Health Communities Foundation Overview

The mission of the Healthy Communities Foundation (HCF) is to be a community informed grant making foundation that seeks to measurably improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities in our service area by promoting health equity, quality and access for all. The HCF “Core Values” include:

• Energizing the spirit and potential of our local community;
• Serving the most socially and economically vulnerable members of our community;
• Building a culture of learning and sharing that empowers our local leadership and institutions; and
• Understanding and addressing long-term systems change.

Outcomes Sought

In 2017, HCF will consider one-year, general operating grants that support community-based health and human services and programs that are effective, accessible, affordable and culturally competent. Efforts that address the needs of the most socially and economically vulnerable community members are of particular interest. These might include programs and initiatives that improve the quality, comprehensiveness, and coordination of services or those that introduce new models and identify best practices that can contribute to learning. Collaborations and strategic partnerships among stakeholders are also welcomed.

Requests may fall into one of the following grantmaking categories:

• Programs and services meeting the guidelines described above
• Small capital improvements up to $50,000
• Basic needs and/or responding to an urgent/unanticipated issue in the community
• Policy advocacy and/or community education and outreach
• Other

Eligibility

Applicants must have a 501(c)(3) determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and preference is given to organizations serving our core service area (see Attachment A for HCF’s geographic service area zip codes and service area map). Additionally, organizations must be nondiscriminatory in hiring and in providing services on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.

Key Dates