OUR GRANTING PROGRAM
The Health Equity Fund partners to create community-driven healthcare solutions.
Investing in a range of grantees committed to advancing health equity
From smaller grassroots organizations to larger institutions, our grantees share a commitment to providing marginalized members of our community with the care they deserve. Our grantees are fighting racism, sexism, and homophobia in health care delivery, and partnering with the people they serve to find solutions that center their needs.
Types of grants offered through the Health Equity Fund
Made possible by Pacific Tower campus lease income, grants are disbursed through two grantmaking programs:
Major Grants
$50,000 – $200,000
- Renewable for up to three years
- For ongoing projects with well-defined services
Nimble Grants
Up to $30,000
- One time grant
- For work that can be completed within one year
Our funding philosophy
The most successful solutions can take time and experimentation—that’s why we serve as a flexible partner and invest in the bold ideas of community-focused organizations. We distill the learnings of our grantees and our grantmaking into knowledge that can be used to enhance the capacity of all those working to create health equity.
FAQs
General Questions
What is the difference between Major Grants and Nimble Grants?
- All Health Equity Funds grants are focused on addressing health disparities in King County and the Puget Sound region.
- Major Grants are designed for larger ongoing projects or programs. These grants are between $50,000 and $200,000 per year and are renewable up to two additional years after the first year of funding. They often fund larger ongoing service delivery or advocacy projects that are planned to be permanent or long-term parts of an organization’s work.
- Nimble Grants are smaller (up to $30,000) and are not renewable. Nimble Grants are limited to projects (or portions of projects) that will be completed in the 12 month grant period. These time-limited projects often include things like needs assessment, creation of a program plan, evaluation of previous work, or targeted capacity building.
What are the geographic limits of Health Equity Fund grants?
- All funding must address a health disparity in King County and the Puget Sound region.
- Any services delivered with the funding must be delivered in King County. This means that if your program operates in two locations, only one of which is in King County, a Health Equity Fund grant can only be used to fund the portion located in King County.
- Clients and patients can reside in other counties, as long as services are delivered in King County.
- Advocacy grants can focus locally in King County or more broadly, and are often statewide. However, if the advocacy impact goes beyond the local area, the proposal and any grant reporting must demonstrate impact on a health disparity in King County and the Puget Sound region.
We are interested in applying. Can we talk with someone about our idea or submit a draft for review ahead of time?
- Health Equity Fund staff are always available to meet with interested grantees to provide more information on the grant program and feedback on proposal ideas. Email grants@phpda.org for more information or to request a meeting.
- We cannot read draft proposals ahead of time.
Can we apply if we do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Health Equity Fund grants are only available to public or non-profit entities (including 501(c)(4)s). If you do not have non-profit status, you can apply through another non-profit acting as your fiscal sponsor. In this case, the sponsor would be the entity that applies and signs the contract, but funds would be limited to the work of your sponsored agency.
Can we apply for more than one grant?
Yes, organizations can have more than one grant with the Health Equity Fund. However, you cannot have two simultaneous grants for the same program.
How competitive are Health Equity Fund grants?
- In a typical year, we receive 50-60 Major Grant Letters of Intent, invite around 12 or 13 full applications, and fund six or seven grants.
- In a typical Nimble Grant cycle, we receive 15-25 applications and fund three or four grants.
Can we learn more about what types of projects are funded by the Health Equity Fund?
Descriptions of all past grants are included on our website.
Is there anything else we should review before deciding whether to apply for a grant?
We recommend that all applicants review the grant guidance, application questions, and sample grant contract on our website. Please reach out to grants@phpda.org with any questions you still have.
How do we submit an application?
All proposals must be submitted through our online grant system. You can find guidance on how the system works here.
Major Grants
How often are Major Grants awarded and what is the timeline?
- There is one Major Grant cycle each year.
- The process first requires any interested organizations to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). LOI submissions are generally open from mid-December until mid-January each year.
- LOIs are reviewed in early February with agencies notified either that their LOI was rejected or that they are invited to submit a full proposal.
- Full proposals are due around the third week of March with funding decisions announced the second week of May.
- Funding for Major Grants runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.
- There is a separate process for renewal of Major Grants, which is shared with all eligible grantees.
How much funding is available?
- The Health Equity Fund has a budget of $1.7 million each year for new Major Grant awards. Any changes to this amount will be noted in the Guidance document released each year.
- We expect to fund approximately 10-12 New Major Grants in 2024
Nimble Grants
How often are Nimble Grants awarded and what is the timeline?
- In 2024, there will be two Nimble Grant Cycles with funding beginning on April 1 or October 1.
- The deadline for each cycle is around a month and half before the funding begins (mid-February and mid-August).
- Notifications of award or rejection are sent out about three weeks before funding begins.
How much funding is available?
- The Health Equity Fund has a budget of $400,000 for Nimble Grant awards in 2024. Any changes to this amount will be noted in the Guidance document released each year.
- We normally fund between 10-15 total Nimble Grants per year.
Health Equity Scholars
The Health Equity Fund partners with the University of Washington to fund an internship, capstone, or practicum for three scholars each year. These projects address health disparities and explore systemic inequalities that lead to differential access and outcomes for underserved individuals and communities. Scholars turn their work into critical insights that can inform future work.
