Frequently Asked Questions

• The Health Equity Fund, a program of the PHPDA, aims to eliminate disparities in access to health resources and improve health outcomes for underserved communities in King County.
• The 2026 Major Grant program funds projects focused on: (1) health-related service delivery; (2) advocacy efforts to implement institutional change related to health; or (3) evaluation of a community-based health project.

Applicants may request $50,000 to $200,000 for one-year projects. PHPDA anticipates awarding a total of $1,000,000 in this grant cycle.

About 20-25% of Major Grant proposals are funded. In a typical year, we receive 60-90 Letters of Intent, invite 12-15 full applications, and fund 6-8 grants.

Descriptions of all current and past grants are included on our website.

Program evaluation projects may include pilot or demonstration work, assessment of program effectiveness, outcomes, impact, or analysis of sustainability, scalability, or replication potential. Evaluation activities should be practical, program-focused, and tied to improving community-based health programs rather than solely for academic research. If you already have funding for a program, but do not have funding for evaluation and need to prove effectiveness, this funding can be used for that purpose

There is a section of past funded projects on our website. Generally, the advocacy programs that we funded focus on policy outreach and policy research.

Advocacy projects can focus on education, policy development, and systems-level change that address a clearly defined health access or health outcome disparity. Eligible activities may include community education, trainings, listening sessions, stakeholder engagement, and the development or advancement of policies. Advocacy projects should be distinct from direct service delivery and must clearly describe the issue being addressed, the population most impacted, the scope of activities, and the intended outcomes, such as increased knowledge, improved understanding, or changes in policies, practices, or systems that improve access to care or health outcomes.

At this time, the Major Grant is the only grant opportunity planned for 2026. If additional grant opportunities become available, PHPDA will announce them publicly.

Non-profit, governmental, and public organizations are eligible. Organizations without non-profit status may apply through a fiscal sponsor.

The fiscal sponsor should create and manage the grant account, as they will be the official applicant, contract holder, and fund recipient. Be sure to clarify in your LOI that the fiscal sponsor is applying on behalf of your organization, which will implement the grant.

In 2026, Major Grants will be limited to projects in one or more of these three focus areas:

• Gender Affirming Care and/or HIV Prevention and Care for LGBTQIA2S+ Communities
• Barrier-Reducing Healthcare Delivery for Immigrant and Refugee Populations that is Responsive to Community Concerns
• Access to Birth Control and Abortion Care

• Specific populations are facing heightened threats to their safety, security, and access to care, and the organizations that support them are experiencing drastic funding cuts. Our Major Grant program aims to support these organizations who are facing disproportionate burdens to their wellbeing.
• The mission of PHPDA, and the Major Grants program, has long been to achieve health equity in King County. By funding in three specific areas, we aim to deepen the impact and support that community organizations can provide to those who need it most.

• Projects must address health access or outcome disparities for underserved communities and can focus on service delivery, advocacy or program evaluation.
• Major Grant funding prioritizes development of new projects or maintenance or expansion of existing projects to meet Health Equity Fund’s goals.
  • New Projects: Development of new initiatives that align with the Health Equity Fund’s goals. Refer to the grant guidance for a list of our strategic goals.
  • Expansion Projects: Existing programs aiming to significantly increase their client base or expand to new locations.
  • Continuation Projects: These will be considered if aligned with our funding priorities and demonstrate prior success. Continuation projects may include those seeking funding to maintain current service levels after the loss of other funding sources or the end of an existing funding stream.
  • Expansion and Continuation Projects must demonstrate prior success.

All funding must address a health disparity in King County and the Puget Sound region.

• Services funded by the grant must be delivered within King County. If your program operates in multiple locations, with only one in King County, the grant can only fund the portion of the program based in King County.
• Clients and patients may reside outside of King County, as long as services are delivered within King County.
• Advocacy grants can focus on King County or have a broader scope, including statewide initiatives. However, if the advocacy extends beyond the local area, the proposal and any grant reporting must demonstrate an impact on health disparities in King County and the Puget Sound region.
• Program evaluation grants may have statewide reach but must demonstrate significant impact within King County and the Puget Sound region. Also, evaluation grants are limited to community-based health projects, not solely academic research projects.

Yes, if the proposed project provides services within King County, and the organization or its fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3), public, or government entity.

Grant funds cannot be used for large capital projects but may allow smaller capital expenses (e.g., computer equipment, medical equipment) as part of a larger project budget.

Each year, we have a mix of repeat grantees who have received funding for multiple projects over the years, past grantees that have not received funding from the Health Equity Fund in several years, and grantees who are new to the Health Equity Fund. Each year, we generally have at least a few Major grantees that have never received funding from the Health Equity Fund in the past.

Remote services are eligible as long as they are provided by a King County-based provider and the impact is primarily focused within King County.

Eligibility is related to location of services and impact on disparities locally. For programs in King County, they can serve residents from other counties that receive the services within King County, as long as the impact is significant in this region. Remote services could be eligible if the “delivery” is in King County. However, for remote services, we would want to make sure that there is an impact on disparities in King County, so services delivered remotely from a provider located in King County that mainly impact clients and disparities in other areas of Washington would not be as strong.

PHPDA does not have a preference between new, expansion, or continuation projects. All are considered equally. Expansion or continuation projects must demonstrate prior success and clearly show how the proposed work builds on existing impact to address the identified health disparity.

PHPDA funding should be focused on the portion of your work that serves immigrant and refugee communities, as that is the most appropriate fit for the 2026 focus areas.

Yes. Eligible activities may include medical interpretation, cultural competency programs, and related training, outreach, and education.

Most, if not all, of these activities would be eligible. Applicants may request funding for a specific component of a program or for the program as a whole. The key is to clearly explain how the proposed activities address a health access or health outcome disparity within at least one of the three 2026 focus areas.

Yes, Mental health support groups are allowed.

No. The Health Equity Fund does not have a preference based on organizational type. Any eligible entity, including 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofits, academic institutions, or public or government entities, may apply. All proposals are reviewed using the same standards, with emphasis on project clarity, eligibility, and alignment with the Health Equity Fund’s goals and focus areas.

PHPDA does not prioritize new projects over continuation or expansion projects. All project types are eligible. Expansion and continuation projects must demonstrate prior success. Requests for gap funding are allowable but should clearly explain why PHPDA funds are needed, such as the loss of other funding or changes in funding levels, and how the requested support will sustain or advance the proposed work.

Yes. Projects may include health education activities, such as increasing awareness, reducing stigma, sharing available resources, and providing education on disease prevention, treatment, and support for specific communities. The Health Equity Fund defines health broadly, and eligible education activities may relate to medical, mental health, behavioral health, dental care, fitness, or other health-related areas.

Access to birth control and abortion care may include directly providing those services, as well as activities that help people obtain them. Eligible projects may involve education about available services, referral and navigation support, accompaniment or advocacy for individuals accessing care, or partnerships with providers that deliver these services. Projects do not need to directly perform medical procedures to qualify, but they must be clearly focused on helping individuals access birth control or abortion care and address barriers faced by underserved communities.

Projects do not need to serve one population exclusively and may address more than one focus area. However, the Gender Affirming Care and/or HIV Prevention and Care focus area is specifically for projects with a clear and deliberate focus on serving LGBTQIA2S+ communities. Applicants should clearly demonstrate how the project is intentionally designed to address the needs, barriers, and disparities experienced by LGBTQIA2S+ communities, rather than serving them incidentally as part of a broader population.

• Application Release Date: January 5, 2026
• Pre-Proposal Webinars: January 7 & 14, 2026, 1:00 PM
• Letter of Intent Due: January 26, 2026 (by 12:00 PM)
• Invitation to Apply Notification: February 26, 2026
• Full Application Due: March 26, 2026 (by 12:00 PM)
• Award Notification: May 15, 2026

Yes, applicants must submit an LOI outlining broad goals, proposed outputs, and outcomes. Only agencies with approved LOIs will be invited to submit a full application.

You can view a sample of the LOI Questions here.

• The LOI Application will open on January 5, 2026. You can view a sample of the LOI Questions here.
• All proposals must be submitted through our online grant system. You can find guidance on how the system works here.
• LOI Applications are due by 12:00 PM (noon) January 26, 2026.

• No, each organization may submit only one LOI application.
• If an agency with which you propose to subcontract is applying for a separate program, the Health Equity Fund will accept both proposals. If both agencies are applying for the same project, we suggest that you work together to submit one Letter of Intent and one application (if invited).

The one application per organization limit is at the LOI phase. Each organization can submit only one LOI.

Yes. An organization may submit one application for its own project and also serve as a fiscal sponsor for a separate organization’s project. Serving as a fiscal sponsor does not count toward the one-application limit.

Health Equity Fund grants are project-specific. If you can form a coherent narrative about a disparity and how multiple activities work together to address that disparity, you may be able to combine them into one application. However, if they are truly entirely separate projects, we would suggest focusing on only one project.

We recommend that all applicants review the grant guidance, application questions, and sample grant contract.

We do not plan to hold individual meetings with applicants during the LOI application period. We encourage you to attend one of the pre-proposal webinars on January 7 or 14, to learn about the process and eligibility, and to ask any questions you have at that time. We expect most questions related to program fit and eligibility will be answered in the webinars.

Link to Wednesday, January 7 webinar at 1:00 PM – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86560028965

Link to Wednesday, January 14 webinar at 1:00 PM – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85368926931

PHPDA cannot provide individualized technical assistance or review draft proposals. Questions about the LOI application process and program eligibility must be submitted in writing to grants@phpda.org by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Technical or submission-related issues may be addressed up until the application deadline of 12:00 PM on Monday, January 26, 2026.

• Yes, applicants can request general guidance on the Letter of Intent application until the close of business on January 22, 2026. This may include clarification of the Health Equity Fund’s requirements and funding principles as they relate to the proposed program. Please send questions in writing to grants@phpda.org.
• Answers to questions asked via email or in webinars will be posted to this FAQ page twice per week during the LOI application period (January 5–26, 2026). Any identifying information will be removed before posting.
• Please note, we cannot review draft proposals in advance.

The overview portion of the webinar will be recorded and posted to the Major Grant webpage. The Q&A portion will be recorded, but not posted on the Major Grant webpage. All questions asked at both webinars will be added to this FAQ page within a couple of days after the webinar.

The slides from the LOI Webinar are available on the 2026 Major Grant Resources webpage.

Yes, applications must be submitted in English. Google Translate is available within the online grant system, allowing applicants to select their preferred language from a dropdown menu in the upper left corner. If you need additional accommodations, please contact grants@phpda.org, and we will do our best to assist with translation support.

Each application is reviewed in full by multiple reviewers. While LOI review assignments may be staggered, with a subset of the panel reviewing each application, all reviewers read the entire application. The full panel then discusses each application together after the review period.

Review panels are made up of a mix of current and former PHPDA board members and staff. Panels are not the full board or staff, and the reviewers for LOIs and full applications are not identical, though there is some overlap between panels.

A contract is only required if a Major Grant is awarded. Organizations must be able to agree to the contract terms before submitting an LOI. You can view a sample 2026 contract here.

Yes. Each narrative question in the LOI has a 2,000-character limit, and the application does not use rich text formatting. Bullet points, spacing, and line breaks all count toward the character limit. Applicants are encouraged to be clear and concise, using as much space as needed to effectively summarize the project, but not feeling obligated to use the full character limit. The LOI is intended to provide a strong overview of the proposed project and generate interest for a full application.

Identify the primary population your project focuses on, as funding is aimed at addressing disparities for specific groups. Consider which population experiences the most significant disparity that your program seeks to address. While intersectionality is important, your response should highlight the primary disparity and how your project aims to address it.

Your proposal should focus specifically on King County to address disparities within the county. It should be targeted to health-related activities rather than general operating costs.

Short-term refers to the first year, and long-term refers to the full three-year vision. Be sure to address both. In the LOI, outline what can be achieved in the first year and set specific short-term goals, while also describing the long-term outcome goals for the three-year period.

While the Major Grant contract period is one year at a time, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years of consecutive funding, your application should primarily focus on the anticipated outcomes for the first year. It can be helpful to include a general vision for the full three-year project, but the details should clearly outline what you are requesting funding for in the first year.

The number depends on your project, population, and disparity being addressed. Be realistic about how many people you can effectively serve while maintaining quality. There is no set number, but it should align with your project goals and impact.

Yes. Health education seminars are allowable when they are designed to address an identified health access or outcome disparity for a specific, targeted population.

Applicants must select one primary project type in the application. Related activities may be included when they clearly support the primary focus of the proposed project. For example, a service delivery project may include evaluation or data collection that can be used to inform related advocacy efforts.

PHPDA does not expect applicants to prove immigrant or refugee status. Grantees are not required to collect or report information they are not comfortable gathering. It is acceptable to describe the populations you serve as immigrant or refugee communities based on program design, community context, or organizational experience, without directly asking individuals about their status.

Applicants may include costs related to risk mitigation in their budget. Use the application to explain known adjustments you plan to make, as well as potential adjustments you may need to make during the contract year, acknowledging areas of uncertainty. Describe how risk considerations are incorporated into program planning, even if some future conditions are unknown.

Yes. Health navigation can be included.

The total award is distributed in two payments and is not based on reimbursement. If awarded a Major Grant, the contract period will be July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. You will receive half of the award around July 1 to cover the first half of the contract year, and the second payment in January 2027 for the remaining six months. Please see the sample grant contract for more information.

Yes. We do partially fund some grants. We have a total budget for all grants and there are times when partially funding one or more grants is necessary to fit within that overall budget. Generally, that partial funding will still be a significant portion of your request (for example, we are unlikely to provide a grant of only $50,000 if the request was $200,000). Most often, when a grant is partially funded, we ask the grantee to make the adjustments to which aspects of the program to cut from the original request. However, in some instances, we may be more directive and make a partial award for a specific part of the program we wish to fund.

Projects must follow the designated grant period and can only run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Yes. If you are invited for a full application, the budget form has two columns in it, the amount funded by PHPDA and the amount funded by other sources, whether that’s another funder, or your organization’s general operating funds. We want to see the full cost of the program. If you are awarded a grant, you will have the opportunity to update the budget, including any changes to other sources, as part of the contract.

Yes, you can subcontract for service delivery or other aspects of your program. If invited to submit a full application, there is a separate tab in the budget spreadsheet for subcontracts.

No. There is no place in the LOI application to upload an MOU, and formal MOUs are not required at this stage. If an organization is partnering with another organization, the nature of the partnership should be clearly described in the LOI.

While it is not mandatory to name specific partners in the LOI, providing details about potential partnerships can strengthen your proposal. If agreements are still in progress, you may note that partnerships are being developed and share any relevant context.

Yes. If you’re invited for a full application, there is a budget spreadsheet that you will fill out, which includes administrative costs. Within the budget narrative or spreadsheet, you can include information on how you calculate administrative overhead, whether that be a federally negotiated indirect rate, a de minimis administrative rate, or a more sophisticated calculation for attributing administrative costs to programs.

The indirect rate is determined by the applying organization. PHPDA does not impose a cap on indirect rates and does not require the submission of a federally negotiated indirect rate (FNIR).

There are four main types of reports for our Major grants:

1. Bi-annual output metrics reports
2. Bi-annual financial reports that compare actual to budget spending
3. A year-end demographics report, covering basic demographic information on the clients served
4. A year-end outcomes evaluation report, usually with two or three outcomes that you’ve measured

Please see the sample grant contract for more information.

The service delivery must be located in King County. Clients do not have to be residents of King County. If your clinic or location is in King County, that is the determining factor.

Yes, stipends for participation are allowable. Depending on how they are distributed, we may need to add some language to the contract with some limitations (for gift cards, for example). For purchase of goods, these will generally be allowable if related to delivery of program services.

The request in the LOI, and full application if invited forward, is just for the one year (July 2026 – June 2027). If you get an award, there is an annual process to renew the grant up to two additional times. While you can discuss your plans for future years, this request and budget are just for one year.

No. Major Grant funding is awarded one year at a time, and PHPDA budgets for the program annually. Applicants should request funding for one year only. You may describe anticipated activities in Years 1 and 2 for planning purposes, but PHPDA cannot award funding beyond a single year.

No. The LOI only requires the total projected budget for the program. More detailed budget information is requested if you are invited to submit a full application.

Yes. The Major Grant program may support program evaluation projects, including those led by third-party entities or academic institutions, when the program being evaluated is a community-based health project aligned with one or more of the 2026 focus areas and addresses a health access or health outcome disparity for underserved communities. Projects must demonstrate strong partnerships with program operators and community-based organizations, prioritize community-informed approaches, and clearly show how findings will be used to improve service delivery, advance equity, or support systems-level change beyond internal assessment.

The LOI should describe both the program or project being evaluated and how the evaluation will be conducted, even if the applicant does not administer the program. Applicants should clearly explain their role as the evaluation lead, the roles of the program operator(s) and partners, and how the evaluation is designed to assess and address the identified health access or health outcome disparity.

Collaboration is not required and is not formally prioritized. However, partnerships can strengthen a proposal when they are relevant to the project’s goals. Reviewers assess each proposal on its own merits and encourage applicants to clearly describe partner roles and the nature of the collaboration if partnerships are included.

Yes. Grant funds may be used to support services that are technically billable but not reimbursed, or to offset sliding-scale fees when doing so helps address income disparities and barriers to access. Funding may also cover costs adjacent to service delivery, such as supervision, assessments, or other administrative or programmatic support needed to deliver the project.

The Major Grant program has a total budget of $1 million, with a maximum award of $200,000 per project. Applicants should request the amount needed to carry out their proposed project, up to the maximum. Reviewers consider whether the requested amount is reasonable in relation to the project’s scope and anticipated impact on health outcomes.

Yes. Programs are limited to three consecutive years of Major Grant funding, but are eligible again after a break of at least one-year. To apply for a grant for a previously funded program, please submit an LOI. Note that the three-year limit with a one-year break is specific to a program, not an organization. There is no limitation on current or past grantees applying for funding for a new program.

Only the program is ineligible in 2026. Your organization can apply for a new Major grant for a different program.

Yes. Any given program can only have one Health Equity Fund grant at a time. But an organization may have more than one grant, as long as the programs are entirely separate.

No, prior funding does not guarantee priority. Organizations in their first or second year of a Major Grant follow a separate Renewal process. All applications, including new ones, are evaluated on their own merits, including the project goals and the community served.