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St. David's Foundation

Annual Giving
$72.7M
Grant Range
$75K - $1.0M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
13%

St. David's Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $100 million+
  • 2023 Giving: $72.7 million in grants
  • Success Rate: ~13% overall (from initial letter of intent to award)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; typically 2-4 months from application
  • Grant Range: $75,000 - $1,000,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Five-county Central Texas region (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties)

Contact Details

Address: 1303 San Antonio Street, Suite 600, Austin, TX 78701

Phone: (512) 879-6600

Email: info@stdavidsfoundation.org

Website: https://stdavidsfoundation.org

Program Officer Contact: The foundation encourages grant seekers to reach out to program officers to determine eligibility before applying.

Overview

Founded in 1996 as a joint partner of St. David's HealthCare, St. David's Foundation has emerged as one of the largest health foundations in the United States. Through a unique partnership with St. David's HealthCare—which encompasses six hospitals, four surgery centers, and two urgent care clinics—the foundation strategically reinvests proceeds from the hospital system back into the community. With 2023 revenue of $187.7 million and grants paid totaling $72.7 million, the foundation annually invests over $100 million to advance health equity in Central Texas. After resolving a six-year dispute with the IRS over its tax-exempt status, the foundation has built its assets to approximately $410 million, making it the second-largest grantmaker in Austin, behind the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. The foundation serves a five-county region with a population of 2.3 million (as of 2020)—a 33% increase over 2010—focusing on removing barriers to good health and changing systemic conditions that perpetuate health inequities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

St. David's Foundation has shifted toward more open call funding opportunities rather than invitation-only grants. Recent 2024 programs included:

Community Driven Change: $9.1 million total

  • 23 grants awarded
  • Focused on elevating organizations that engage community members in decision-making and leadership
  • 91% of funded organizations are led by people of color

We All Benefit: $7.4 million total

  • Individual organizations: Up to $250,000
  • Funding collaboratives: Up to $1,000,000
  • 16 grants awarded
  • Focused on health insurance enrollment at nearly 100 sites

Housing + Health: $8.4 million total

  • Up to $750,000 per project
  • 18 grants awarded
  • Supporting planning and predevelopment for affordable housing
  • Expected to create over 800 new affordable housing units

Investing in Impact: $4.5 million total

  • 8 grants awarded ($75,000 - $1,000,000 range)
  • Community-directed re-granting through intermediary organizations

Response to Reductions in Federal Funding: Active in 2025

  • Supporting organizations facing unexpected losses of federal funding

Priority Areas

The foundation's strategic plan, "Pathways to Health Equity," focuses on:

  • Access to Quality Healthcare: Supporting safety-net clinics serving uninsured and underinsured populations
  • Economic Security: Workforce development, particularly in healthcare careers
  • Community Mobilization: Grassroots and community-led initiatives
  • Mental Health: Culturally responsive mental health support
  • Maternal and Child Health: Healthy births and healthy communities programs
  • Older Adults: Services and support for aging populations
  • Dental Care: Free screenings and treatments for elementary school students (5,000+ children annually through direct programs)

The foundation specifically targets "communities with the greatest health needs" using their Central Texas Health Equity Zone Map, which identifies areas based on income, employment, healthcare access, education, and historical marginalization.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions were not detailed in available sources, the foundation focuses exclusively on:

  • Organizations serving their five-county Central Texas region (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties)
  • Health equity and health-related programming
  • Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) status required)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (2024 Leadership)

  • Shannon H. Ratliff II, Chair - Policy + Design Partners, LLC
  • Ray Bonilla, Immediate Past Chair - General Counsel, The Texas A&M University System
  • Craig Hester, Vice Chair - Luther King Capital Management
  • Jim Donovan, M.D., Trustee
  • Connie I. Hsu, M.D., Trustee - Radiologist, Austin Radiological Association/Radpartners
  • Darrick L. McGill, Trustee - Primerica Advisors
  • E. Peter Pincoffs, Trustee - Marsh MMA
  • The Reverend Chuck Treadwell, Trustee - St. David's Episcopal Church

Executive Leadership

  • Edward B. Burger, Ph.D., President and CEO (Compensation: $578,066)
  • F. Xavier Peña, CPA, JD, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
  • Julian Huerta, Vice President of Community Programs
  • Regan Gruber Moffitt, JD, Vice President of Community Investments
  • Cathy Iberg, CPA, Vice President of Investments
  • Amy Vaughan, CPA, Vice President of Finance

Key Staff

  • Eric Patton, MA, Director of Grants Management
  • Ellie Haggerty Coplin, MPH, Director of Learning and Evaluation
  • Christina Felton Thompson, Director of Communications

Leadership Philosophy

President and CEO Edward Burger has articulated a clear vision centered on health equity: "Central Texas is a place that people want to live, so the challenge is how to ensure that everyone can thrive. Equitable access to healthcare and affordable housing are two of the most pressing issues facing communities across the country, and Central Texas is no different."

Burger emphasizes that "while access to high-quality medical care is essential, health is about much more than a visit to the doctor" and that "the most influential drivers of health outcomes are factors that exist outside of the healthcare system, such as poverty, unemployment, housing status, and education level."

The foundation views its strategic five-year plan as "an opportunity — through a process that deeply engages community voice — to refine and reimagine our ways of working to center equity and employ new tools to address underlying causes of health disparities in Central Texas."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

St. David's Foundation has transitioned from primarily invitation-only grantmaking to include multiple open call funding opportunities. The application process typically follows this structure:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

  • Submit initial letter of intent by specified deadline
  • Foundation reviews for eligibility and alignment with funding priorities
  • In 2024, more than 300 LOIs were received across two open calls

Stage 2: Full Application (By Invitation)

  • Approximately 38% of LOI submitters are invited to submit full applications
  • 114 organizations invited from 300+ LOIs in 2024
  • Full applications typically due 6 weeks after LOI deadline
  • Streamlined application process

Stage 3: Review and Decision

  • Foundation staff and board review applications
  • Approximately 34% of full applications result in grants
  • Overall success rate: ~13% from initial LOI to award

Contact Before Applying: The foundation is described as "an approachable funder that encourages grant seekers to reach out to its program officers to determine eligibility." Contact program officers at (512) 879-6600 or info@stdavidsfoundation.org before beginning an application.

Decision Timeline

While specific timelines vary by funding opportunity:

  • LOI review period: Typically 4-6 weeks
  • Full application to decision: Approximately 2-3 months
  • Total process: 3-4 months from initial LOI to grant award announcement

Historically, the foundation operated on two grant cycles per year with deadlines of February 15 and August 15, though the current open call structure may have different timelines for each opportunity.

Success Rates

Based on 2024 data across two open call opportunities:

  • LOI to invitation: 38% (114 invited from 300+ LOIs)
  • Application to award: 34% (39 grants from 114 applications)
  • Overall LOI to award: ~13% (39 grants from 300+ initial inquiries)

These figures represent competitive programs with multiple qualified applicants for each funding opportunity.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not detailed in available sources. The foundation states that they fund "previous, current, and new grantees," indicating openness to organizations that have not previously received funding. Contact program officers for guidance on reapplication timing and strategy.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Community-Led and Equity-Driven Approach: The foundation prioritizes organizations that:

  • Actively engage community members in decision-making and leadership
  • Are led by people of color (91% of Community Driven Change grantees met this criterion)
  • Use community insights to inform program design and implementation
  • Address systemic barriers related to poverty, structural racism, and discrimination

Geographic Targeting: Strong preference for organizations serving:

  • Communities identified in the Central Texas Health Equity Zone Map
  • Bastrop, Caldwell, and Hays counties (rural focus)
  • Eastern Williamson County
  • Areas with greatest health needs based on income, employment, healthcare access, education, and historical marginalization

Whole-Person and Systems-Change Approach: The foundation seeks organizations that:

  • Address social determinants of health beyond clinical care
  • Integrate multiple services (e.g., healthcare, housing, employment, food security)
  • Work to change systemic conditions, not just provide services
  • Focus on upstream factors that create health inequities

Strategic Alignment

Language and Terminology: Applications should use the foundation's key terms:

  • "Health equity" (not just "health" or "healthcare access")
  • "Systemic barriers" and "structural racism"
  • "Community-driven" and "community voice"
  • "Social determinants of health"
  • "Marginalized populations"

Demonstrated Community Connection: Strong applications show:

  • How community members shape organizational decisions
  • Specific examples of community engagement in program design
  • Representation of served communities in leadership and staff
  • Trust and relationships with target populations

Data and Evaluation: The foundation maintains a robust Learning and Evaluation department. Competitive applications should:

  • Include clear metrics and evaluation plans
  • Demonstrate capacity to track and report outcomes
  • Show how data informs program improvements

Recent Funding Patterns

2024 grantees included organizations working on:

  • Health insurance enrollment and benefits navigation
  • Affordable housing development
  • Intermediary re-granting through community-directed processes
  • Mental health services
  • Services for older adults
  • Workforce development in healthcare

The foundation showed particular interest in:

  • Collaborative approaches (higher grant amounts available)
  • Organizations scaling existing successful programs
  • Intermediary organizations with capacity to re-grant to smaller grassroots groups
  • Projects serving multiple needs simultaneously (e.g., housing + health)

Best Practices for Applicants

Before Applying:

  • Contact program officers to discuss project fit and eligibility
  • Review the Central Texas Health Equity Zone Map
  • Study recent grant recipients and their approaches
  • Ensure alignment with current funding opportunities (posted early each year)

In Your Application:

  • Lead with community voice and engagement strategies
  • Demonstrate understanding of systemic health barriers
  • Show how your organization reflects the community served
  • Include specific, measurable outcomes
  • Address sustainability beyond the grant period
  • For collaborative applications, clearly define roles and governance

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

  • Focusing solely on clinical services without addressing social determinants
  • Applications from organizations without strong community ties in Central Texas
  • Proposals that don't explicitly address health equity
  • Vague outcome measures or evaluation plans
  • Projects serving areas outside the five-county region

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Proactive engagement is encouraged: Contact program officers before applying to discuss fit—the foundation is described as approachable and welcomes these conversations.

  • Equity must be explicit and central: Applications must demonstrate clear commitment to health equity, community leadership, and addressing systemic barriers—this is the foundation's "North Star."

  • Community voice is non-negotiable: 91% of Community Driven Change grantees are led by people of color; applications must show authentic community engagement and leadership.

  • Think beyond healthcare services: The strongest applications address social determinants of health (housing, employment, food security) alongside or instead of clinical care.

  • Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate how your work serves the five-county region, particularly areas identified in the Health Equity Zone Map.

  • Collaborative approaches receive higher funding: Funding collaboratives can receive up to $1 million versus $250,000 for individual organizations in some programs.

  • Prepare for a two-stage process: The LOI stage is highly competitive (38% invitation rate); use it to clearly articulate alignment with foundation priorities and community connection.

References

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