All applicants are subject to a review process, which includes submitting a proposal, interviews with staff, a site visit and approval by the Board of Trust.

After the Trust receives a proposal, the staff, as well as an outside grant consultant, conducts a review based upon the Trust’s mission, funding objectives and grant guidelines. The staff make recommendations to the Grants and Program Committees who then make recommendations to the Executive Committee and to the full Board.

At this time, the full Board of Trust meets twice a year, in July and December, and considers grants at this time. The entire approval process usually takes four to five months depending on the date of the full Board meeting. Applicants will be notified of the Board’s decision in writing soon after receiving final approval.

If a grant award is authorized, the grantee is asked to sign a Grant Award Agreement (contract) that stipulates the purpose and conditions of the grant. Funds are disbursed to grantees on a timely basis.

Selection Criteria

The Trust uses the following questions to guide the evaluation of Transom Grant proposals:

1. Does this program benefit the health of individuals throughout Middle Tennessee?
2. Do the values and mission of this project coincide with the mission and values of BHT to promote loving care, hope, and respect?
3. Does this program focus on health needs of underprivileged population(s)?
4. Does this program address an existing deficiency within the community?
5. How significant are the likely benefits of the program to community relative to the total cost?
6. Does the program appear to be sustainable if BHT funding ended?
7. Does this program have clear, measurable and realistic outcomes?
8. Are the infrastructure and leadership present for the program to succeed?

The Trust uses the following questions to guide the evaluation of Impacting Education Grant proposals:

1. Does this institution train health professionals in the Middle Tennessee area?
2. Do the values and mission of this proposed program coincide with the mission and values of BHT to promote loving care, hope, and respect?
3. Has the applicant targeted the proposed program towards institutionalizing loving care (or similar concept) as a course or an ongoing program?
4. Is the administration of this institution committed to implementing this educational program?
5. If the application proposes collaborative partners, are the partners (outside the applicant institution) committed to the success of the program?
6. Does this educational program have clear, measurable and realistic outcomes to measure success?
7. Are the infrastructure and leadership present for the program to succeed?
8. Is the budget realistic and appropriate to the scope of the proposed program?

The Trust uses the following questions to guide the evaluation of Partnership Grant proposals:

1. Does this agency employ programs that benefit the health of individuals throughout Middle Tennessee?
2. Do the values and mission of this agency coincide with the mission and values of BHT to promote loving care, hope, and respect?
3. Has the applicant targeted the proposed program to solving an issue either within the agency or between agencies that if successful would ensure that more vulnerable populations receive loving care?
4. Is the leadership, particularly the CEO/ED, committed to implementing this partnership program?
5. Does the proposed plan use realistic methods with measurable outcomes and appropriate evaluation techniques?
6. Are the infrastructure and leadership present for the program to succeed?
7. Is the budget realistic and appropriate to the scope of the proposed program?