Large Community Grants

The Komen Puget Sound Affiliate offers large community grants ($5000+) for innovative programs that reduce breast cancer mortality, especially among those who are disproportionately affected by the disease. We direct the majority of our grant making to programs that promote early detection of breast cancer. The remainder of grant funds are invested in programs assisting medically underserved breast cancer patients as they access treatment.

Apply for a Large Community Grant
To apply for a Large Community Grant, applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). After a successful pre-screening of an LOI, organizations are invited to submit a full application (Request for Application).

Large Community Grant Service Areas:

Early Detection/Education: Approximately 70% of our grant funding supports projects in this area as it is clear that breast cancers that are detected early are much more treatable than those detected in late stage. This target area includes the following programs:

• Delivery of screening and diagnostic mammography services.
• Outreach programs that facilitate access to breast cancer screening.
• Education focused on breast cancer screening and early detection.

Patient Navigation: Approximately 15% of our grant funding supports culturally appropriate patient navigation to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes among medically underserved women. Programs should provide the following:

• Culturally appropriate one-on-one patient navigation that aids breast cancer survivors in accessing and understanding the medical system and helps ensure they receive the best treatment possible.

Patient Assistance/Treatment Support: Approximately 15% of our grant funding supports projects in this area to ensure that breast cancer patients have the financial resources and support to get the best available breast cancer treatments, which are critical to improving breast cancer survival rates. This category includes the following services:

• Culturally-appropriate treatment support services, including but are not limited to: support groups, classes and resources relevant to breast cancer patients and survivors.
• Safety Net Funding for low-income breast cancer patients. This funding provides financial assistance for the following: rent/mortgage; prescriptions for medications not available through pharmaceutical assistance funds; transportation; utilities; food and nutritional supplements; medical supplies such as lymphedema sleeves and dressings; COBRA insurance premiums; childcare; personal hygiene/specialty clothing items; and dental care needed prior to chemotherapy.

Additionally, based upon the disparities identified by our Community Profile Report, we aim to increase our funding to the following areas of need:

• Breast cancer screening, patient navigation and treatment support services offered in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Mason counties serving low-income, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• Breast cancer awareness, screening and patient navigation in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties for low-income, African American, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Indian, Pacific Islander and Vietnamese women. 

More information concerning guidelines and criteria of the large community grants can be found in the Large Community Grant Application Form.

Contact Elisa Del Rosario, Director of Grants, Education & Advocacy at elisa@pskomen.org  or 206.633.0303 ext. 105.