Funding is one of the common problems and roadblocks that organizations encounter when trying to start a mobile medical program. Without proper funding for mobile medical vehicles, your organization will never be able to get your program up and operating. As a result, marginalized communities will continue facing barriers to healthcare, and lives could even potentially be lost.
We get it – it’s incredibly frustrating when you’ve got everything all set, only to hit a roadblock because of funding issues.
At MoveMobility, we manufacture mobile medical vans for organizations like yours to ensure healthcare is accessible to all. With Transport Canada certification, our vans meet rigorous safety standards. Being a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier and holding the Q-Pro Quality Certificate from STELLANTIS underscores our commitment to excellence in accessible healthcare vehicles.
After encouraging many organizations in their journey to securing funds, we’ve put this guide together to lend you a hand in tackling the obstacles that come with funding for mobile medical vehicles. Once you’re finished reading, our goal is for you to feel more confident navigating the funding maze, which can sometimes feel like a real puzzle.
Where do you begin when looking for funding for mobile medical vehicles?
Securing funding for mobile medical vehicles isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. Every organization is different, and with so many of them looking around for funding, it can often feel like a shot in the dark. There are many ways to go about finding funding, and we’ll talk more about that in the next sections.
1. GrantWatch
GrantWatch is one of the leading and most popular search engines for people, organizations, and nonprofits seeking funding and grant opportunities. The agency started around 14 years ago, and over 200,000 agencies visit the site every month to look for grants. The company releases a monthly blog that advertises fundraising news.
GrantWatch has an exhaustive list of grant opportunities that you can search for, including:
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Transportation
- Homelessness
- Housing
- Health/medical
- Community services
Nearly 4,000 grants are in the database in Canada alone. GrantWatch makes it easy to search for the type of grants you need. Keep reading to learn more about how to use GrantWatch.
How do you use GrantWatch?
To start with, you’ll want to go to the Canadian GrantWatch website. At the top of the page, you’ll see a header section that lets you click on:
- Grants for nonprofits
- Grants for small businesses
- Grants for individuals
- Federal grants
- Foundation grants
This method is the most straightforward way to connect you with grants that apply to your organization. Let’s use the grants for nonprofits section as an example.
If you’re running a nonprofit organization, click on Grants for nonprofits.
From here, the dropdown box under Recipient should say Nonprofits. To the right of that, click on the Location dropdown box and select your location. After that, click on your applicable Category. If you’re looking for grants for mobile medical vehicles, you’d click on the health and medical category. After that, click on Search.
You should now see a list of grants that are related to your search criteria. Keep in mind that you’ll need to create an account to access all of the specific grant details. This is the same method for small businesses and individuals.
If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest grants available that date within the past 7 days, you can also do that on the website. From this page, scroll down and click on Newest Grants.
It’ll bring you to a page where you can see all of the grants posted in the past week. You’ll also see a deadline underneath each grant opportunity that’s posted.
If you really want to stay 1 step ahead of the game, a paid subscription gives you a little more flexibility over your search filters.
2. Federal funding opportunities for mobile medical vehicles
Every so often, there are federal funding opportunities available from the government. While they might be a little more difficult to come by, they’re helpful for organizations that aim to improve healthcare access across Canada.
Finding a grant from the federal government might sometimes feel like a hit-or-miss. It’s difficult to pinpoint when a grant opportunity might pop up. This will take some due diligence on your organization’s part to check their website every so often to see what’s available.
To search for grant or contribution opportunities, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website and look at the part of the website that says Open funding opportunities as seen in the image below.
Even though federal government funding for mobile medical vehicles may seem scarce, the grant opportunities are very detailed. They clearly list:
- Value of the grant
- Funding duration
- Application deadlines
- How to apply
They’ll also list a description of exactly what’s involved in the funding or grant opportunity. There will be a section on eligibility and everything you need to do to understand the application process.
If you have any questions on the funding process for federal grants, it might help to contact the Public Health Agency of Canada.
3. Funding opportunities for mobile medical vehicles at the provincial level
In addition to federal government funding, don’t forget about funding opportunities at the provincial level.
Provincial grants: Sometimes, provinces offer grants specifically for healthcare initiatives, including mobile medical units. These grants can help cover costs like vehicle purchases, equipment, and operational expenses.
Healthcare funding programs: Some provinces have funding programs designed to improve healthcare accessibility and services. Your mobile medical unit project could align perfectly with their goals, making you eligible for financial support.
Community health initiatives: Provincial governments often invest in projects that improve community health outcomes. Your mobile medical unit, with its focus on bringing healthcare closer to people, could fit the bill for funding under these initiatives.
Partnership opportunities: Provincial governments sometimes collaborate with private organizations or nonprofits to fund healthcare projects. You might be able to access additional funding streams by partnering with local healthcare authorities or organizations.
Innovation grants: Provinces are increasingly interested in supporting innovative solutions in healthcare delivery. If your mobile medical unit uses new technologies or approaches, you could qualify for innovation grants.
Remember, each province may have its own funding programs and criteria, so it’s important to research what’s available in your specific area. Don’t hesitate to reach out to provincial government representatives or healthcare agencies for more information. They’re there to help you make a difference in healthcare accessibility for all Canadians.
Provincial and territorial government websites for Canada
Here’s a list of the official provincial and territorial government websites for Canada. These websites are valuable resources for finding funding opportunities.
Provincial government websites:
- Alberta – Government of Alberta
- British Columbia – Government of British Columbia
- Manitoba – Government of Manitoba
- New Brunswick – Government of New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador – Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia – Government of Nova Scotia
- Ontario – Government of Ontario
- Prince Edward Island – Government of Prince Edward Island
- Québec – Gouvernement du Québec (French primarily)
- Saskatchewan – Government of Saskatchewan
Territorial government websites:
- Northwest Territories – Government of the Northwest Territories
- Nunavut – Government of Nunavut
- Yukon – Government of Yukon
For example, Alberta’s provincial government website mentions that you can find funding opportunities for projects in a wide range of areas, including inclusion. All you have to do is browse over to the funding area of the website, select your choices from the applicable dropdown menus, and click Apply Filter.
Key takeaways
Know what you need: Spell out what your mobile medical vehicle project is all about, including what you aim to do, what you need to make it happen, and how much it will cost.
Do your research: Dive into online databases and check out government and funding websites to spot opportunities that fit with what your mobile medical program is all about.
Craft a winning proposal: Share how your mobile medical vehicle will tackle healthcare challenges, benefit the community, and meet the funding requirements.
Stick to the rules: Make sure you know what the application process involves. Keep an eye on deadlines and make sure you have all the paperwork sorted.
Prove your point: Show the difference your project will make with solid facts and figures. Funders love seeing the real impact.
Don’t give up: Finding funding is tough and might take a while. If you don’t get it the first time, learn from it and try again. Securing funding is also a lot about timing. Check the resources we mentioned above periodically to make sure you don’t miss out on an opportunity.
Seek professional assistance: Consider getting advice from grant writing experts or financial advisors who know the ins and outs of healthcare funding. This could save you a lot of time in constantly researching for grants and funding on your own.
Your next steps with MoveMobility
You came to this article while researching how to apply for funding for mobile medical vehicles. We hope this article has given you some actionable insights and direction on your next steps.
Get assistance with funding from a commercial mobility expert with a simple click of the button at the end of this article.
Read our article on the cost of a mobile medical van before you start researching funding opportunities to better understand what you can expect to be spending.
You should also check out our article on the 5 steps to buying a mobile medical van to learn how the process works.
