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Foundation For A Healthy St Petersburg Inc

Annual Giving
$9.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M
Decision Time
4mo

Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9 million (approximately)
  • Assets: $170 million
  • Decision Time: Approximately 4 months
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: South St. Petersburg, FL (specific zip codes: 33705, 33711, 33712)
  • Average Grant: $37,937

Contact Details

Address: 2333 34th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Phone: (727) 865-4650
Website: https://healthystpete.foundation
Partnership Inquiries: partnership@healthystpete.foundation
Funded Partner Portal: healthystpete.fluxx.io

Overview

The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is a private foundation established in 2013 from the proceeds of the sale of nonprofit Bayfront Health St. Petersburg to Health Management Associates (now Orlando Health). With assets exceeding $170 million, the Foundation began grant operations in 2015 and awarded its first grants in 2016. In 2019, the Foundation confirmed race equity as its sole strategic focus, recognizing it as the pathway to achieving health equity. The Foundation strategically invests its grantmaking funds and supportive resources in community-driven initiatives that change systems and advance racially equitable health outcomes in South St. Petersburg. Led by President and CEO Dr. Kanika Tomalin since 2023, the Foundation operates with a staff of 21 professionals representing 119.5 years of combined experience in equity work. The Foundation targets social determinants of health that are out of equity, galvanizes multi-sector leaders, diagnoses system problems, and seeks to change systems to improve outcomes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Healthy People Grant (2025)

  • Amount: Up to $250,000 per collaboration (total $1 million for up to 4 collaborations)
  • Focus: Multi-sector collaborations working on systems-level change in social determinants of health
  • Requirements: Minimum of two organizations representing two different sectors (government, nonprofits, community groups, private businesses, or public agencies)
  • Application: Letters of interest reviewed on rolling basis

Capacity-Building Grants (Partnership with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital)

  • Amount: $10,000 per organization
  • Focus: Strengthening organizational infrastructure, improving internal processes, procedures, and policies
  • Recent Award: 20 grants totaling $200,000 in 2025

Funded Partners Program (2023-2024)

  • Amount: Range from $60,000 to $500,000
  • Total Awarded: $4.8 million to 30 organizations (jointly with Bayfront Health)
  • Focus: Mental Health and Wellness for BIPOC and Economic Equity and Justice

Race Equity Loan Fund

  • Zero-interest loans to support nonprofit organizational capacity

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses exclusively on race equity as the pathway to health equity in South St. Petersburg, specifically targeting:

  • Mental Health and Wellness for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
  • Economic Equity and Justice
  • Social Determinants of Health including:
    • Access to healthy food
    • Healthcare career pathways and economic mobility
    • Housing counseling and stability
    • Early childhood literacy
    • Youth support services
    • Community-based health education
    • Doula networks and maternal health

Geographic Restriction: All funded work must serve South St. Petersburg, defined as south of Ulmerton Road and east of Seminole Boulevard, including zip codes: 33701, 33702, 33703, 33704, 33705, 33707, 33709, 33710, 33711, 33712, 33713, 33714, 33716, 33762, 33772, 33773, 33777, 33778, 33781, and 33782.

What They Don't Fund

  • Construction costs (ineligible for capacity-building grants)
  • Programmatic activities already projected to occur (capacity-building grants focus on internal organizational development, not existing programs)
  • Organizations not designated as 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Public Charities
  • Work outside the South St. Petersburg geographic area

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Sharon L. Gardner, Chair
Rev. Kenneth F. Irby, Vice-Chair
Marianne Edmonds, Treasurer
Bridgette Heller, Secretary
Dr. Ricardo Davis
Jack Day
Dr. Cynthia Johnson
Dr. Shameka Jones
Roger Key
Kelly Kirschner
Ken Shapiro
Dr. Kevin Sneed
Nichelle Threadgill, M.D.
Jon Wilson

The Board represents the community through "lived experience, professional expertise, industry knowledge, and race."

Leadership Team

Dr. Kanika Tomalin, President and Chief Executive Officer
Lisa L. Brody, Esquire, Chief Operations Officer and General Counsel
Marcus A. Brooks, Chief Impact Officer
Ricky Howell, C.P.A., Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Julie Rocco, Senior Director of Grants Management and Administration
Barbara Green, Director of Strategic Communications
Dr. Susie Paterson, Director of Research, Evaluation, and Learning

Dr. Tomalin was appointed in 2023 following a nationwide search with extensive community outreach. She was instrumental in creating the conversion foundation during her previous role as Bayfront Health System's Vice President of Strategic Planning & Public Affairs.

Key Quote from Leadership:
Dr. Kanika Tomalin stated: "We're thrilled to fund and support these phenomenal community projects and partners, who will make our local community healthier and more racially equitable."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation makes applications "as clear, simple, and accessible" as possible and often allows nonprofits to submit portions of applications by video or in person as an alternative to standard written applications.

Current Process:

  • Applications are accepted through online portals specific to each grant program
  • Visit https://healthystpete.foundation/grantmaking/ for current opportunities
  • Application methods vary: some programs use rolling applications, others have specific deadlines
  • The Foundation emphasizes accessibility in its application design

For Existing Grantees:

  • Access the Funded Partner Portal at healthystpete.fluxx.io

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Public Charity
  • Must serve South St. Petersburg geographic area (specific zip codes listed above)
  • For multi-sector collaborations: minimum of two organizations from different sectors required

Decision Timeline

  • Typical Timeline: Approximately 4 months from application submission to grant award decision
  • Notification methods not specified in available sources

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Foundation awarded grants to 30 organizations through its 2023-2024 Funded Partners Program, indicating selective but meaningful investment in community organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not documented in publicly available sources. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Dr. Tomalin's Challenge to Applicants:
"Be audacious in your thoughts and what you know about what our community needs. Throw off the yoke of restriction and think about what is possible and invite the Foundation's partnership to help make that happen."

She emphasized that their Request for Proposals operates "outside of the parameters of traditional grants. We are looking for impact, for bold ideas."

What the Foundation Looks For

  1. Systems-Level Thinking: The Foundation explicitly seeks initiatives that "change systems" rather than simply deliver services. They want to see how your work addresses root causes and transforms systemic inequities.

  2. Race Equity Lens: All work must explicitly advance racially equitable health outcomes. Demonstrating understanding of how institutional racism creates health disparities is critical.

  3. Multi-Sector Collaboration: For major grants like Healthy People, partnerships across different sectors (nonprofits, government, businesses, community groups) are required. The Foundation values collaborative approaches.

  4. Community-Driven Solutions: The Foundation invests in "community-driven initiatives" - showing authentic community engagement and leadership is important.

  5. Bold, Innovative Approaches: Traditional programmatic proposals are less attractive than transformative ideas that reimagine how to address health equity challenges.

  6. Resource Leveraging: Applications should demonstrate resources committed beyond grant dollars, though there's no minimum or maximum match requirement.

  7. Evidence-Based but Flexible: The Foundation seeks "actionable, sustainable, and evidence-based solutions that drive measurable improvements" while encouraging innovation.

Recent Funded Projects Examples

Understanding what the Foundation has funded provides insight into their priorities:

Mental Health and Wellness Projects:

  • Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay: Foster Grandparent Program Expansion ($249,524)
  • Sickle Cell Disease Association: Outreach and education hub ($60,000)
  • Speakeasy Media Foundation: Mindful Movement expanding meditation and yoga into schools ($112,303)

Economic Equity and Justice Projects:

  • 360 Eats: Enhancing food security in BIPOC communities ($60,204)
  • Ultimate Medical Academy: Career services for healthcare pathways ($120,000)
  • Starting Right, Now: Services for unaccompanied minor youth ($206,520)

Capacity-Building Examples (2025):

  • Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation: Supporting long-term growth to increase students served ($10,000)
  • St. Petersburg NHS: Expanding housing counseling services ($10,000)
  • 15th Street Farm: Improving operations and income strategy ($10,000)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Think Systemically, Not Programmatically: This Foundation is not interested in traditional service delivery grants. Focus your application on how you'll change systems, policies, or structures that create health inequities - not just on delivering services to individuals.

  2. Race Equity is Non-Negotiable: Every aspect of your proposal must demonstrate how it advances racial equity as the pathway to health equity. Generic diversity language won't suffice - show deep understanding of how racism creates health disparities in South St. Petersburg.

  3. Be Bold and Innovative: Dr. Tomalin's call to "be audacious" and "throw off the yoke of restriction" is genuine. This Foundation rewards transformative thinking over safe, incremental approaches. Don't self-censor your most ambitious ideas.

  4. Geographic Specificity Matters: Your work must serve the specific South St. Petersburg zip codes (33705, 33711, 33712 for major programs). Demonstrate intimate knowledge of these communities and their unique needs.

  5. Alternative Application Formats Welcome: The Foundation accepts video or in-person presentations as alternatives to written applications. Consider whether your story might be more powerfully told through these formats, especially if traditional grant writing isn't your organization's strength.

  6. Collaboration is Valued: Multi-sector partnerships are required for major grants and valued across all programs. Start building relationships across sectors (nonprofits, government, businesses, community groups) before applying.

  7. Four-Month Timeline: Plan ahead - expect approximately four months from submission to decision. This is longer than some funders but reflects their thorough review process.

References

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