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Foundation makes grants within eight priority areas and a Special Projects Fund.
We encourage requests for core operating support, but requests for project
funding are also welcome. Core operating support can be used to help underwrite
the regular, ongoing health promotion and disease prevention activities of your
organization. Such funds can also be used to strengthen organizational
infrastructure through activities such as providing salaries for key
administrative staff, covering operating expenses, engaging in strategic
planning or facilitating board development. Each priority area and the Special
Projects Fund are described below.
The goal of this priority area is to support multiple strategies to increase
diversity in the health professions in California. Grants are commonly given to
organizations that provide pipeline programs, scholarships, mentoring programs,
internships and fellowships that support and advance career opportunities for
people of color in the health professions, including allied health and public
health professions. Organizations that support people of color in the health professions through strategic
partnerships, leadership development, continuing education and networking
activities are also eligible for funding. In addition, the Foundation funds
organizations that educate policymakers about public and institutional policies
that promote diversity in the health professions.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations
working to alleviate the disproportionate health costs of environmental hazards for children and
low-income communities of color. Grants are commonly given to organizations that
provide environmental health education and awareness activities, community organizing to
promote environmental health, screening and testing for environmental health exposure, leadership
development, and partnerships between public health departments and
community-based health programs to improve environmental health. The Foundation also funds efforts to inform policymakers and advocate for policies that could
improve environmental health among underserved populations.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations that improve functional
independence and the quality of healthy years of life among older Californians.
Grants are commonly given to organizations that provide clinical preventive services, leadership development, recreation programs, food and nutrition
services, consumer education, adult immunizations, family caregiving and chronic
disease management. Also funded are organizations that support relationships between youth and older adults through activities such as
intergenerational volunteering and mentoring. In addition, the Foundation funds
agencies that educate policymakers about issues such as prescription drugs,
family caregiving, employment, elder abuse and appropriate and affordable
housing for the elderly.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen existing mental
health organizations, increase visibility for the field of mental health, expand
knowledge about effective services and decrease stigma. Grants are commonly
given to organizations that provide primary and secondary prevention services for older teens transitioning
to adulthood, with a focus on those in foster care, the juvenile justice system
and runaway/homeless youth. Services for other underserved populations, such as
homeless adults and immigrants, are funded as well. In addition, the Foundation
funds organizations that provide leadership development programs for mental
health professionals, increase public awareness of mental health issues and
advocate for policies that promote mental health.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations that
work to decrease rates of teen pregnancy and promote healthy adolescent sexuality. Grants are commonly given to organizations that provide outreach
activities for reproductive health care, comprehensive sexuality education,
access to contraception, education and counseling about contraception, comprehensive programs for pregnant teens, peer counseling
programs and male involvement programs. An emphasis is placed on funding
organizations that work with high-risk, sexually active, underserved teen
populations. The Foundation also provides grants to organizations that provide
leadership development activities for reproductive health care workers and to organizations
that inform policymakers and opinion leaders about effective policies and programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations that work to prevent violence against youth. An
emphasis is placed on grants to organizations that provide mentoring programs for youth, community-based
conflict resolution programs, domestic violence prevention, peer mediation,
after-school programs and school-based violence prevention programs. Grants are
also made to organizations that provide leadership development activities for
violence prevention workers. In addition, the Foundation funds organizations
that inform policymakers and advocate for public policies that increase
resources for programs that prevent violence against youth and that reduce
injury and death by firearms.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations that work to improve access to women-centered,
culturally appropriate health care and increase the active involvement of women
in the health policy arena. Grants are commonly given to organizations that
provide clinical services, screenings, prenatal care, mobile health care,
self-help groups, community health education and related services. Priority is
given to organizations that create welcoming environments for women and girls in
underserved communities. The Foundation also funds organizations that involve
women in leadership development, policy advocacy and community mobilization
around women’s health issues.
The goal of this priority area is to support and strengthen organizations that
work to improve the health of vulnerable working populations and the unemployed.
Grants are commonly given to organizations that increase workers’ access to preventive health care, help prevent workplace
injuries and illnesses and provide worksite health promotion programs. Organizations that provide
technology training to help low-income youth obtain employment and its
corresponding health benefits are also funded. In addition, the Foundation funds organizations that provide
leadership development programs focused on the health of workers. Organizations
that educate policymakers about the connections between work and health and
promote policies that would improve the health of low-income workers are funded
as well.
Each year, the Foundation sets aside a pool of dollars to respond in a timely fashion to opportunities that fit the
Foundation’s mission but are outside the eight established priority areas. Of
particular interest are proposals to help California communities deal effectively with the health impact of the shift of federal responsibilities for
health and human services to state and local levels. The Foundation has made
grants to strengthen safety net providers of preventive care, to help low-income
consumers understand and navigate changes in the health care system, and to
inform public decision making through policy analysis and advocacy. Examples of
other areas funded over the past few years include border health, HIV/AIDS
prevention, rural health and partnerships with government agencies and other
foundations to improve the health of Californians.
  To present The California Wellness Foundation with a grant request, an
organization should first write a one- to two-page letter of interest that describes the organization’s mission
and activities, the region and population(s) served, how the funds will be used
and the total funds requested. If requesting project funding, please include
project goals, leadership and duration. Your letter will be processed most
accurately if you clearly designate the priority area through which you want
your request considered for funding. No application form is needed, and formal proposals
are not accepted at this preliminary stage. Foundation staff will review letters of interest on an ongoing basis and notify
prospective applicants of the results normally within three to four months.
Those encouraged to submit a proposal will receive further guidance at that
time.
With rare exception, the Foundation funds nonprofit organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code and are deemed as “not a private foundation” under Section
509(a). The Foundation also funds government agencies. Grants are not generally awarded for annual fund drives, building campaigns,
major equipment or biomedical research. Activities that exclusively benefit the members of
sectarian or religious organizations are not considered. We do not provide international funding or fund
organizations that are located outside the United States.
Letters of interest should be directed to: Director of Grants Administration,
The California Wellness Foundation, 6320 Canoga Avenue, Suite 1700, Woodland
Hills, CA 91367
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