Kaiser Permanente Community Fund
ABOUT THE KPCF
The Kaiser Permanente Community Fund (KPCF) at Northwest Health Foundation was established in late 2004 to advance the health of the communities served by Kaiser Permanente Northwest. The Fund intends to achieve this goal by addressing those factors in the social, policy, and physical environment that impact community health. Often referred to as the social determinants of health, these factors have been shown to play a major role in the development of health disparities based on race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.
The Fund seeks to support community-based efforts to enhance social factors that promote health equity, and eliminate those factors that contribute to health disparities. Proposals may address topics as diverse as public safety, secure employment, environmental quality, social capital, affordable housing, and community organizing, to name a few. A list of the projects funded last year can be seen here
Research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many others, has found that health status is largely determined by factors outside of our health care system. While high-quality clinical care is important, underlying and chronic stressors such as poverty and racism play a significant role in the development and progression of disease. An approach that prevents the need for clinical services will result in healthier communities and less expensive health care for all. Resources such as The Community Guide to Preventive Services have begun developing evidence-based recommendations for how groups and coalitions can address the social determinants of health in their communities.
The Kaiser Permanente Community Fund is committed to promoting health equity and social justice through support of community-based organizations. We are particularly interested in supporting efforts that take a preventive or “upstream” approach to improving community health. If your organization is working in the KPCF funding region, and you have an idea for a project to improve your community’s health that is innovative, evidence-based, and collaborative, we invite you to apply for a grant in 2009.
Last year we introduced a new funding track, Capacity-Building Grants, in addition to Implementation Grants. This strategy allowed us to engage a greater diversity of organizations, as well projects and initiatives that were in different stages of development. We’re pleased to be able to offer opportunities within these two tracks again this year.
• Capacity-Building Grants are more appropriate for organizations that are new to the health field; are not yet able to clearly articulate how their work would improve community health; need time to develop relationships with other partners; and/or need to engage with their community to develop their implementation strategies and goals.
• Implementation Grants represent the types of projects that are more fully conceived (and in many cases, have already been launched). Implementation Grants are more appropriate for organizations (usually collaborations of several organizations) that are ready to implement a defined plan of action, with a clear expectation of goals and outcomes.
A more detailed explanation of each track is provided in our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Open Call for Proposals: Due July 6, 2009
Applying for a grant is a two-step process. If you determine that a match exists between your project idea and the KPCF funding priorities, the first step is to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI).
Here’s what to do:
• First, search by ZIP code to determine if your project will provide benefit in the KPCF funding region. To be eligible to apply for a grant from the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund, the service area of your project must fall within the geographic region roughly spanning from Longview, Washington to Salem, Oregon and portions of the Willamette Valley.
Use the search tool below to determine if your project falls within the KPCF funding region.
Enter the 5-digit ZIP code for your project:
If your search reveals a match, proceed as follows:
• Download and complete an application cover sheet
• Prepare a 2-page Letter of Inquiry (LOI) following the guidelines below
• Send or deliver 13 copies of your LOI and cover sheet to the Foundation offices by 5:00 p.m. on July 6, 2009.
• Please use 12-point type and one inch margins in your letter of inquiry.
• Please make sure that the original cover sheet is signed by your Board chair, executive director, or a suitable designee.
Letter of Inquiry Guidelines:
Your letter of inquiry should be no more than two pages. If you are applying for an Implementation Grant, your letter should include (not necessarily in this order):
• Purpose of project
• Description of project, including how it will address the social determinants of health in your community
• How the community was involved in defining the need for and design of the project or initiative
• Anticipated impact on the intended population/community, and how that impact would be assessed
• Amount requested, over what time period
• Background and qualifications of the organization(s) applying for funds
If you are applying for a Capacity-Building Grant, your letter of inquiry should include:
• Problem/Issue/Need to be addressed
• What prompted your organization to consider moving upstream to address social determinants of health
• Preliminary description of the outreach, research, or partnership-building that your organization needs to do before developing a well-defined initiative or intervention
• Other organizations that you plan to engage during this phase, if relevant
• Methods that will be used to build your organization’s capacity to address social determinants of health in your community
• Amount requested, over how much time
• Background and qualifications of organization applying for funds
If you have questions about the Fund’s priorities, please join us for one of two informational sessions:
Monday, June 1 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Northwest Health Foundation offices, 221 NW Second Avenue, Suite 300.
Tuesday, June 9, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Vancouver City Hall Council Chambers, 210 E. 13th Street in Vancouver, WA.
If you are interested in attending, please email Chris Kabel at to RSVP.
Space is limited for the Portland session, and for this reason, registration may need to close prior to the session date.
Also, please read our FAQ section. If you have more specific questions, please feel free to contact a program officer at the Foundation at (503) 220-1955.