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Valley Health Foundation

Annual Giving
$17.3M
Grant Range
$50K - $1.7M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Revenue: $17,304,887 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $23,886,607
  • Geographic Focus: Santa Clara County, California
  • Grant Programs: Multiple, primarily funded by County of Santa Clara and ARPA funds
  • Application Method: Varies by program - most recent programs were invitation/partnership-based or had specific eligibility windows

Contact Details

Address: 2400 Clove Drive, San Jose, CA 95128

Phone: (408) 885-5299

Email: info@vhfca.org

Website: www.valleyhealthfoundation.org

Program-Specific Contacts:

Overview

Valley Health Foundation (VHF), originally founded in 1988 as Valley Medical Center Foundation, is the fundraising and advocacy arm for Santa Clara County's public healthcare system. The organization was rebranded to Valley Health Foundation in May 2023 to reflect its expanded scope supporting four hospitals and 15 primary and specialty care health centers. With annual revenue of approximately $17.3 million (2024), VHF has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator (96% score) and is the only hospital foundation in California accredited under the Standards for Excellence Institute®: Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Under President & Executive Director Michael Elliott's leadership since January 2022, VHF has shifted to a three-pillar approach: support, innovate, and advocate for better health outcomes in Santa Clara County.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

VHF primarily serves as a grant administrator for County of Santa Clara-funded programs rather than making grants from its own endowment. Recent major programs include:

COVID-19 Nonprofit Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program: $10 million total, administered through County ARPA funds. $9 million has been awarded to local nonprofits. Two categories:

  • Resilience: Up to $150,000 for organizations addressing negative economic impacts from the pandemic
  • Sustainability: Up to $150,000 for organizational change strengthening racial equity, diversity, and inclusion

Childcare Expansion Grant Program: $15 million total for childcare providers

  • New Family Child Care Home (FCCH): Up to $50,000 for start-up operations/minor repairs
  • Small FCCH (8 or fewer children): Up to $150,000 over two years ($75,000/year)
  • Large FCCH (14 or fewer children): Up to $200,000 over two years ($100,000/year)
  • Childcare Centers: Varies based on capacity increases
  • Applications closed November 30, 2023

School-Based Wellness Center Grant Program: $13.18 million total

  • Awarded to 39 schools across 14 school districts
  • For K-6, K-7, K-8, middle schools, and high schools
  • Supports opening new wellness centers, supplementing existing services, or building operational infrastructure
  • Applications now closed

Community Lifeline Fund: Access to Healthcare: Rapid Response Innovation (RRI) Grant

  • Administered in partnership with Silicon Valley Community Foundation
  • For health providers, enrollment entities, nonprofits, schools, and other eligible organizations
  • Focus on mitigating loss of healthcare coverage for vulnerable populations
  • New applications paused as of January 1, 2026

Priority Areas

VHF's funding and support focuses on:

  • Community health initiatives serving vulnerable populations
  • Healthcare access for uninsured and underinsured residents
  • Programs addressing racial equity and health disparities
  • Support for victims of sex trafficking, former gang members, and individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Childcare infrastructure expansion
  • School-based mental health and wellness services
  • Innovation in patient care and medical technology

Priority is given to organizations:

  • Operating in or serving Santa Clara County Qualified Census Tracts
  • Serving populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
  • Demonstrating commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion
  • Reflecting the geographic and cultural diversity of Santa Clara County

What They Don't Fund

VHF does not operate as a traditional private foundation making grants from an endowment. The organization:

  • Does not accept unsolicited general grant applications
  • Primarily administers grant programs funded by Santa Clara County government
  • Focuses exclusively on Santa Clara County (no funding outside this geographic area)
  • Does not fund programs unrelated to healthcare and community health

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Michael Elliott, President & Executive Director (since January 2022): Elliott first joined the Foundation in 2007 and served as Chief Operating Officer and Acting Executive Director before his appointment. He is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley and recipient of the City Year National Leadership Award and Silicon Valley Business Journal "40 under 40" Award. Elliott emphasizes a collaborative approach: "If we are going to get through this period without significant, preventable human suffering, it will take philanthropy, the public sector, and local organizations working together."

On VHF's mission, Elliott states: "Health is a right - I strongly believe that a healthcare system that works for the most vulnerable makes all of us safer and healthier." His leadership philosophy centers on the belief that "The goal isn't to just fill gaps, but to build a health system that's better, smarter, and more sustainable."

Tom Zazueta, Chief Operating Officer: "Health is a right. We fundraise to support, innovate, and advocate for the wellness of our community."

Other Senior Leadership:

  • Darcie Kiyan, Chief Development Officer
  • Julie Surjan, Chief Events & Marketing Officer
  • Christina Salvatier, Chief Financial Officer

Board of Directors

  • Muhammed Chaudhry - Managing Partner, MAC Capital Partners
  • Brent Davidson - Director, Global Public Affairs at Intuitive
  • Mary Ann Dewan, PhD - Former County Superintendent of Schools, Santa Clara County Office of Education
  • Christina Egan - Manager, Volunteer Services at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
  • Jacob Elziq - CEO, Armature Systems
  • Christina Esquivel, CPA - Financial Systems Consultant
  • Maria Noel Fernandez - Executive Director, Working Partnerships USA
  • Glenda Garcia - Home Builder, Interior Designer
  • Dolly Goel, MD - Chief Clinical Officer, Managed Care at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
  • Aftab Jamil - Partner, BDO
  • Earl Johnson, PhD - Retired Director, Office of Family Assistance, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
  • Dennis Low, MD - Volunteer, General Internal Medicine at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
  • Ravi Naik - Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer
  • Carin Taylor - Retired, Former Chief Diversity Officer at Workday
  • Michael Van Every - President/Managing Partner, Republic Urban Properties
  • Elizabeth Slavin Weingart, MD - Retired, Volunteer
  • Kirk Westbrook - Senior Credit Officer, Bridge Bank

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Valley Health Foundation operates differently from traditional private foundations. The organization primarily administers grant programs on behalf of Santa Clara County government using federal and state funds (ARPA, Mental Health Services Act, etc.).

Current Status: Most grant programs are currently closed to new applications. The Community Lifeline Fund: Access to Healthcare paused new applications as of January 1, 2026, with previously submitted applications being considered in the order received.

Application Methods: When programs are active, VHF typically:

  • Publishes Request for Applications (RFA) documents on their website
  • Provides informational webinars for prospective applicants
  • Offers program-specific email contacts for questions
  • Sets specific application deadlines (not rolling)

Organizations interested in future funding opportunities should:

  • Monitor the VHF website for new grant program announcements
  • Contact info@vhfca.org to inquire about upcoming opportunities
  • Subscribe to updates through the County of Santa Clara channels

Decision Timeline

Timeline information varies by program. For the programs administered:

  • Applications are reviewed in the order received or after a specific deadline
  • Decisions are made in partnership with Santa Clara County officials
  • Award notifications have varied by program

Reapplication Policy

For the COVID-19 Nonprofit Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program, unsuccessful applicants were permitted to reapply in subsequent funding rounds. Specific reapplication policies vary by program and should be confirmed in the individual RFA documents.

Application Success Factors

Valley Health Foundation's grant programs emphasize:

Geographic and Equity Focus: Priority is consistently given to organizations serving Santa Clara County Qualified Census Tracts and communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Applications should clearly demonstrate service to vulnerable populations and underserved geographic areas.

Racial Equity Commitment: The foundation requires that applicants "demonstrate their commitment to advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion within their business and educational programming" and "must offer services to all children of Santa Clara County, regardless of sex, race/ethnicity, color, national origin, or disability." Applications should explicitly address DEI practices and outcomes.

Measurable Impact on Capacity: For capacity-building grants (childcare, wellness centers), successful applications show concrete plans to increase service capacity with specific numbers. The YMCA of Silicon Valley received $1,749,800 by demonstrating how they would expand childcare services through facility renovation and a new center launch.

Partnership with Public Systems: VHF exists to support the public healthcare and social service infrastructure. Organizations demonstrating collaboration with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, or county health/education agencies may have stronger alignment.

Sustainability Planning: Michael Elliott emphasizes building systems that are "better, smarter, and more sustainable" rather than just filling funding gaps. Applications should show long-term thinking and how grant funds will create lasting change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a traditional funder: VHF administers grant programs on behalf of Santa Clara County government rather than making grants from its own endowment; opportunities arise when VHF is contracted to manage county or state-funded initiatives
  • Limited public application opportunities: Most programs are targeted to specific eligible sectors (childcare providers, school districts, healthcare providers) rather than being open to general nonprofit applications
  • Geographic restriction: All funding is restricted to Santa Clara County with priority for Qualified Census Tracts
  • Equity is non-negotiable: Every recent grant program has included explicit racial equity criteria; applications must demonstrate commitment to DEI and serving disproportionately impacted communities
  • Monitor announcements closely: With fixed application deadlines and limited funding windows, organizations must watch for new RFA releases
  • Build relationships proactively: While unsolicited applications aren't accepted, organizations working in healthcare access, childcare, or school wellness should maintain contact with VHF to learn about upcoming programs early
  • Partnership potential: Organizations may benefit from exploring how they can support the four hospitals and 15 health centers that VHF serves

References

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