The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation announced today that it will accept applications for the 2014 Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program, which has provided over $14 million to 39 organizations since its inception four years ago. Organizations can submit online applications for the program from Monday, Feb. 3, through Thursday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. EST.

The program each year awards grants of $150,000 and up to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations engaged in charitable work at the community level in support of its mission of improving cardiovascular health. Programs are eligible to receive up to two years of grant funding.

To qualify for a Foundation grant, organizational programs must meet four key criteria:

  • Address cardiovascular health issues within the United States and its territories.
  • Recognize and work to address an unmet need related to cardiovascular health in the community.
  • Respond to the urgency around addressing cardiovascular health issues, including cardiovascular disease or conditions contributing to cardiovascular disease.
  • Improve the quality of patients' and non-professional caregivers' lives in connection with the services provided and work done.

Foundation grant applications that describe innovative initiatives with clearly defined outcomes and measurable results and processes will be considered for funding. Applicants must demonstrate sustainability plans for the initiative so that the program can continue to improve cardiovascular health after the Foundation grant funds are expended. In 2013, the Foundation awarded nearly $3.7 million in grants to 19 organizations dedicated to improving heart health.

For more information on the Foundation and how to apply for a grant, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/foundation. A preview of this year's application questions as well as a completed sample application are also available.

About AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation

Established in 1993, the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation is a Delaware not-for-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) entity organized for charitable purposes, including to promote public awareness of healthcare issues, to promote public education of medical knowledge, and to support or contribute to charitable and qualified exempt organizations consistent with its charitable purpose.

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