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Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.3 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months from LOI to award announcement
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $275,000
  • Geographic Focus: Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Contact Details

Overview

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States is the regional entity of Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation's largest integrated healthcare systems. Operating in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., the organization has made significant community health investments, with nearly $2.3 million in grants distributed to 38 community organizations in 2024 alone. The organization's community health team operates "at the intersection of philanthropy and public health," focusing on addressing social determinants of health and advancing health equity. Their grantmaking is informed by Kaiser Permanente's national community health priorities and their Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted every three years. In 2023, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic invested $198 million in community health initiatives, demonstrating their substantial commitment to regional health improvement beyond traditional healthcare delivery.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic offers four grant rounds annually (winter, spring, summer, and fall), though currently all opportunities are invitation-only. Recent grant cycles have focused on:

  • Economic Opportunity Grants: Up to three grants of $50,000 each to increase procurement with diverse-owned businesses and support diverse entrepreneurs in Washington DC/Suburban Maryland, Greater Baltimore, and Northern Virginia
  • Food & Nutritional Security Grants: Up to $50,000 for medically tailored groceries and produce prescription programs in Greater Baltimore service area
  • General Community Health Grants: Range from $20,000 to $275,000 supporting various health equity initiatives

Grant terms are typically 12 months.

Priority Areas

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic strategically selects grant recipients for their dedication to improving health and advancing equity by addressing root causes of health disparities:

  • Access to affordable healthcare: Including programs for uninsured and underserved populations
  • Socioeconomic opportunity: Economic development, workforce training, and diverse business support
  • Affordable housing: Homelessness prevention, housing counseling, and housing stability
  • Food and nutritional security: Food pantries, medically tailored meals, and produce prescription programs
  • Mental health and community safety: Social-emotional programming for youth, trauma-informed care
  • Healthy policies, systems, and environments: Addressing systemic barriers to health equity
  • Maternal and child health: Postpartum care, healthy start programs
  • Education and school health: Physical, mental, and social health needs in public schools

The organization has invested nearly $9 million specifically in grants to address social determinants of health, recognizing that stable housing, nutritious food, access to care, economic opportunity, and safe neighborhoods shape most health outcomes.

What They Don't Fund

While Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic does not publish a comprehensive exclusions list, their invitation-only model and focus on social determinants of health suggest funding is restricted to:

  • Organizations outside their Mid-Atlantic geographic footprint
  • Organizations that are not IRS-recognized nonprofits or government entities
  • Projects not aligned with their Community Health Needs Assessment priorities
  • Individual requests or scholarships

Governance and Leadership

Regional Leadership

Israel Rocha, Regional President (appointed October 2023, began December 4, 2023): Rocha leads Kaiser Permanente's performance and overall success in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience leading integrated public health systems, having previously served as CEO of Cook County Health System in Illinois (the third-largest public health care system in the nation). Rocha has demonstrated a deep commitment to social justice and health equity throughout his career.

National Context

Kaiser Permanente is led nationally by Gregory A. Adams, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, who oversees all eight regions serving more than 12.3 million members.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic currently operates an invitation-only grant process. There is no open application portal. Organizations that align with Kaiser Permanente's community health goals may receive a formal request for proposal (RFP) or invitation to apply for funding from their community health grant leads in advance of each grant round.

The organization notes that they "actively seek to include nontraditional applicant organizations, in addition to those with longevity and traditional structures," welcoming new, small, and grassroots groups into their grantmaking portfolio.

When invited to apply, applicants must:

  1. Create an account in Mosaic (Kaiser Permanente's online grant management system)
  2. Submit a letter of interest (LOI)
  3. If selected, submit a full proposal upon invitation

Getting on Their Radar

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic identifies potential grant recipients through their Community Health Needs Assessment process, which is conducted every three years and informs their funding priorities. Organizations working in their priority areas within the Mid-Atlantic geographic footprint may be identified through:

  • Community Health Needs Assessment participation: Contributing data or insights to their regional health needs evaluation
  • Existing relationships with Kaiser Permanente: Healthcare partnerships, community provider networks, or previous collaborative efforts
  • Sector leadership: Organizations recognized as leaders in addressing social determinants of health in the region

To position your organization for potential future invitations:

  • Contact the community health team directly at mas-community-benefit@kp.org to introduce your organization and express interest in alignment with their priorities
  • Participate in community health coalitions and networks active in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
  • Ensure your organization's work demonstrably addresses social determinants of health and health equity

Decision Timeline

Based on their 2024 grant cycle:

  • February 12: Letter of Interest (LOI) released to invited organizations
  • February 28: LOI deadline
  • March 18: Full proposal invitations sent
  • April 8: Full proposal due
  • June: Awards announced (approximately 2 months after full proposal deadline)
  • July 1: Project start date

Total timeline from LOI release to award announcement: approximately 4 months

For sponsorship applications (a separate process from grants), applicants can expect notification within 30 days of submission.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In 2024, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic awarded grants to 38 organizations. Given the invitation-only model, the pool of applicants is pre-screened for alignment, likely resulting in higher success rates than open application processes.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Given the invitation-only model, organizations that have been previously funded or invited may be considered for future grant rounds based on continued alignment with priorities and successful grant performance.

Application Success Factors

While Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic does not publish detailed application guidance, recent funding patterns and organizational statements reveal key success factors:

Alignment with Health Equity Goals

Kaiser Permanente consistently emphasizes that they "strategically select grant recipients for their dedication to improving health and advancing equity by addressing the root causes of health disparities." Successful applications must demonstrate how the proposed work directly addresses health inequities experienced by specific populations.

Focus on Social Determinants of Health

Winning projects address concrete social factors: "access to health care, nutritious food, affordable housing, economic opportunity, mental health and community safety." Applications should articulate which social determinant(s) the project addresses and how it will create measurable improvements.

Evidence of Community Impact

Recent grant recipients demonstrate clear, quantifiable impact:

  • Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas ($275,000): Created the "first medical respite program in Prince George's County"
  • Community Solutions International ($240,000): Working "to end chronic and veteran homelessness"
  • Housing Initiative Partnership ($75,000): "Enrolled 300 renters in housing counseling"

Successful applications include specific metrics, populations served, and measurable outcomes.

Geographic Specificity

All funded projects serve communities within Kaiser Permanente's Mid-Atlantic footprint (Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C.). Applications should clearly identify the specific geographic communities served and demonstrate need within those areas.

Openness to Diverse Applicants

Kaiser Permanente explicitly states they "actively seek to include nontraditional applicant organizations, in addition to those with longevity and traditional structures," welcoming "new, small, and grassroots groups." Smaller or newer organizations should not self-select out of potential opportunities based on organizational size or age.

Connection to Community Health Needs Assessment

Grantmaking is "informed by their Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), which they conduct every 3 years." Strong applications demonstrate alignment with documented community health needs in the region and may reference findings from Kaiser Permanente's CHNA.

Collaborative Approaches

Kaiser Permanente emphasizes "developing purposeful partnerships with local organizations." Applications that demonstrate collaboration with other community stakeholders or fill identified gaps in the service delivery ecosystem may be viewed favorably.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: You cannot apply directly; focus on building relationships with Kaiser Permanente's community health team (mas-community-benefit@kp.org) and positioning your organization as aligned with their priorities
  • Health equity is central: Every funded project must demonstrably advance health equity and address root causes of health disparities, not just symptoms
  • Social determinants lens: Frame your work explicitly in terms of social determinants of health (housing, food security, economic opportunity, healthcare access, etc.)
  • Size doesn't matter: Small, grassroots, and nontraditional organizations are explicitly welcomed; focus on impact and alignment rather than organizational capacity
  • Geographic specificity: Clearly articulate which Mid-Atlantic communities you serve and demonstrate documented need in those areas
  • Measurable outcomes: Recent grant recipients show concrete, quantifiable impact; vague aspirations won't compete with specific, measurable goals
  • CHNA alignment: Review Kaiser Permanente's Community Health Needs Assessment for the Mid-Atlantic region and explicitly connect your work to documented community health priorities

References

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