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San Angelo Health Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.8M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,178,269
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly decisions (March, June, September, December)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,750,000
  • Average Grant: $83,639
  • Geographic Focus: San Angelo and Concho Valley, Texas

Contact Details

Website: https://www.sahfoundation.org/

Phone: (325) 486-0185

Address: 426 West Avenue B, San Angelo, TX 76903

Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=sahf

Overview

Established in 1995 with $44 million, the San Angelo Health Foundation has awarded over $65 million to 236 organizations supporting 875 community projects over nearly three decades. With assets of $58 million, the foundation currently distributes approximately $2.2 million annually through 27 grants. The foundation's mission is "to enhance the quality of life for the people of the San Angelo area," with a particular focus on serving the underserved, neediest populations in the Concho Valley. While community health in its broadest form remains the primary focus, the foundation supports a wide variety of community projects. The foundation's origin and history lead the trustees to make health issues and related programs a high priority, though grants extend to education, arts, social services, and environmental initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The San Angelo Health Foundation operates a single rolling grant program with quarterly decision-making cycles:

  • Community Health Grants: $1,000 - $1,750,000 (average $83,639)
  • Application method: Online portal with rolling basis acceptance
  • Quarterly board decisions in March, June, September, and December

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Community health (physical and mental health)
  • Behavioral health services
  • Elder care
  • Healthcare equipment and facilities
  • Education programs
  • Emergency response services
  • Youth development
  • Arts and culture
  • Social services
  • Environmental initiatives
  • Philanthropic services

Target Population:

  • Underserved and neediest populations in the Concho Valley
  • Geographic restriction: San Angelo and Concho Valley region

Recent Grant Examples (2023-2024):

  • Hospice of San Angelo In-Hospital Hospice Unit: $500,000
  • La Esperanza Clinic renovation for medical and behavioral health clinic: $250,000-$500,000
  • San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts for Texas Cultural Resource and Collection Center: $200,000
  • Galilee Community Development Corp for warehouse purchase: $150,000
  • San Angelo Diabetes Coalition: $143,230
  • Texas Ramp Project: $30,000
  • Mental health services expansion
  • Meal delivery for elderly residents
  • Tutoring programs for children in CPS custody
  • Support for volunteer fire departments

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Political campaigns or political groups
  • Religious purposes or religious efforts
  • Past operating deficits or debts
  • Individual grants
  • Repeated project requests (no repeat funding for the same program)
  • Fundraising events or fundraisers

Governance and Leadership

Officers

  • Steve Cecil - Chair
  • Carlos Rodriguez - Vice Chair
  • Casey Barrett - Secretary
  • Jeffrey McCormick - Treasurer

Board of Trustees

  • Devin Bates
  • Valery Frank
  • Sande Vincent Harrison
  • David Lupton
  • Shane Plymell (CEO, Shannon Medical Center)
  • Joanne Rice
  • Mary Jane Steadman
  • Joe B. Wilkinson, M.D.

Advisory Trustees

  • Marilyn Aboussie
  • Mike Boyd
  • Tom Early
  • John Mark McLaughlin
  • Rob Patyrak
  • Karen Pfluger
  • T. Richey Oliver
  • F.L. "Steve" Stephens
  • Hugh Lamar Stone III

Staff

  • Deborah Watson - President
  • Sarah Negovetich - Executive Assistant

Leadership Insight

Board Chair Steve Cecil has emphasized the foundation's commitment to community impact, stating: "Each grant has a story. Each grant furthers our mission to enhance the quality of life for the people of the San Angelo area." In announcing recent grants, Cecil highlighted that awards "encompass community impact, education, mental health, health care and youth development."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method:

Timing Requirements:

  • Submit proposals a minimum of 3-4 months before funds are needed
  • Apply as early as possible to allow staff adequate time for research and evaluation

Application Process:

  1. Review eligibility requirements and application questions
  2. Complete online application through Grant Interface portal
  3. Receive email confirmation that proposal has been received
  4. Foundation staff reviews and evaluates requests
  5. Complete proposals presented to Board of Trustees for quarterly decisions
  6. Applicants notified in writing of trustees' decision

Important Restrictions:

  • The Board of Trustees does not entertain oral presentations from applicants
  • Do not contact individual trustees regarding grant proposals
  • Incomplete proposals will be held pending receipt of missing information
  • Foundation staff and trustees do not provide critiques of declined proposals or discuss reasons for denials

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Decision Schedule:

  • Final trustee decisions made in March, June, September, and December
  • Typical timeline: 3-4 months from submission to decision
  • Applicants notified by email and in writing after decisions are made
  • Funds distribution schedule negotiated with each recipient after approval

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The foundation awards approximately 27 grants annually from the applications received throughout the year. According to the chairman, the foundation partnered with 43 nonprofits to support 46 projects in a recent year, suggesting active grantmaking across diverse organizations.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. However, the foundation explicitly excludes "repeated project requests" and does not provide repeat funding for the same program. Organizations may apply for different projects, but cannot receive multiple grants for an identical ongoing program. The foundation does not provide feedback on declined proposals, stating "it is not feasible for the Foundation staff or Trustees to discuss with applicants the reasons for declining a request."

Application Success Factors

Evaluation Criteria

The foundation evaluates proposals based on six specific criteria:

  1. Need for the proposed project - Proposals must address "an identifiable current need, demand or problem" in the community that is defined and documented by the applicant organization

  2. Quality of the project plan - Demonstrate a well-thought-out approach with clear objectives

  3. Innovative and efficient use of funds - Show cost-effectiveness and creative solutions

  4. Collaborative networks - Evidence of partnerships that would "leverage and multiply the grant's impact"

  5. Potential for success and sustainable impact - Projects should show both "the potential for success as defined by the objective of the project itself" and long-term viability beyond the grant period

  6. Criticality of Foundation support - Demonstrate how essential the foundation's funding is to the project and "the importance of Foundation support to the project"

Foundation-Specific Success Factors

Health Priority: While the foundation accepts various community projects, the trustees' history leads them to prioritize health issues and related programs. Projects with health connections—whether physical health, mental health, behavioral health, or elder care—receive high priority consideration.

Geographic Alignment: Strong emphasis on serving San Angelo and the Concho Valley specifically. Projects must demonstrate local impact.

Serving the Underserved: The foundation specifically targets "the underserved, neediest populations in the Concho Valley." Applications should clearly articulate how they serve vulnerable or resource-limited populations.

Impact Documentation: Recent grants show the foundation supports substantial facility improvements, equipment purchases, and program expansions with measurable outcomes—from hospice units to clinic renovations to diabetes coalitions.

Diverse Scope: Recent awards demonstrate the foundation values projects across multiple sectors—grants have supported medical facilities, arts institutions, community development, youth programs, and emergency services, all within their health and community enhancement mission.

Collaborative Approach: The foundation values partnerships and collaborative networks that multiply impact beyond a single organization's reach.

Recent Funding Patterns

The foundation's recent awards show funding for:

  • Large capital projects ($200,000-$500,000) for facility construction and renovation
  • Healthcare infrastructure and equipment for hospitals and clinics
  • Community health programs addressing specific conditions (diabetes, mental health)
  • Services for vulnerable populations (hospice, meal delivery, disability access)
  • Youth development and education programs
  • Emergency and disaster response capacity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Submit early: Allow 3-4 months minimum before funding is needed; earlier is better to allow adequate staff research time
  • Health connections strengthen applications: While diverse projects are viable, health-related programs receive highest priority given the foundation's origin and trustee priorities
  • Document community need clearly: Applications must define and document an identifiable current need, demand, or problem with supporting evidence
  • Emphasize sustainability and collaboration: Show both how the project will succeed beyond the grant period and how partnerships will multiply impact
  • Serve the underserved: Explicitly articulate how your project serves the neediest, most vulnerable populations in the Concho Valley
  • No contact with trustees: Do not reach out to individual board members; all communication goes through foundation staff
  • One shot per project: The foundation does not provide repeat funding for the same program, so make your proposal comprehensive and consider multi-year needs
  • Quarterly planning: Time your submission to align with quarterly decision cycles (March, June, September, December) based on when you need funds

References

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