Sierra Health Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 68-0050036 · since 1986sierrahealth.org·California·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.4M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$250 to $22,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$5,000

Typical grant (median)

249 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Sierra Health Foundation funds work on health, racial equity and justice, children, youth and families, economic stability and opportunity, climate health equity, and policy and systems change, with priority given to the 26 Northern California counties named as its geographic focus.
Typical grants to organisations run from $250 to $22,000, with a median grant of $3,000, so a modest request fits most of what it gives, even though its largest grant was $590,000.
Applications are accepted against fixed deadlines, and for event sponsorship requests it asks specifically for a cover letter with event details and sponsorship options, the organisation's name, contact information including phone and email, and its EIN, with each request covering one event only; these are due by 5 p.m. on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
In its most recent filing, 57% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, which points to an element of ongoing relationship in its giving, though this is no reason for a first-time applicant to hold back.
501(c)(3) nonprofits that are supporting organizations under Internal Revenue Code 509(a)(3) should not apply, as the foundation does not fund them.

Overview

Sierra Health Foundation is a US private foundation based in Sacramento, CA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Sierra Health Foundation invests in ideas, partnerships and programmes to improve health and quality of life in Northern California through convening, education and strategic grantmaking. It promotes health, racial equity and racial justice in 26 Northern California counties. Its legacy programmes support nonprofit health and human service organisations through education and collaboration, leadership development, responses to health needs and support for fundraising events. Its wider programme areas include children, youth and families; economic stability and opportunity; climate health equity; and policy and systems change. It also funds public agencies, including school districts and state, county and city governments, as well as tax-exempt organisations.

Themes

Racial Equity and Justice
Children, Youth and Families
Economic Stability and Opportunity
Climate Health Equity
Policy and Systems Change

Geographic Focus

Priority: 26 Northern California counties.

What They Don't Fund

501(c)(3) nonprofits that are supporting organizations with an Internal Revenue Code of 509(a)(3)

How to apply

For event sponsorship requests, include a cover letter with event details and sponsorship options, the organisation’s name, contact information including phone and email, and its EIN. Each request must be for one event only.

Deadlines: Event sponsorship requests are due by 5 p.m. on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 57% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 592 grants to organisations were $3,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Event sponsorship requests should be compatible with the foundation’s mission and programmes.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

California93%

District of Columbia2%

Colorado2%

New York1%

South Carolina<1%

Florida<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 57% of grant dollars went to organisations Sierra Health Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
16% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

249 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 249 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k14%

$1k–$2.5k14%

$2.5k–$5k17%

$5k–$10k19%

$10k–$25k27%

$25k–$50k6%

$50k–$100k1%

$100k–$250k<1%

$250k–$500k0%

$500k–$1M<1%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Center for Health Program Management · General program
$590,0002024 tax year
Silicon Valley Community Foundation · General program
$100,0002024 tax year
United Way of Northern California · Disaster response fund
$75,0002024 tax year
Community Partners · General program
$50,0002024 tax year
Holding Space · Public policy
$25,0002024 tax year
Yolo County Office of Education · Public policy
$25,0002024 tax year
South Sacramento Christian Center Church · General program
$25,0002024 tax year
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice · Public policy
$25,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

David W Gordon — Director
Debra McKenzie — Director
Jose Hermocillo — Director
Dr Claire Pomeroy — Director
Robert Petersen — Director
Shamus Roller — Vice Chair
Nancy P Lee — Chair
Edward Harris — COO / CFO
Chet P Hewitt — President & CEO

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$14,900,664	$2,329,404	$54,840,577	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$16,128,886	$1,888,066	$57,860,059	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$18,302,889	$2,423,986	$58,704,602	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.