applications open again. View the 2024 closed application in full here. If you have any questions, contact jonathan@vot-er.org.
Our Grants Support:
Throughout the grant period, participants will have the opportunity to engage in various activities, such as sending voting reminders via text to patients, implementing voter registration drives, integrating civic engagement messaging into clinic and community events, building voter registration options into patient portals, and distributing Vot-ER voter registration badges to staff.
You Should Apply If You:
CCEP 2024 Key Dates:
Applications open
Informational Webinar
Grantees notified
Applications close
Grant cycle begins
Grant cycle concludes
FAQs
Eligibility
Community Health Centers (CHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and various health center look-alikes are able to apply to the program! As long as you are interested in building civic engagement efforts into your existing patient-facing work, we are eager to collaborate with you. We welcome a wide range of applicants, including those health centers that are experts at efforts like running voter registration drives or Get Out the Vote efforts as well as those who have never before ventured into this work. If you’re not quite sure if your health center meets this criteria, please reach out to Jonathan Flores, our CCEP Deputy Director, and we can think through your eligibility with you.
Our 2024 CCEP is enthusiastic about collaborating with community health centers predominantly serving Black, brown, American Indian/Alaska Native, LGBTQIA+, and other communities that have been historically disenfranchised. We are also eager to partner with community health centers serving rural populations, and young people.
The official 2024 Healthy Democracy Campaign begins September 1 and runs through November 5 (Election Day). However, you can start building your team now, recruiting members, and connecting with Vot-ER staff to plot out how to have the biggest impact once we hit election season!
All teams need at least one captain – we also recommend having a faculty advisor. While there is no minimum requirement for the number of students on a team, make sure you gather a solid group so you can ensure your impact ignites your campus.
How to Be A Competitive Applicant
Health issues are at stake in every election, and communities that are more likely to vote are also more likely to have their voices heard on important issues affecting their health. You have a unique opportunity to use your position in the health system to increase voter turnout. As a captain, you help lead your team to ensure your impact is felt across your campus. Plus, previous captains have gained valuable skills and knowledge.
As a team captain, you mobilize a team of students and faculty to score points by registering voters and completing high impact actions. Vot-ER provides your team with free digital voter registration badges and trains you in community organizing.
The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. The time commitment is flexible and ranges from 30 minutes to several hours per week. In general, the more time you dedicate to the Healthy Democracy Campaign, the better chance your team has of winning, achieving our goal of increasing voter turnout, and ultimately, creating a more inclusive democracy.
Vot-ER provides email templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you are worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.
Details About What Grantees Should Expect
The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. The time commitment is flexible and ranges from 30 minutes to several hours per week. In general, the more time you dedicate to the Healthy Democracy Campaign, the better chance your team has of winning, achieving our goal of increasing voter turnout, and ultimately, creating a more inclusive democracy. Vot-ER provides templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you’re worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.
The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. The time commitment is flexible and ranges from 30 minutes to several hours per week. In general, the more time you dedicate to the Healthy Democracy Campaign, the better chance your team has of winning, achieving our goal of increasing voter turnout, and ultimately, creating a more inclusive democracy. Vot-ER provides templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you’re worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.
Grant Details and Logistics
The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. The time commitment is flexible and ranges from 30 minutes to several hours per week. In general, the more time you dedicate to the Healthy Democracy Campaign, the better chance your team has of winning, achieving our goal of increasing voter turnout, and ultimately, creating a more inclusive democracy. Vot-ER provides templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you’re worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.
Yes! No prior experience is necessary. We will provide all the training you need and any additional support you want!
Non-partisan Voter Registration Work and Health Centers
Yes! No prior experience is necessary. We will provide all the training you need and any additional support you want!
Yes! No prior experience is necessary. We will provide all the training you need and any additional support you want!