Paso Del Norte Health Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10.4 million (2023)
• Total Granted Since 1996: $266+ million
• Assets: $230+ million endowment
• Grant Range: $24,000 - $5,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Binational, tri-state Paso del Norte region (West Texas, Southern New Mexico, Ciudad Juárez)
• Application Method: RFP-based (invitation only, no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Paso del Norte Health Foundation 221 N. Kansas, Suite 1900 El Paso, Texas 79901

• Phone: 915-544-7636
• Email: health@pdnhf.org
• Website: https://pdnhf.org
• Media Contact: Ida Ortegon - iortegon@pdnfoundation.org or 915-218-2613

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8 AM-5:30 PM; Friday: 8 AM-3 PM

Social Media: @PdNHFoundation (Facebook), @pdnhfoundation (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)

Overview

Established September 29, 1995, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation was created from the $130 million sale of Providence Memorial Hospital to Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Now one of the largest private foundations on the U.S.-Mexico border with assets exceeding $230 million, the foundation has granted more than $266 million to over 300 organizations since 1996. The foundation invests approximately $10 million annually in grants to promote health and prevent disease across the binational, tri-state Paso del Norte region—serving 2.4 million people in Luna, Doña Ana, and Otero Counties of New Mexico; El Paso and Hudspeth Counties of Texas; and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. In 2020 and 2022, the foundation received transformational gifts totaling $30 million from MacKenzie Scott. The foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, receiving the Better Business Bureau Presidential Gold Award.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process with scheduled funding opportunities throughout the year:

2025 Funding Schedule:

• Think.Change Initiative & Behavioral Health Consortium (March LOI)
• Healthy Kids Initiative (August LOI)
• Diabetes Initiative (December LOI)

2024 Grant Distributions:

• Healthy Living: $5.19 million across 59 grants
• Disease Prevention & Management: $3.85 million across 48 grants (including 13 diabetes grants totaling $1.3 million and 5 mental health grants totaling $400,000)
• Health Leadership: $5.34 million across 32 grants

Notable Grant Examples:

• $5 million to Texas Tech Health El Paso for Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center
• $4.5 million to UTEP for health professional education programs (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy)
• $3.14 million to El Paso Diabetes Association for diabetes education
• $1.5 million to Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
• $1.25 million for Medical Student Loan Program

Grants range from approximately $24,000 to $5 million, with typical application windows of 60-90 days.

Priority Areas

Healthy Living

• Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL)
• Tobacco Control and Alcohol Prevention
• Programs promoting nutrition, physical activity, and reduced smoking/vaping
• Youth development opportunities

Disease Prevention and Management

• Diabetes education, support, and prevention
• Mental and emotional well-being
• Behavioral health consortium initiatives
• Capacity and systems improvement

Health Leadership

• REALIZE Executive and REALIZE Board leadership development programs
• Strategic initiatives supporting health infrastructure (dental schools, cancer care facilities)
• Building nonprofit organizational capacity
• Community health workforce development

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited grant applications (all proposals must be solicited via RFP)
• Brick and mortar projects (unless special board approval obtained)
• Direct payment for illness treatment services
• Grants to individuals

Governance and Leadership

2026 Board of Directors

Board Leadership:

• Carlos Fernandez (Chair) - Managing Director, Merrill Lynch (board member since 2019)
• Dr. Linda Lawson (Vice Chair) - Retired Chief Nursing Officer, The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus (board member since 2020)

Board Members: Art Garza (Del Sol Medical Center), John Hummer (Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine), Julie Kallman (Community Advocate), Matt Kerr (Lauterbach, Borschow & Company), Justin Lane (HarbourVest Partners), Jeanne Lipson (Sunflower Bank), Ronnie Lowenfield (Casa Auto Group), Amy Marcus (Community Advocate), Leila Melendez (Workforce Solutions Borderplex), Dr. Kristina Mena (UT Health Houston School of Public Health), Dr. Maria Luby Prodanovic-Nutis (Sun City Kidz Clinic), Socorro Rodriguez (WestStar Bank), Mylena Walker (Cardinal Health)

The 11-member volunteer board meets bi-monthly and oversees strategic planning, grantmaking, investments, finances, audits, communications, and governance through committees.

Key Staff

• Tracy J. Yellen - Chief Executive Officer
• Michael Kelly - Vice President Programs
• Marcela Garcia - Vice President Finance
• Adriana Candelaria - Director of Communications
• Jana Renner - Senior Program Officer
• Program Officers: Sandra Day, Audrey Garcia
• 13-member staff total

Leadership Quote: Tracy Yellen on the foundation's approach: "It's important to the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to support efforts to grow the health professionals available to provide high-quality care for the residents of our region. It's also essential to develop comprehensive cancer resources to ensure access to the best possible care, right here at home."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does NOT accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are awarded through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

To Access Funding Opportunities:

1. Sign up for the RFP mailing list at pdnhf.org
2. Monitor foundation website for RFP announcements
3. Follow @PdNFoundation on social media for updates
4. Subscribe to the Health Foundation Newsletter

When RFPs Are Released:

• Review specific Letter of Intent (LOI) instructions carefully
• Each RFP has unique criteria and requirements
• Application windows typically 60-90 days from announcement
• Submit LOI through online grant system

Eligibility:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofits, 509(a)(1), 509(a)(3) organizations
• Units of government
• Public schools and charter school districts
• Nonprofit schools within the Paso del Norte region
• International organizations designated by executive order
• Exempt operating foundations

Geographic Requirement: Organizations must serve the Paso del Norte region (Luna, Doña Ana, Otero Counties in NM; El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in TX; Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico)

Pre-Application Support:

• Program officers available to discuss partnership ideas
• Pre-recorded virtual sessions to assist with LOI and proposal preparation
• Technical support workshops specific to each funding opportunity
• Contact Vice President of Programs with questions before submission

Required Documentation (varies by RFP):

• Clear plans for community outreach or education services
• Appropriate budget using foundation's template
• Evidence of organizational capacity
• Documentation of leadership support
• Partnership documentation (letters of support, MOAs)

Decision Timeline

• Proposal Deadline: Typically 60-90 days after RFP announcement
• Review Period: Varies by program
• Multi-year Grants: Possible but evaluated annually
• Notification: Through online grant system and direct communication

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data: 43 awards from available funding (compared to 110 in 2022, 96 in 2021, 110 in 2020, 133 in 2019). The foundation has funded over 300 organizations since 1996, demonstrating selective but sustained grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can request notification of future RFPs through the foundation website. The foundation builds ongoing relationships with grantees, with technical support and development opportunities available for funded organizations. No specific waiting period mentioned for reapplication to future RFPs.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities:

1. Alignment with Current RFP Focus: Each funding cycle targets specific initiatives (Diabetes, Healthy Kids, Think.Change, Behavioral Health). Proposals must directly address the announced priority.

2. Regional Impact: The foundation values binational, cross-border collaboration. Recent funded projects demonstrate work across El Paso, Las Cruces, and Ciudad Juárez.

3. Capacity Building: The foundation looks for "evidence showing applicant capacity is sufficient to support the grant" and "documentation of political will from executive or governing leadership."

4. Partnership Approach: Strong applications include "documentation of partnerships such as letters of support or memoranda of agreements." The foundation values collaborative approaches.

5. Prevention and Education Focus: As Tracy Yellen stated regarding the dental school investment: "It will train our future workforce; and it will ultimately help El Paso control its own destiny." The foundation prioritizes long-term capacity building over direct treatment.

6. Clear Service Delivery Plans: Foundation seeks "clear plans for community outreach or education services" with "robust supervision and outreach strategy."

7. Budget Appropriateness: Use the foundation's budget template and ensure costs align with proposed activities.

Recent Funding Patterns:

• Youth health and development programs
• Diabetes prevention and education (major 2025-2027 initiative)
• Mental health workforce training
• Health professional education and retention
• Community health worker programs
• Trail development and active living infrastructure

Advice from Foundation Materials:

• Thoroughly review each RFP for specific application criteria
• Participate in RFP-specific workshops and virtual preparation sessions
• Contact program officers early to discuss partnership ideas
• Review previously awarded grants (available on website) to understand funding patterns
• Demonstrate organizational readiness and leadership support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No unsolicited applications accepted - You must wait for RFP announcements and respond to specific calls for proposals within the 60-90 day window
• Get on their mailing list immediately - This is the only way to know when funding opportunities arise; sign up at pdnhf.org
• Strategic relationship building matters - While you can't submit unsolicited proposals, attend foundation-hosted workshops, engage with program officers during open RFP periods, and participate in foundation-supported leadership programs like REALIZE
• Geographic specificity is critical - Your organization must serve the defined Paso del Norte region (specific counties in TX, NM, and Ciudad Juárez)
• Prevention and education over treatment - The foundation explicitly excludes direct payment for care; focus on upstream prevention, education, capacity building, and systems change
• Think long-term and collaborative - Recent large grants ($3-5 million) support infrastructure and workforce development; demonstrate how your work builds lasting regional capacity
• Study the funding calendar - With only 3-4 major RFPs per year in predictable areas (Diabetes, Healthy Kids, Behavioral Health, Think.Change), plan your organizational calendar around these opportunities

References

1. Paso del Norte Health Foundation Official Website - https://pdnhf.org (accessed January 2026)
2. "For Grantseekers" - https://pdnhf.org/grants-and-grantseekers/for-grantseekers (accessed January 2026)
3. "FAQs" - https://pdnhf.org/grants-and-grantseekers/faqs (accessed January 2026)
4. "Board & Staff" - https://pdnhf.org/about/board-and-staff (accessed January 2026)
5. "Our History" - https://pdnhf.org/about/our-history (accessed January 2026)
6. "Awarded Grants" - https://pdnhf.org/grants-and-grantseekers/awarded-grants (accessed January 2026)
7. GuideStar Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/74-1143071 (accessed January 2026)
8. "Paso del Norte Health Foundation announces 2026 board," El Paso Inc., 2025
9. "The power of policy: Promoting health and preventing disease in the Paso del Norte region," El Paso Matters, January 9, 2025
10. "Celebrating 30 years of transforming health in the Paso del Norte region," El Paso Matters, February 19, 2025
11. "Paso del Norte Health Foundation Announces $5 Million Grant to Texas Tech Health El Paso," Tech Talk: TTUHSC El Paso News and Events, September 2024
12. Strategic Plan and Annual Reports - https://pdnhf.org/about/strategic-plan-and-annual-reports (accessed January 2026)