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Baystate Health Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$8.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

Baystate Health Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,450,278 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $180,784,452
  • Grant Range: $5,000 (Community Sponsorships) to $100,000+ (Better Together Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Western Massachusetts (800,000+ population served)
  • Application Method: Online portal with rolling submissions
  • EIN: 04-3549011

Contact Details

Key Contact for Philanthropy:

Overview

Baystate Health Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) public charity established to foster a culture of philanthropy and support Baystate Health's mission of enhancing community health with quality and compassion. The Foundation raises funds to support all Baystate Health hospitals, facilities, programs, and services across Western Massachusetts.

The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Baystate Health, an integrated healthcare system comprising four acute-care hospitals with over 1,000 licensed beds and more than 950 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. In 2024, the Foundation distributed over $8.4 million in grants across 8 awards, with typical award sizes ranging significantly based on the funding program.

The Foundation is currently undertaking "Healthier Tomorrows: The Campaign for Baystate Health," a $70 million fundraising initiative—the largest in the organization's history—to support capital improvements, program development, and endowment growth. This campaign reflects the Foundation's strategic commitment to addressing critical healthcare needs in Western Massachusetts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Better Together Grants - Up to $100,000

  • Multi-year competitive grants through Request for Proposals (RFP) process
  • Total annual funding pool: $500,000
  • Focus: Evidence-based initiatives addressing community health priorities
  • Funded through Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Determination of Need requirements
  • Technical assistance provided by Public Health Institute of Western Mass

Community Benefit Investments - Up to $5,000

  • One-year grants for initiatives generating measurable community impact
  • Focus: Strengthening social, health, economic, and environmental conditions
  • Requires annual performance reporting

Community Sponsorships - Up to $5,000

  • One-time events or activities providing positive public awareness of Baystate Health
  • Must align with community health needs assessment priorities

Corporate Sponsorships

  • Marketing and goodwill investments
  • Baystate Health proactively identifies partners; unsolicited requests not accepted

Priority Areas

The Foundation's funding priorities align with Baystate Health's triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Current focus areas include:

  • Youth Mental Health: Regional priority area chosen by the Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals/Insurer in 2022
  • Social Determinants of Health: Economic opportunity, affordable housing, quality education, safe neighborhoods, food security, social and racial justice, arts, and culture
  • Education: Priority determinant of health for Baystate Medical Center
  • Health Equity and Inclusion: Emphasis on underserved communities

Each Baystate hospital develops its own set of priorities based on its service area needs.

What They Don't Fund

Baystate Health does not support:

  • Annual memberships
  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowments
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Political or fraternal organizations
  • Golf tournaments
  • Individuals
  • Lobbying groups

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Board of Trustees

Chair:

  • Maureen James, JD - Attorney at Skoler Abbott

Executive Leadership:

  • Kathy Tobin - Interim Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director

Board Members:

  • Jeffrey A. Amanti - Production Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Company, Inc.
  • Andrew W. Artenstein, MD, MBA - Chief Physician Executive & Chief Academic Officer, Baystate Health
  • Peter D. Banko, MHA, FACHE - President & CEO, Baystate Health
  • Vincent J. Cardillo - Founder, President & CEO, Maeva Dental Advisors
  • Michelle Dwyer - President/CEO, Franklin First Federal Credit Union
  • Peter Greenberg - President, City Tire
  • Dena Hall - EVP and Chief Retail Banking & Marketing Officer, bankESB
  • Samuel R. Hanmer - President and CEO, Rush Insurance Group, Inc.
  • Madeline V. Landrau - Director of Strategic Giving, MassMutual
  • Laurie Martin, CPA, CIA, MBA - Chief Financial Officer, Baystate Health
  • John F. Maybury - President, Maybury Material Handling
  • Christopher M. Orszulak - Managing Director, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
  • Jacqueline Rodriguez - Department of Public Health/Vaccine Equity Initiative Springfield Community Liaison
  • Mark W. Teed - Senior Vice President of Investments, Teed Capital Management of Raymond James

Leadership Quote

Dr. Tyonne Hinson, Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion Officer, stated regarding the Better Together grants: "Addressing youth mental health is not limited to clinical and traditional medical settings."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Submit applications online through the Grant Interface portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=baystate
  2. Applications must be submitted at least four months prior to the event date or initiative start date
  3. Only online applications are accepted; written inquiries will not receive responses

For Better Together Grants:

  • Review RFP grant guidelines carefully
  • Submit Letter of Intent during open RFP period
  • Attend virtual information sessions offered for interested applicants

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor
  • Must be located in or primarily serve communities where Baystate Health affiliates operate
  • Must submit completed online application with all required documentation
  • Only one application per organization per fiscal year (October 1 – September 30)
  • Organizations receiving Better Together Grants are ineligible for additional funding until the following fiscal year

Service Area

Western Massachusetts communities including:

  • Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Westfield (Pioneer Valley)
  • Amherst, Chicopee, West Springfield, Agawam
  • Greenfield, Montague, Turner Falls, Orange
  • Palmer, Ware
  • Rural hill towns: Conway, Colrain, Deerfield, Shelburne Falls

Decision Timeline

  • Applications require adequate review time (minimum 4 months lead time required)
  • Better Together grants awarded annually following competitive RFP process
  • Community sponsorships and investments processed on rolling basis

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that receive a Better Together Grant are not eligible for additional funding support until the following fiscal year. One application per organization per fiscal year is permitted for all funding types.

Application Success Factors

Alignment Requirements

All funded initiatives must:

  • Align with the hospital's triennial Community Health Needs Assessment priorities
  • Support an existing community health improvement plan
  • Include routine performance reporting and program evaluation

For Better Together Grants, projects must:

  • Apply a social determinants of health framework
  • Be evidence-based, promising, or implement regional/national best practices
  • Include routine performance evaluation
  • Focus on current priority areas (youth mental health has been recent focus)

Recent Grant Recipients (2024 Better Together Grants - $100,000 each)

  1. Community Legal Aid - Family Preservation Project
  2. Follow My Steps Foundation - Steps to Empowerment Program
  3. Latino Counseling Center - Mindful Connections/Conexiones Conscientes
  4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services - Beat the Odds Project
  5. Springfield Pride Parade Organization - Safe Space Program

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  • Clear evidence base or alignment with recognized best practices
  • Strong performance evaluation plan built into the proposal
  • Direct connection to social determinants of health
  • Measurable outcomes for strengthening community conditions
  • Alignment with specific hospital service area priorities
  • Demonstrated capacity for routine reporting

Technical Support Available

Successful Better Together grantees receive technical assistance and evaluation support from the Public Health Institute of Western Mass over one to two years.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Align with CHNA priorities: Each Baystate hospital has unique priorities; research the specific hospital's Community Health Needs Assessment relevant to your service area
  2. Apply the social determinants framework: Baystate embraces a comprehensive definition of health including economic opportunity, housing, education, neighborhood safety, and food security
  3. Build in evaluation: All funded projects must include routine performance reporting and program evaluation
  4. Plan ahead: Applications require 4+ months lead time; Better Together grants operate on annual RFP cycles
  5. One shot per year: Only one application per organization per fiscal year is accepted
  6. Evidence matters: Projects should be evidence-based, promising, or implement recognized best practices
  7. Geographic fit: Ensure your organization serves Western Massachusetts communities within Baystate's service area

References

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