Elevance Health Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $31.4 million (2023)
New Five-Year Commitment: $150 million (2025-2029)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $25,000 - $150,000
Grant Duration: 1-3 years
Geographic Focus: National programs with emphasis on CA, FL, GA, IN, MO, NV, NY, OH, TX, and VA
Application Type: RFP-based (no open application process)

Contact Details

Address: 220 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3709
Phone: 317-488-6000
Email: foundation@elevancehealth.com
Website: https://elevancehealth.foundation/

Overview

The Elevance Health Foundation Inc (formerly the Anthem Foundation) was established in 2000 in Indiana as the philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Inc. With over $300 million awarded since its founding and a new five-year, $150 million commitment announced in 2025, the Foundation focuses on addressing health inequalities and strengthening communities in America. In 2021, the Foundation re-envisioned its approach to concentrate on key areas where it could make the greatest impact in advancing health equity. The Foundation distributed $31.4 million through 96 grants in 2023 and has previously exceeded its three-year, $90 million commitment by awarding $97.3 million to more than 185 nonprofit partners nationwide. As Foundation President Lance Chrisman states: "As we enter our 25th year of service, our Foundation is reimagining how we can make a lasting impact."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through an RFP-based system with specific deadlines for each focus area:

Behavioral Health - Application deadline: January 31, 2026 (applications open)
- Focus: Increase treatment access for mental health and substance use disorders; support prevention and early intervention; reduce loneliness among individuals with these disorders
- Recent awards: $19.5 million in total substance use disorder grants across multiple phases
Maternal and Infant Health - Application deadline: July 31, 2026 (currently closed)
- Focus: Reduce pre-term birth disparities; reduce severe maternal morbidity; improve health outcomes throughout pregnancy journey from pre-conception to postnatal care
- Recent awards: $6.5 million to 29 organizations (September 2024), with expanded focus on maternal mental health and substance use disorders
Food as Medicine - Applications will reopen in 2027
- Focus: Reduce food insecurity; improve clinical outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions; increase access to nutritious food
- Total commitment: $30 million to 51 organizations over three years
Community Resiliency & Disaster Relief - Partnership-based (not open RFP)
- Partners with national organizations including American Red Cross, Direct Relief, and Americares
- Recent awards: $1.2 million expansion announced in 2024

New Initiative: Community Action Leadership - A $5 million Patient Safety Prize initiative that aims to define philanthropy's role in addressing large community health needs.

Priority Areas

Programs serving under-resourced and historically marginalized communities
National programs promoting scalable and sustainable systemic change
Local programs implementing relevant interventions in priority states
Evidence-based, data-driven approaches (the Foundation believes in "putting science behind the art of grant making")
Programs demonstrating measurable health outcomes
Health equity initiatives that address disparities

What They Don't Fund

Based on their FAQ, applications may be denied for:

Programs that do not align with their four focus areas
Applications with inadequate budget justification
High-cost programs compared to their reach
Programs with missing or uncertain measurable health outcomes
Overlapping grants to current grantees (typically don't award overlapping grants)

Governance and Leadership

President: Lance Chrisman serves as President of the Elevance Health Foundation. He leads the Foundation's strategic direction and has been vocal about the Foundation's commitment to health equity and community impact.

Leadership Oversight: Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, Chief Health Officer at Elevance Health, also provides leadership to the Foundation's initiatives.

Key Quote from Leadership: "While we still have our key focus areas – maternal-infant, food as medicine, behavioral health, and community resiliency and disaster relief – the initiatives we're implementing will deepen our commitment to strengthening our communities," - Lance Chrisman, Foundation President

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation no longer has an open application process and instead issues RFPs online throughout its annual funding cycles. The application process follows three steps:

Review the overview for your focus area on the Foundation's website
Download the Request for Proposal (RFP) document detailing specific requirements
Access and complete your grant application using the "Apply" link provided for each open RFP

Important: The Foundation is not accepting meetings or phone calls of inquiry and respectfully asks that all applicants follow the protocol as presented in the RFP documents.

Eligibility: Applicants must be community-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status operating across the United States.

Decision Timeline

The Foundation has not publicly disclosed specific timelines for application review and decision-making. Applicants should review individual RFP documents for program-specific information.

Success Rates

While exact success rates are not published, the Foundation awarded:

96 grants in 2023
407 grants in 2020
77 grants in 2019

The Foundation is described as "a somewhat accessible funder with a clear application process and deadlines that makes it easy for grantseekers to reach out with questions."

Reapplication Policy

Current Grantees: The Foundation typically does not award overlapping grants. Once your current grant term has ended and you have completed all required reporting, you are eligible to reapply.

Unsuccessful Applicants: While no specific waiting period is publicly documented, organizations are encouraged to contact the Foundation at foundation@elevancehealth.com or 317-488-6000 for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's documented guidance and recent funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Alignment with Health Equity
Health equity is centered in all of the Foundation's grantmaking. Applications must demonstrate how they address health inequities and serve socially vulnerable populations. As President Lance Chrisman notes, the Foundation is "focused on improving the health of socially vulnerable populations."

2. Evidence-Based, Data-Driven Approaches
The Foundation believes in "putting science behind the art of grant making," so applications should include robust data, measurable health outcomes, and evidence of effectiveness. Applications may be denied for "missing or uncertain measurable health outcomes."

3. Scalability and Sustainability
The Foundation prioritizes "scalable and sustainable systemic change" for national programs. Demonstrate how your program can be replicated or expanded to benefit larger populations.

4. Strong Budget Justification
Applications require "adequate budget justification" with reasonable costs relative to reach and impact. High-cost programs compared to their reach may be denied.

5. Geographic Priority Alignment
While the Foundation considers proposals nationwide, local programs should operate in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Texas, or Virginia for strongest consideration.

Recent Funded Examples:

Feeding America: $14.1 million for Food as Medicine program reaching over 1 million people
Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Five-year, $10 million grant to promote healthy lifestyles
Psyched Services: $300,000 to provide mental health services to 380 schools in California
HealthConnect One: $1.5 million to launch doula training programs in CA, GA, IN, OH, NY, and VA
March of Dimes and Creating Healthier Communities: Recipients of maternal health grants totaling $6.5 million

Impact Metrics from Recent Programs:

Maternal health programs achieved 9.5% pre-term birth rate vs. 10.4% national average
Black Birthing Initiative achieved 90% full-term birth rate vs. 54% national average
Food as Medicine programs: 68% of participants reporting overall improved health

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Apply only during open RFP cycles - Monitor the Foundation's website for specific deadlines as they operate on an RFP-based system, not rolling applications
Health equity is non-negotiable - Every application must demonstrate how it addresses health disparities and serves under-resourced communities
Data drives decisions - Include robust evidence, clear metrics, and measurable outcomes; the Foundation prioritizes science-based approaches
Know the focus areas cold - With a narrowed focus since 2021, ensure perfect alignment with one of their four program areas (maternal-infant health, behavioral health, food as medicine, or community resiliency)
Budget justification matters - Demonstrate cost-effectiveness and strong value relative to reach and impact
Geographic targeting helps - If you're a local program, operating in one of their ten priority states strengthens your application
Follow the process strictly - The Foundation is not accepting meetings or phone calls; all inquiries and applications must follow their prescribed RFP protocol

References

Accessed: December 23, 2025