St Joseph Health System Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $20.5 million (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Varies by partnership
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $8.3 million
• Geographic Focus: Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, Washington

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.providence.org/community-services/st-joseph-fund
• Phone: (714) 347-7756
• Email: stjosephfund@providence.org
• Address: 500 S Main St Ste 1000, Orange, CA 92868

Overview

The St Joseph Health System Foundation operates the St. Joseph Fund (also known as St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund), established in 1986 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange with a mission to improve the health and quality of life of low-income and vulnerable communities. Following the 2016 merger of St. Joseph Health and Providence Health & Services, it now serves as Providence's philanthropic grantmaking foundation. With assets of $132 million and annual giving exceeding $20 million, the Fund has awarded over $350 million since inception. The foundation operates through a relationship-based, invitation-only model, working with over 80 partner organizations across five western states to address systemic inequities through collaborative grantmaking focused on housing, education, disaster resilience, and capacity building.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Partnership Grants: $10,000 - $8.3 million (multi-year commitments through invitation/partnership)
• St. Joseph the Worker Awards: $500,000 total across 24 organizations (special initiative)
• Providence Community Capacity Initiative: $2.75 million across 10 organizations (capacity building)
• Education Initiative: Variable amounts for educational equity projects
• Black and Indigenous Birth Justice Collaborative: Supporting maternal health organizations

Priority Areas

• Housing and Homelessness
• Education (K-12 and early childhood)
• Disaster Response and Resilience
• Capacity Building for Community Organizations
• Health Equity and Social Justice
• Environmental Justice

What They Don't Fund

• Direct medical services (handled by Providence health system)
• Individual assistance
• Organizations outside their five-state region
• Unsolicited proposals

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

• Gabriela Robles - President and CEO: "We focus on the solutions and innovations that are being created at the community level and aim to be partners in supporting that work"
• Jason Lacsamana - Director of Programs and Partnerships
• Amy Huang - Program Officer
• Ashish Madan - Program Officer

The foundation operates under Providence's governance structure while maintaining its focus on the original mission established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through:

• Direct invitation from foundation staff
• Strategic partnerships identified by the foundation
• Collaborative relationships developed over time
• Referrals from existing partner organizations

The Fund employs a "trust-based philanthropy" model focused on long-term partnerships rather than transactional grant-making.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on their partnership model, organizations can:

• Participate in Providence community health initiatives where Fund staff may be present
• Connect through existing partner organizations in their network of 80+ organizations
• Engage with Providence St. Joseph Health community benefit programs in your region
• Build relationships with program officers who actively engage with community organizations
• The Fund specifically seeks organizations led by and serving BIPOC communities

Decision Timeline

Partnership development and funding decisions follow an individualized timeline based on relationship building rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - operates through ongoing partnerships rather than application cycles

Application Success Factors

Since the St. Joseph Fund operates through invitation and partnership rather than open applications, success factors focus on alignment and relationship building:

• Demonstrated Community Leadership: The Fund specifically seeks "authentic partnerships with community organizations" and values organizations deeply rooted in the communities they serve
• Focus on Systems Change: Gabriela Robles emphasizes supporting "solutions and innovations being created at the community level" rather than direct service alone
• BIPOC Leadership: The Fund explicitly prioritizes organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities
• Geographic Alignment: Organizations must serve communities in Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, or Washington
• Mission Alignment: Strong alignment with addressing root causes of inequity in housing, education, or disaster resilience
• Collaborative Approach: The Fund values organizations that work collaboratively and are open to multi-year partnership relationships
• Trust-Based Principles: Organizations that embrace trust-based philanthropy principles of mutual accountability and power-sharing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals
• Focus on building visibility and relationships within Providence's community health ecosystem
• The Fund specifically seeks BIPOC-led organizations addressing systemic inequities
• Multi-year partnerships are the norm, with funding ranging from $10,000 to over $8 million
• Emphasis on trust-based philanthropy means less reporting burden but requires deep mission alignment
• Connect through existing partner organizations or Providence community benefit programs
• Patient relationship building is essential - this is not a transactional funder

References

• Providence St. Joseph Fund Official Website (https://www.providence.org/community-services/st-joseph-fund) - Accessed February 2025
• St. Joseph Fund 2024 Annual Report - Providence Publications
• "St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund Awards $20.5M in Grants" - Providence Press Release, 2024
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 Data for EIN 330143024
• "St. Joseph Fund Announces 2023 Grant Recipients" - Providence News, 2023
• Candid Foundation Directory - St Joseph Health System Foundation Profile
• "Trust-Based Philanthropy in Action" - St. Joseph Fund Case Study, 2023