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PHP Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.6M
Grant Range
Up to $0.3M00
Decision Time
3mo

PHP Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $500,000 - $650,000
  • Total Assets: $2,944,378
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months (February application to May decision)
  • Grant Range: Up to $300,000 (competitive); Up to $25,000 (emergency)
  • Geographic Focus: 46 Northern Indiana counties plus 6 Ohio counties

Contact Details

Primary Contact: Stephanie Carlson Plimpton, CFRM
Senior Impact Advisor
Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne
Phone: 260-969-3117
Email: scarlson@cfgfw.org

Website: https://cfgfw.org/php-foundation/

Overview

The PHP Foundation Inc was established by Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana and is now administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. Since 2006, the foundation has granted more than $10 million to over 40 agencies across Northern Indiana and parts of Ohio. The foundation focuses exclusively on fostering healthier communities by addressing the health and wellness needs of low-income, high-risk individuals. Recent annual giving has ranged from $480,000 (2018) to $650,000 (2021), with $529,000 awarded in 2022. The foundation defines low-income as 80% of Indiana median income ($48,000 for a single person; $64,000 for a family of four). Following Physicians Health Plan's acquisition by Priority Health in December 2024, proceeds from the sale will add to the foundation's holdings to continue supporting in-need populations in northern Indiana communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Spring & Fall Competitive Grant Cycles

  • Maximum: $300,000 per grant
  • Multi-stage process: eligibility quiz → Letter of Intent → full application
  • Minimal reporting requirements for most grantees (detailed reports only required for grants exceeding $100,000)
  • Two annual cycles with specific deadlines

Emergency Grants

  • Maximum: $25,000 per grant
  • Brief eligibility quiz required
  • Minimal reporting obligations
  • Designed for urgent needs affecting vulnerable populations
  • Rolling basis applications

Priority Areas

The PHP Foundation exclusively funds initiatives that:

  • Address health and wellness needs of low-income, high-risk individuals
  • Provide outpatient medical care and health care clinic services
  • Offer dental care and mental health services
  • Support access to healthcare services
  • Address educational needs related to health
  • Enhance human services that improve health outcomes

Primary service area includes:

  • Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley counties in Indiana
  • Additional communities in Northern Indiana including Decatur, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Garrett, Goshen, and South Bend
  • Select counties in Ohio

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, the foundation's mission clearly restricts funding to health and wellness initiatives serving low-income, high-risk populations. Organizations outside the 46 Northern Indiana counties and 6 Ohio counties served by the foundation are not eligible.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors and Trustees:

  • Gail M. Doran
  • Gary Shearer
  • Michelle Kearns
  • James C. Wehrenberg
  • Tyler S. Sipe
  • FMB Private Wealth Investors (Trustee)

Directors and officers (except the trustee) do not receive compensation for their roles. The foundation is now administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, with Stephanie Carlson Plimpton serving as the primary contact for grant inquiries.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Competitive Grants (Spring & Fall Cycles):

  1. Eligibility Quiz: Complete brief eligibility assessment
  2. Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit during designated windows
    • Spring: January 5-25
    • Fall: June 1-21
    • Early following year: October 5-25
  3. Invitation to Apply: If aligned with mission, applicants receive invitation (invitation does not guarantee funding)
  4. Full Application: Submit through online portal
    • Spring: Due March 22
    • Fall: Due August 16
    • Early following year: Due January 10
  5. Grant Agreement: Approved applicants receive agreement specifying payment schedules, reporting requirements, and recognition guidelines

Emergency Grants:

  • Complete brief eligibility quiz
  • Apply on rolling basis as urgent needs arise
  • Available through online portal

First-Time Applicants: Must submit a Notification of Interest (one-page document outlining basic organization details, identified community need, and proposed program) before full application.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Submission to Decision: Approximately 2-3 months
  • Example: February 7 application deadline → May board decision announcement
  • Notification Method: Direct notification to applicants, with public announcements of grant recipients on foundation website and through partner communications

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 25 grants in recent years with an average grant size of $20,020. Specific success rates (percentage of applications funded) are not publicly disclosed. The foundation has awarded more than $10 million over 15 years to over 40 agencies, suggesting selective but consistent grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that received funding in prior years are invited to submit formal applications without needing to resubmit the Notification of Interest. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants regarding waiting periods or reapplication restrictions are not publicly detailed.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission: The foundation has a highly focused mission on health and wellness for low-income, high-risk populations. Successful applicants demonstrate clear alignment with this priority and serve populations meeting the income thresholds defined by the foundation.

Recent Grant Recipients (Examples of Successful Projects):

  • Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic: Received multiple grants including $55,000 and $110,000 for health and dental services
  • Neighborhood Health Clinics: Multi-year recipient supporting healthcare access
  • St. Martin's Healthcare (Garrett, IN): 2022 grant recipient
  • Super Shot, Inc.: Immunization services
  • Maple City Health Care Center: Primary care services
  • Community Transportation Network: Healthcare transportation access
  • Positive Resource Connection: Support services
  • LOGAN: Community health services

Geographic Specificity: Applications must clearly demonstrate service to populations within the foundation's 46 Northern Indiana counties or 6 Ohio counties. Successful applications specify which communities will benefit.

Evidence of Need: Given the foundation's focus on "low-income, high-risk individuals," successful applications quantify the vulnerable population being served and demonstrate how the project addresses specific health disparities or access barriers.

Operating vs. Program Support: The foundation primarily funds operating support, making it an attractive funder for organizations seeking general operating grants rather than project-specific funding.

Modest Reporting Requirements: The foundation emphasizes "minimal reporting for most grantees," suggesting they value efficiency and recognize the administrative burden on small nonprofits. Only grants exceeding $100,000 require detailed reports.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly Focused Mission: This is a health-and-wellness-only funder serving low-income populations—do not apply if your work falls outside these parameters
  • Two-Stage Process Allows Refinement: The Letter of Intent stage provides an opportunity to confirm alignment before investing time in a full application
  • Emergency Grants Available: Organizations with urgent, time-sensitive needs can access up to $25,000 through a streamlined process
  • Operating Support Welcome: Unlike many funders, PHP Foundation primarily funds operating support, making it valuable for general organizational capacity
  • Multi-Year Relationships: Past recipients are invited to reapply, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships with effective organizations
  • Geographic Restrictions Are Firm: Ensure your service area overlaps with the foundation's 46 Northern Indiana counties or 6 Ohio counties before applying
  • Professional Administration: Working with Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne provides applicants with experienced grant administration support through Stephanie Carlson Plimpton

References

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