Deadlines for the upcoming grant docket:
We accept letters of inquiry on a rolling basis.
The deadline for invited proposals is March 18. Please only submit a full proposal if invited to do so by Foundation staff.
What We Fund
The Foundation generally invites specific applications for proposals. However, unsolicited proposals for projects that contribute to achieving the program’s goals are welcome. Proposals initiated by applicants should be presented to the Foundation as a letter of inquiry. We strongly recommend that applicants carefully review our program goals, priorities and restrictions before submitting a letter of inquiry.
We fund programs and projects that will contribute to improving systems of care for children with special health care needs and their families in California and the nation. The current system of care for children with chronic and complex health conditions receives scant attention in comparison to the system that provides services for adults. The pediatric system is fragmented and underfunded, access to specialty care and comprehensive primary care is limited, quality of care is variable and too often unmeasured, and families carry an undue burden of responsibility.
We envision an accessible health care system that adheres to agreed-upon performance standards, provides high-quality, family-centered, culturally competent and coordinated care within a medical home, and is adequately funded by an efficient and comprehensive payment system.
Areas of Focus
The Foundation will consider letters of inquiry that address improving care for children with special needs in the following areas:
- Care coordination and integrated systems of care
- Support for families in self-management and advocacy
- Quality standards and measures focused on children with special health care needs
- Other projects that inform or have a high likelihood of improving the performance of the care systems serving children with chronic or complex health care needs
Program Criteria
The proposed program or project should:
- Be applicable to the care of children in California
- Have potential for national applicability
- Have the potential to improve the system of care for children with special needs
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complex system of care for CSHCN and build on existing knowledge and systems
- Have potential to affect a large number of CSHCN
- Have potential for impact within five years
- Have reasonable evidence of sustainability, where applicable
- Have reasonable evidence of replicability, where applicable
- Present opportunities for collaboration
Organizational Criteria
Letters of Inquiry are accepted from organizations that:
- Are classified as tax exempt under 501(c)(3) or are a public or educational entity; collaborations of nonprofit and public agencies with a designated fiscal sponsor; or entities that have a charitable purpose. Letters from for-profit organizations will be considered only if a nonprofit organization serves as the designated fiscal sponsor.
- Have demonstrated capacity to implement effective, culturally competent programs; reach intended populations; and achieve clear, reasonable and measurable goals and objectives.
- Promote and maintain nondiscriminatory policies in programs and the workplace.
What We Don’t Fund
- Individuals
- Scholarships
- Private foundations 509(a)
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Fundraising sponsorships
- Endowments, capital campaigns, or annual fund appeals
- Basic biomedical research
- Development of new technology or technology-based applications
- Disease- or condition-specific projects
- Major media projects unless they are an outgrowth of one of the Foundation’s programs
- Support for service programs
Meeting and Conference Support
The Foundation occasionally will support conferences organized by others. Funding is most likely to be provided when the content of the event advances the Foundation’s mission and contributes to achieving its goals. In addition, preference is given to applicants who offer the opportunity for the Foundation to partner in the planning of the conference and consequent activities, and to events held in California. In general, events supported by the Foundation should be formally evaluated, and the Foundation will expect to receive a list of attendees and their contact information after the event. Requests simply for sponsorship are unlikely to be funded.
How to Apply
Submit a Letter of Inquiry
If after reviewing the Foundation funding criteria above you believe that your proposed project would be a good fit with the Foundation’s interests we encourage you to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). To submit an LOI, log in to our Grant Portal and start an inquiry. You can preview the online LOI application here.
Letters are accepted on a rolling basis, and you will receive a response within four weeks.
Duration and funding levels for projects will be considered on a project basis.
Note: We recommend using Chrome or Firefox to access the Grant Portal. Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge are not supported.
Reporting Forms for Grantees
- Interim Narrative Report Form (Word)
- Final Narrative Report Form (Word)
- Final Financial Report Form (Excel)
