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UCare Foundation

Annual Giving
$103.3M
Grant Range
$7K - $0.1M

UCare Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $103,337,170 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified (two-stage LOI and full proposal process)
  • Grant Range: $6,500 - $75,000 (maximum per grant)
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota and Western Wisconsin
  • Total Awards: 67 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 500 Stinson Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Email: ucarefoundation@ucare.org (preferred contact method)

Phone: 612-676-3595

Website: https://www.ucare.org/about-us/ucare-foundation

Overview

Since 1998, the UCare Foundation has operated as the philanthropic arm of UCare Minnesota, a nonprofit health plan. The foundation focuses on improving the lives of UCare members and their communities through grants that address urgent community health needs. With total assets of $60.7 million and annual giving exceeding $103 million in 2023, the foundation distributes 67 grants annually. The foundation prioritizes grant-making to programs and initiatives that improve the health of underserved populations—including seniors, people with disabilities, children, and families—throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The foundation funds high-impact services, education, community outreach, and research addressing health equity, social drivers of health, and access barriers. Leadership includes President and CEO Hilary Marden-Resnik, who has led UCare since March 2022 and serves as Principal Officer of the foundation. The foundation board meets annually to determine priority areas of focus for current year solicitations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants: $6,500 - $75,000

  • One-year awards with possible extensions
  • One grant per organization per calendar year
  • Indirect/overhead costs capped at 10% of total grant
  • Application through two-stage process (Letter of Inquiry followed by full proposal for selected organizations)
  • Currently not accepting applications (status as of 2025)

Priority Areas

The foundation's priority areas evolve annually based on board decisions. Recent focus areas include:

2024 Priorities:

  • Dental access in greater Minnesota
  • Disabilities initiatives
  • Nutrition and food security

2023 Priorities:

  • Food insecurity
  • Health equity
  • Mental health
  • Preventive health
  • Quality initiatives

2022 Priorities:

  • Food insecurity
  • Health equity
  • Outreach for seniors
  • COVID-19 relief efforts

Cross-Cutting Themes:

  • Anti-racism and health equity focused work addressing structural racism and social drivers of health
  • Dental access and oral health
  • Rural specific needs (e.g., transportation and healthcare workforce development)
  • Maternal child health, particularly approaches that address inequities
  • Indigenous health
  • Mental health, mental wellbeing, and substance use disorder prevention and treatment

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns or capital expenditures
  • General operating support
  • Religious activities by faith-based groups
  • Lobbying or political activities
  • Sporting events or athletic organizations
  • Direct individual/family assistance

Governance and Leadership

Principal Officer: Hilary Marden-Resnik, President and CEO of UCare (since March 2022)

Hilary Marden-Resnik joined UCare in 2010, driven by passion for UCare's nonprofit mission to improve the health of members through innovative services and partnerships across communities. She became interim CEO in fall 2021 and was named President and CEO in March 2022.

Board Structure: The UCare Foundation has a formal board that oversees and approves annual grant awards. The board meets annually to determine priority areas of focus for current year solicitations. Grant applications are reviewed by UCare Minnesota-assigned individuals as well as certain members of the UCare Foundation Board. Specific board member names are not publicly disclosed.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: No grant opportunities available at this time (2025)

When Applications Are Open, the foundation uses a two-stage process:

  1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI): Organizations must first complete a brief LOI form in the online grant portal at https://www.ucare.org/about-us/ucare-foundation/community-grant

    • New applicants must register with organization information (EIN/Tax ID), user details, and executive officer information
    • Returning users log in with existing credentials
    • LOI cannot be edited after submission
    • Confirmation email sent upon receipt

  2. Full Proposal: From LOIs received, the UCare Foundation selects a limited number of organizations to complete a full proposal application for funding consideration

    • Only invited organizations may submit full proposals
    • Applications reviewed by UCare and UCare Foundation staff for alignment with grant priorities
    • If an LOI or application falls outside geographic or programmatic scope, the foundation notifies the applicant immediately

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) charitable organization operating in Minnesota, OR
  • Public/governmental agency in Minnesota (including public schools, health departments, and state agencies), OR
  • Tribal nations

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific timeframes for decision-making. The process involves:

  • LOI review and selection for full proposal stage
  • Full proposal review by staff and board members
  • Grant recipients must sign agreements and submit interim and final reports
  • Organizations may be subject to site visits

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application success rates or the number of applications received relative to grants awarded. In 2023, the foundation distributed 67 awards totaling over $103 million.

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations may receive one grant per calendar year
  • No specific waiting period for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented
  • Organizations should monitor the website for when grant opportunities reopen

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's priorities and past funding patterns:

Alignment with Current Year Priorities: The foundation's board determines priority areas annually, and alignment with these specific focus areas is critical. Recent years have consistently emphasized food insecurity, health equity, and access to care for underserved populations.

Focus on Underserved Populations: Successful grants target seniors, people with disabilities, children, families, rural communities, Indigenous populations, and communities experiencing health inequities. The foundation explicitly funds initiatives addressing "the health of underserved individuals."

Evidence-Based Approaches: The foundation supports "high-impact services, education, community outreach and research," suggesting preference for programs with demonstrated effectiveness or strong evaluation frameworks.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Key Themes:

  • Way to Grow (2024): Support for work with infants and expecting parents
  • Nexus Family Healing (2024): Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility with trauma-informed training and sensory equipment for Minnesota youth
  • RECLAIM (2024): Pilot project hiring local therapists to expand affirming mental health care for queer and trans youth in Greater Minnesota
  • Life Connections (2024): Community Connections program providing families with formula, safe sleep and travel equipment/education
  • New Beginnings (2024): Safe Sleep Program to reduce SIDS deaths
  • Second Harvest Heartland, Twin Cities Mobile Market, Community Action Duluth: Food security initiatives
  • Somali Community Resettlement Services, COPAL: Culturally competent care and health equity
  • Community Dental Care, Central Lakes College, Let's Smile Inc.: Dental access in greater Minnesota

Geographic Considerations: While the foundation serves all of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, recent priorities specifically call out "greater Minnesota" (rural areas) for dental access and mental health services, suggesting opportunities for rural-focused proposals.

Budget Considerations: With a $75,000 maximum and only 10% allowed for indirect costs, successful applications likely demonstrate efficient use of funds with majority directed to direct services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Monitor for Application Reopening: Grant opportunities are currently closed; check the website regularly for when the next funding cycle opens
  • Align with Annual Priorities: Foundation priorities shift yearly based on board decisions—ensure your proposal addresses current year focus areas
  • Emphasize Health Equity: Consistent theme across all recent funding years; demonstrate how your program addresses structural racism, social drivers of health, or serves underserved populations
  • Target Underserved Populations: Explicitly demonstrate focus on seniors, people with disabilities, children, families, rural communities, or Indigenous populations in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin
  • Two-Stage Process Requires Strong LOI: Only selected organizations advance to full proposal stage—make your Letter of Inquiry compelling and tightly aligned with priorities
  • Leverage Past Recipients as Models: Review the foundation's list of past grant recipients to understand successful project types and organizational profiles
  • Budget Strategically: With 10% indirect cost cap and $75,000 maximum, demonstrate efficient, direct service delivery

References

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