NAPCA Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 81-3012564
• Annual Revenue: $10,939,236 (2022)
• Total Assets: $2,806,880 (2022)
• Geographic Focus: National (United States)
• Grant Range: $625 - $1,000 (for conference grants); amounts vary by program
• Application Deadlines: October 1 (elementary programs) and November 1 (secondary programs) annually
• Organization Size: 14 employees, 549 volunteers
• Charity Navigator Rating: 3/4 Stars

Contact Details

Address: 2600 W Olive Ave, 5th Floor (Suite 500), Burbank, CA 91505

Phone:

• Main: (310) 361-8585
• Toll-free: (800) 799-4640

Email:

• General Support: Support@NAPCAfoundation.org
• Donations: give@napcaonline.org
• Human Resources: hr@napcaonline.org

Websites:

• Primary: https://napcafoundation.org/
• Programs: https://napcaonline.org/

Overview

The NAPCA Foundation was founded in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation based in Burbank, California. The Foundation serves as a fiscal sponsor and provides strategic leadership, administrative support, and educational services for a consortium of three institutions working together to increase diversity in healthcare and education pathways.

NAPCA's guiding mission is to "close the college and career aspirations-attainment gap" by empowering students with tools and mindsets to define their life's purpose/career path, break through barriers, and complete postsecondary education. The Foundation is particularly focused on building a diverse pipeline of future medical doctors and scientists through early outreach medical school preparation pipeline programs, targeting students as early as 4th grade who are traditionally underrepresented in medicine and from families with limited financial resources.

The organization operates with "Goal 2035"—an ambitious objective to increase the percentage of U.S. doctors and scientists who are underrepresented in the physician and healthcare workforce from the current 11% to 20% by 2035. Through multiple grant programs, the Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations nationwide that share this commitment to diversifying the physician workforce.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Medical School Early Outreach Grant Program (MSEOG) The MSEOG offers grants to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities supporting medical school pipeline programs designed to expand access to medical school education for diverse talented youth, particularly those traditionally underrepresented in medicine and from families with limited financial resources.

• Target Age Groups:
  • Elementary Students (Grades 3-5)
  • Secondary Students (Grades 6-12)
• Application Method: Annual deadlines (October 1 for elementary; November 1 for secondary)
• Focus: Early outreach medical physician preparation and exploration

2. Cultivating Diverse Physicians (CDP) Grant Partnership grants to medical school Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or medical school student organizations to plan and conduct "So You Want to Be a Medical Doctor?" conferences.

• Grant Amount: $625-$1,000 per conference
• Format: Virtual or in-person conferences
• Timing: Fall and spring semesters
• Purpose: Free early outreach medical physician exploration events to attract students from diverse backgrounds

3. Future Physician Pipeline (FPP) Grant Program Supports select students with full tuition scholarships to participate in the Medical Physician Preparation (MPP) Academy's Academic and Summer Intensive Programs.

• Target Years: 2023, 2024, and 2025
• Focus: Direct student support through established pipeline programs
• Eligibility: Through 501(c)(3) partner organizations

4. Diversifying the Physician Workforce (DPW) Grant Program Partnership model encouraging collaboration between the MPP Academy and a network of higher education partners (regionally accredited medical schools and four-year universities) to build strong physician workforce pipelines.

• Focus: Long-term institutional partnerships
• Target: Students from 4th grade through medical school
• Goal: Prepare students to succeed in pre-med coursework, medical school, and beyond

Priority Areas

• Medical school pipeline programs for students in grades 3-12
• Programs targeting students traditionally underrepresented in medicine
• Initiatives supporting students from families with limited financial resources
• Early outreach physician career exploration and preparation
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in medical education
• Programs committed to increasing physician workforce diversity
• College and career readiness services for K-12 students
• Projects that expand access to medical school education for diverse youth

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals - The Foundation does not accept applications from individuals
• Private Foundations - No grants to other private foundations
• Fiscal Agents - Organizations serving as fiscal agents are ineligible
• Government Units - Fire districts, municipalities, or similar government entities
• Service Clubs - Rotary clubs and similar service clubs, even if 501(c)(3)
• Discriminatory Organizations - Organizations that discriminate in their constitution, bylaws, or practices based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief
• Unsolicited Requests - The Foundation does not review or consider unsolicited requests for funding outside their established grant programs

Governance and Leadership

The NAPCA Foundation is led by a Board of Directors comprising leaders in business, law, medicine, psychology, counseling, and education. The Board is assisted by an International Board of Advisors, made up of leaders in communities across the world who provide advice, guidance, and resources.

The Foundation operates as a fiscal sponsor providing comprehensive administrative services to its consortium institutions, including:

• Program design and development
• Program assessment and evaluation
• Risk management
• Human and financial resources
• Payroll and accounting
• Information technology
• Website and graphic design services
• Marketing
• Organizational capacity building

Each organization within the consortium maintains its own office, students, staff, faculty, and distinctive approach to accomplishing NAPCA's shared mission and vision, while benefiting from the Foundation's centralized administrative infrastructure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Medical School Early Outreach Grant Program (MSEOG):

• Elementary Programs (Grades 3-5): Applications due October 1 annually
• Secondary Programs (Grades 6-12): Applications due November 1 annually
• Application details available at: https://napcaonline.org/mseo-grant-program/

For Letter of Inquiry (General Grant Requests):

• Organizations welcome to send a brief description of their work aligned with funding guidelines
• Important: The Foundation does not review or consider unsolicited requests for funding outside established guidelines
• Response time: 6-8 weeks for Letter of Inquiry submissions

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code
• Must demonstrate commitment to increasing physician workforce diversity
• Programs must target elementary or secondary students underrepresented in medicine
• Must have non-discrimination policies in place
• Cannot be an individual, private foundation, fiscal agent, government unit, or service club

Decision Timeline

• Letter of Inquiry Response: 6-8 weeks from submission
• Full Grant Application: Specific timelines not publicly disclosed beyond annual deadlines
• Notification methods not specified in available materials

Success Rates

Success rate data and number of applications received versus awards made are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Goal 2035: Applications should demonstrate how the proposed program contributes to increasing the percentage of underrepresented doctors and scientists from 11% to 20% by 2035. This is the Foundation's overarching strategic goal.

Early Intervention Focus: The Foundation prioritizes programs that begin as early as 4th grade. Applications should emphasize early outreach and long-term pipeline development rather than late-stage interventions.

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment: Successful applications must demonstrate concrete commitment to serving students traditionally underrepresented in medicine and from families with limited financial resources. This should go beyond general statements to include specific recruitment and support strategies.

Medical School Pipeline Connection: Programs should clearly articulate how they prepare students for the pathway to medical school, including pre-med coursework preparation, medical school readiness, and physician career exploration.

Partnership Model: The Foundation values collaboration. Applications that demonstrate partnerships between K-12 programs, colleges/universities, and medical schools align well with the Foundation's approach.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Ensure your organization has clear non-discrimination policies covering age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and religious belief.

Established 501(c)(3) Status: Your organization must be an established tax-exempt public charity. Fiscal sponsorship arrangements and government entities are not eligible.

Brief, Aligned Descriptions: When submitting a Letter of Inquiry, keep descriptions brief and clearly aligned with the Foundation's stated funding guidelines. The Foundation specifically notes they do not consider unsolicited requests outside their guidelines.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on pipeline development: NAPCA prioritizes comprehensive pipeline programs that start early (4th grade) and continue through medical school preparation, not one-time interventions.

• Emphasize diversity metrics: Be specific about the underrepresented populations your program serves and include concrete data on demographics and outcomes.

• Know the deadlines: With fixed annual deadlines (October 1 for elementary, November 1 for secondary), plan your application timeline well in advance—no rolling admissions for most programs.

• Demonstrate long-term commitment: The Foundation's Goal 2035 indicates they're looking for sustained, multi-year approaches to workforce diversification, not short-term projects.

• Understand eligibility restrictions: Many types of organizations are explicitly excluded (private foundations, fiscal agents, government units, service clubs). Confirm your eligibility before investing time in an application.

• Highlight partnership approaches: The Foundation's partnership model between their MPP Academy and higher education institutions suggests they value collaborative approaches.

• Respect application guidelines: The Foundation explicitly states they don't review unsolicited requests outside their guidelines. Don't submit applications that fall outside their stated priority areas.

References

• NAPCA Foundation Official Website: https://napcafoundation.org/ (Accessed March 2026)
• NAPCA Foundation Programs Site: https://napcaonline.org/ (Accessed March 2026)
• Medical School Early Outreach Grant Program: https://napcaonline.org/mseo-grant-program/ (Accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - NAPCA Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813012564 (Accessed March 2026)
• Charity Navigator - NAPCA Foundation: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/813012564 (Accessed March 2026)
• Cause IQ - NAPCA Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/napca-foundation,813012564/ (Accessed March 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - NAPCA Foundation: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-3012564 (Accessed March 2026)
• Cultivating Diverse Physicians Grant: https://napcafoundation.org/cultivating-diverse-physicians-cdp-grant/ (Accessed March 2026)
• Diversifying the Physician Workforce Grant: https://napcafoundation.org/diversifying-the-physician-workforce-grant-program-dpw-grant/ (Accessed March 2026)
• Future Physician Pipeline Grant Program: https://napcafoundation.org/future-physician-pipeline-grant-program/ (Accessed March 2026)