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Community Health Improvement Grants

The Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) Community Health Improvement Grants program is funded by contributions from our 8 hospitals around Puget Sound. In awarding community grants, VMFH actively partners with nonprofit organizations working to improve health status and quality of life in the communities we serve.

Grant funds are used to deliver services and strengthen service systems, to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations. The program is one way VMFH puts its mission and values into practice.

Funding criteria

The Community Health Improvement Grants program uses funding criteria to ensure that its charitable resources address health needs in ways that demonstrate accountability for impact. Grant applicants should ensure that their proposed projects:

  • Address one or more prioritized significant needs in the local hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment
    • Access to health care
    • Chronic disease prevention
    • Behavioral health
    • Violence prevention
  • Serve identified vulnerable or underserved populations
  • Include two or more collaborating partners with distinct, complementary, and substantive project roles
  • Preference is given to projects that work in some capacity with one or more VMFH hospitals

Eligibility

  • Lead applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
  • Grant projects awards are from $20,000 up to $100,000. Grant project implementation is from March 2025 to February 2026.
  • Mid-year and final written accountability reports are required
  • Projects are funded for one year and there is no guarantee of continued funding in future years  

Information sessions

Timeline

  • Application period open from June 17-Aug. 16, 2024
  • Applicants notified – November 2024
  • Projects begin – March 1, 2025
  • Projects end – Feb. 28, 2026
      

Application portal

Community Health Improvement grant recipients

  • Applicant Organization

    Application Name

    $ Amount Funded

    Communities In Schools Of Lakewood

    In School Behavioral Supports

    $95,000

    Emergency Food Network

    EFN Home Delivery Program

    $75,000

    HopeSparks

    Hip Hop Therapy

    $53,560

    KC HELP

    Knights of Columbus Equipment Support Program

    $35,000

    Key Peninsula Healthy Community

    Key Peninsula Healthy Community

    $95,000

    Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center

    Community Health Improvement for Immigrants

    $100,000

    Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center

    Hilltop and Downtown Tacoma Community Health Workers

    $96,000

    North Kitsap Fishline

    Fishline Counseling Services

    $50,000

    Nourish Pierce County Food Banks

    Culturally Responsive/Nutritious Foods

    $100,000

    Pacific Lutheran University

    Spanish-Language Medical Interpretation Training Course

    $42,170

    Peace Lutheran Church

    Peace Lutheran - Hilltop Anti-Displacement Program

    $36,500

    Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank

    Senior Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (SHIP)

    $98,200

    Plateau Outreach Ministries

    Plateau Outreach Ministries Basic Needs

    $25,000

    Project Access Northwest

    Pro Bono Behavioral Health Counseling Program

    $100,000

    Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation

    Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation - Community Mental Health

    $60,000

    Resilient in Sustaining Empowerment

    Behavioral Health Supports for Gun Violence Survivors

    $95,000

    Seattle Center Foundation

    2024 Seattle/King County Clinic

    $35,000

    Solid Ground WA

    Solid Ground’s Sand Point Behavioral Health Partnerships Program

    $100,000

    Step By Step Family Support Center

    Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Pregnant and Parenting Women

    $100,000

    Tacoma SEED - Hilltop Urban Gardens

    Hilltop Urban Gardens

    $67,013

    Tacoma Urban League/Leaders in Women's Health

    Culturally Competent Diabetes & Hypertension Outreach & Workshop

    $25,000

    Teen Feed

    Teen Feed Trauma & Nutrition Equity - Community Guide

    $35,000

    Vine Maple Place

    Addressing social determinants of health to end homelessness through Vine Maple Place’s Stable Families Program

    $95,000

    YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties

    Chronic Disease Support Programs

    $80,080

Resources