Community-Rooted, Equity-Focused
Dear Community Members,
As we reflect on the past year, one thing remains clear: PHPDA is steadfast in its commitment to advancing health equity in King County. We are proud to work alongside our community partners who share this vision and continue to drive meaningful change.
2024 was PHPDA’s largest grantmaking year to date. We awarded $4 million to Major Grantees and $460,000 to Nimble Grantees. Behind these numbers is the dedicated work of community-rooted organizations leading the way by developing solutions, building trust, and advocating for health equity in their communities. PHPDA is proud to steward public resources in a way that supports those who are closest to the solutions.
In this 2024 Annual Report, we invite you to explore the inspiring and impactful work happening across the PHPDA community. From grantee organizations to the final cohort of our Health Equity Scholars program, each project reflects progress toward our shared goal of equitable health outcomes for all people in King County.
We’re excited for what’s ahead and remain committed to focusing PHPDA’s efforts where they can make the most meaningful impact. Thank you for being a part of this journey toward a healthier, more equitable future.
Warmly,
Christina Bernard, Acting Executive Director
Douglass Jackson, Chair of the Governing Council
2024 Grantmaking
The PHPDA Health Equity Fund
PHPDA’s mission is to champion health equity, and one of the ways we carry out this mission is by supporting organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve equity across King County. PHPDA reinvests the funding generated by lease revenue from the Pacific Tower Campus into these organizations to carry out their critical work.
In 2024, PHPDA funded two grantmaking programs:
Major Grants: $50,000–$200,000 for annual renewable grants, with a maximum of three consecutive years of funding
Nimble Grants: Up to $30,000 for one-time, short-term projects, such as research, pilot programs, and capacity building
New Major Grants
The following organizations received a Major Grant from PHPDA for the 2024-2025 calendar year. PHPDA distributed nearly $4 million across 24 community partners who are working to improve health care access and outcomes for the communities they serve. Major Grant recipients are eligible for a maximum of three consecutive years of funding.
Program Description
Chief Seattle Club’s Indigenous Model of Traditional Wellness combines traditional healing with clinical behavioral health to support homeless American Indians/Alaska Natives in Seattle/King County.
Grant Amount
$200,000
Program Description
Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)’s new Induction Specialist provides personalized support to clients transitioning from fentanyl to buprenorphine, improving treatment success for individuals with opioid use disorder who are unhoused or living in shelters and supportive housing.
Grant Amount
$200,000
Program Description
Encompass Northwest’s Community-Based Services (CBS) project provides on-site occupational, behavioral, speech, and feeding therapy to low-income, undocumented, and refugee families at 18 daycare centers and schools in rural Snoqualmie Valley.
Grant Amount
$85,132.53
Program Description
Harborview Medical Center will expand its services at two shelter-based clinics for homeless youth and young adults, enhancing medical provider presence and introducing new substance abuse and mental health services. This project aims to reduce healthcare access barriers and improve care by offering primary, acute, and behavioral health services directly at shelters.
Grant Amount
$200,000
Program Description
HealthPoint aims to improve healthcare access for unhoused asylum seekers in South King County by providing outreach care navigation, eliminating cost barriers, and providing essential medical, dental, and behavioral health services.
Grant Amount
$200,000
Program Description
Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) will expand on-site care at encampments and transitional housing in South King County, offering hepatitis C treatment, overdose prevention, and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) to reduce access barriers and health disparities for marginalized communities.
Grant Amount
$183,895
Program Description
Living Well Kent aims to improve behavioral health for Somali, Iraqi, Afghan, Latinx, and Ukrainian immigrants in Kent and South King County. Community navigators address mental health and substance use challenges in these communities, delivering culturally relevant prevention and early intervention services.
Grant Amount
$200,000
Program Description
NAWDIM will work with Native birth workers and policymakers to address disparities in prenatal care, infant mortality, and preterm birth rates for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in King County. This project advocates for culturally responsive resources, safe sleep education, Traditional Indian Medicine, and policy changes through community engagement.
Grant Amount
$50,000
Program Description
Open Arms provides culturally and linguistically matched one-on-one lactation peer support services to Black/African-American and Latine communities in King County. This program addresses gaps in accessible, culturally responsive lactation support and seeks to reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding duration through individualized, low-barrier assistance.
Grant Amount
$105,899.47
Program Description
Somali Family Safety Task Force will expand efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by raising community awareness, supporting affected individuals, and educating healthcare providers on its severe health risks. Targeting Somali and Gambian refugee and immigrant women, the Task Force aims to address FGM-related health disparities and enhance local support systems.
Grant Amount
$146,035
Program Description
South Park Senior Citizens supports low-income seniors from BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and undocumented communities by addressing barriers like language, culture, and transportation. This project provides personalized care plans, financial aid, interpretation services, and education to improve access to medical, dental, and mental health services.
Grant Amount
$131,457
Renewal Grantees
Year 2
Afghan Health Initiative
Afghan Health Coalition
Downtown Emergency Service Center
ConnectCare
Elizabeth Gregory Home
Health Navigator to Improve Access to Health Services for Women Experiencing Homelessness
Neighborcare Health
Midwifery Services for Immigrants, Refugees, and Low-Income Persons
Peer WA
Enhancing Health Outcomes for Justice-Involved People in South King County
UTOPIA Washington
Mapu Maia Clinic
Youth Experiential Training Institute
Improving Health Outcomes for BIPOC Youth in South King County through Nature-Based Outdoor Programming
Year 3
Evergreen Treatment Services
Treatment in Motion: Community-Based Rapid-Access Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Global Perinatal Services
Black Bundle of Joy
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Refugees Northwest: Enhanced Mental Health & Case Management Services for Asylees and Asylum Seekers
Purpose. Dignity. Action.
CoLEAD
Tubman Center for Health and Freedom
Freedom Clinic
2024 Nimble Grantees
PHPDA’s Nimble Grants program provided one-time funding for short-term projects that help meet a specific need for a program or organization, such as a research element, a pilot project, or capacity building.
2024 was the last year of the Nimble Grants program, as PHPDA begins to explore new programming and approaches to advance health equity.
Cycle 1 ( April 2024 – March 2025)
Program Title
African Diaspora Immigrant & Refugee Community Needs Assessment
Grant Amount
$29,724.75
Program Title
Promoting Equitable Access to Autism Diagnosis and Support Services for Asian Children
Grant Amount
$29,951.33
Program Title
Expanding Health Navigation for Immigrants and Refugees in Kent/South King County
Grant Amount
$30,000
Program Title
Marshallese Youth Conscientization & Bwebwenato
Grant Amount
$29,970
Program Title
Evaluation Plan and Tools for Elementary School Mindfulness Program
Grant Amount
$29,980.80
Program Title
Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign
Grant Amount
$30,000
Program Title
Embracing Equity in Immigrant Heart Health Program
Grant Amount
$20,000
Cycle 2 (October 2024 – September 2025)
Program Title
Latine Cultural Produce Access in South King County
Grant Amount
$30,000
Program Title
On-Site Virtual Nurse Triage Station at Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness
Grant Amount
$30,000
Program Title
Implementing a Food Voucher Program for Farestart’s Mobile Community Market
Grant Amount
$30,000
Program Title
Increasing Safety for Homeless Families with Babies & Young Children
Grant Amount
$25,254
Program Title
Mobile Dental Clinic – Autoclave Sterilizers
Grant Amount
$15,000
Program Title
Mobile Dental Clinics at Iraqi Arab Health Board Monthly Health Fairs
Grant Amount
$15,000
Program Title
Expanding MCRC’s Community Health Clinic Capacity
Grant Amount
$19,979.84
Program Title
Snoqualmie Valley Assault Treatment Services (SVATS)
Grant Amount
$24,540.87
Program Title
Electronic Health Record Purchase & Implementation
Grant Amount
$30,000
2024 UW Health Equity Scholars
Since 2015, PHPDA has partnered with the University of Washington to fund graduate students’ research or practical projects that contribute to advancing health equity in King County. This was the last year of the UW Health Equity Scholars program.
Isabelle Gubas, MPH, MSW
Grant Impact Assessment
Ms. Gubas outlined tools and strategies for evaluating the impact of PHPDA’s grantmaking on health equity in King County and neighboring regions. Through interviews with academics and peer organizations and a scoping review of evaluation practices and frameworks, Ms. Gubas summarized evaluation approaches that PHPDA could use to assess its ongoing work.
Khang Ho, MPH
Designing and Delivering a Weight Inclusive Care Training for Medical Residents at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Mr. Ho’s two-pronged project sought to address “weight bias” by improving the training medical residents receive around weight-inclusive care.
First, he conducted a literature review on best practices for weight-inclusive care in pediatric medicine and a needs assessment survey to assess gaps in weight-inclusive care among medical residents. He then developed a training that discussed inaccuracies in the often-used Body Mass Index framework in measuring chronic disease risk.
Mayra Muratalla Muñoz, MPH
Addressing Disparities: Enhancing Support Systems for Disabled Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence in Washington State
Through a literature review, interviews, and a survey, Ms. Muratalla Muñoz developed recommendations for enhancing the accessibility of healthcare services for disabled survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Technical Assistance
In addition to funding, PHPDA offers Technical Assistance sessions to grantees so they can maximize their impact in community.
Public Charities Can Lobby: How Your 501(c)(3) Can Influence Policy for the Greater Good
Led by experts from Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program, this session discussed rules around advocacy and lobbying for non-profits. Participants learned how lobbying is defined; how federal tax law permits lobbying for charities; what advocacy activities a 501(c)(3) can engage in; what communications count as lobbying; and how to maximize non-lobbying advocacy.
Demystifying Data
Building off our first evaluation workshop in 2023 and led by a former PHPDA Health Equity Scholar, this session focused on how to use research and data to support community centered work. Participants learned how to collect data that is community-driven and culturally appropriate; explore common sources of quantitative and qualitative data; understand the connection between anti-racism, equity, and data collection; and develop a data collection strategy for their organization’s programs.
Thank You to our Governing Council!
Thank you to our 2024 staff, Governing Council members, and Strategic Advisors that are moving on to other ventures in 2025:
- Virgil Wade, PHPDA Executive Director (since early 2023)
