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Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Annual Giving
$208.0M
Grant Range
$75K - $5.0M
Decision Time
7mo
Success Rate
33%

Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $208 million (2024-2025)
  • Success Rate: ~33% invited to full application from LOI stage
  • Decision Time: 6-8 months (LOI in March-April, decisions October-December)
  • Grant Range: $75,000 minimum consideration (typical grants $250,000+, special programs up to $5 million)
  • Geographic Focus: New York State only

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cabrinihealth.org

Grants Support Email: grantsupport@cabrinihealth.org

Phone: Contact through website or email for specific program inquiries

Location: New York, NY

Overview

Mother Cabrini Health Foundation was established in 2018 following the sale of Fidelis Care to Centene for $3.75 billion. The Foundation was funded with $3.2 billion from the sale and began awarding grants in 2019. Named for Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first naturalized American citizen to be canonized as a saint, the Foundation honors her legacy of serving poor immigrants and children in New York. With total assets of approximately $3.7 billion, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is among the 25 wealthiest charitable foundations in the United States and the largest health foundation focused exclusively on New York State. By early 2025, the Foundation surpassed $1 billion in total grantmaking, having awarded over 3,000 grants to nonprofit organizations across New York. The Foundation's mission is to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster health outcomes of diverse communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Grant Programs (Annual cycle with LOI submission March-April, decisions October-December):

  • Access to Healthcare: Supporting programs that advance comprehensive access to healthcare, especially for low-income and vulnerable populations. Focuses on ensuring all New Yorkers can access needed health services without financial hardship.

  • Basic Needs: Funding for housing services (homelessness prevention, housing rehabilitation, supportive and transitional housing) and food security interventions (access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food and nutrition education for those experiencing food insecurity or diet-related health conditions).

  • Healthcare Workforce: Supporting development of a skilled and diverse healthcare workforce across New York State.

  • Mental & Behavioral Health: Supporting mental health services statewide, with particular focus on youth and older adults.

  • General Fund: For projects that don't fit within core programs but advance the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers.

Special Initiatives:

  • Nursing Initiative: $51 million program supporting 13 safety net hospitals with $1-5 million grants over five years to pursue American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition or Pathway to Excellence status.

Grant Amounts: Foundation generally considers proposals of $75,000 or greater. Approximately 50% of grants awarded are $250,000 or more. Grants typically awarded for up to 12-month periods.

Priority Populations

The Foundation prioritizes eight populations across all program areas:

  • Immigrants and refugees
  • Justice-involved individuals
  • Low-income individuals and families
  • Older adults
  • People with disabilities
  • Veterans
  • Young children, pregnant women, and new parents
  • Youth and young adults

What They Fund

  • Direct service programs (primary focus)
  • Staff salaries for program-dedicated personnel (excluding executive-level unless integrally involved in program operations)
  • Capital projects on limited basis (renovations, equipment, vehicles)
  • Indirect costs up to 15% of total request
  • Full project budgets or portions thereof

What They Don't Fund

  • Research (generally not funded)
  • Advocacy work
  • Executive-level salaries (except when executive is integrally involved in program operations)
  • Retroactive reimbursement for previously incurred expenses
  • Projects that do not adhere to ethical principles, tenets, and teachings of the Roman Catholic Faith

Important Note: Applicant organizations do not need to be Catholic to apply, but all funded projects must adhere to Catholic teachings and principles.

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Rev. Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, former vicar general and chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York

Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President of External Engagement: Channon Lucas

Board of Trustees: Comprised of healthcare experts, business leaders, and nonprofit executives, including Board Director Marcos Crespo

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Application Process:

  1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI):

    • Submit during open call window (March 31 - April 24 for 2025 cycle)
    • Organizations may submit multiple LOIs, each requiring separate submission
    • Each LOI should describe a distinct project or program
    • Foundation receives more than 1,000 LOIs annually

  2. Full Proposal:

    • Foundation invites approximately one-third of LOI submissions to full application (based on historical data)
    • Invitations sent in June
    • Organizations invited to apply after submitting multiple LOIs typically submit one full proposal (limited exceptions exist)

Technical Requirements:

  • All applications must be submitted through online application system
  • Deadline cutoff: 11:59 PM ET on specified dates
  • Technical questions: grantsupport@cabrinihealth.org

Eligibility:

  • Domestic section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations in good standing
  • Specifically domestic public charities (Internal Revenue Code section 509(a)(1) or (2)) or exempt operating foundations
  • Must serve primarily New York State residents
  • Both local/regional and statewide initiatives considered
  • Organizations with annual budgets under $750,000 eligible (considered case-by-case)
  • Fiscally sponsored nonprofits may apply with fiscal sponsor as grantee
  • Organizations exempt from New York State audit requirements may apply with explanation letter

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Submission: March 31 - April 24 (annual cycle)
  • Full Application Invitations: June
  • Grant Decisions: October and December
  • Grant Start Dates: Typically October or January following award

Total Timeline: Approximately 6-8 months from LOI submission to grant decision notification

Success Rates

Foundation receives more than 1,000 LOIs through open call and typically invites approximately one-third (~33%) to submit full applications. Final award rate after full application review is lower, though specific figures not published.

Reapplication Policy

  • Renewal Applications: Projects with currently active MCHF grants are considered "renewals." Organizations without active funding (even if previously supported) submit "new applications."
  • Renewal Not Guaranteed: "Renewal grants are not assured, and the Foundation is always open to new approaches and diverse organizations throughout New York that have not previously received funding."
  • No Feedback Policy: "We will not generally be able to respond to requests for feedback" on denied applications
  • Organizations may reapply in subsequent grant cycles
  • No stated waiting period for unsuccessful applicants

Application Success Factors

Organizational Capacity Requirements:

  • Demonstrate sound financial management and governance practices
  • Show capability to effectively carry out proposed programs, activities, or projects
  • Demonstrate capacity to work with the populations to be served by the project

Understanding Catholic Mission: While applicant organizations do not need to be Catholic, the Foundation advises organizations to "familiarize themselves with Catholic teachings to better understand this crucial component of the Cabrini Foundation's grant application evaluation." All grants must adhere to the ethical principles, tenets, and teachings of the Roman Catholic Faith.

Program Selection Strategy:

  • Choose primary program fit carefully at LOI stage
  • For Mental & Behavioral Health applications: projects with health overlaps must have primary health focus
  • Select one primary priority population at LOI stage; describe additional populations served in narrative

Budget Considerations:

  • Foundation will consider funding full project budget or portion thereof
  • Include indirect costs up to 15% of total request
  • Organizations unable to expend funds during grant period are eligible for no-cost extensions

Recent Funding Patterns:

The Foundation has demonstrated significant investment in specific areas:

  • Mental Health Focus: 40% year-over-year increase in mental health funding, with majority supporting youth programs
  • Healthcare Workforce: 57% increase in workforce development funding
  • Immigrant Integration: $5.4 million towards integrating immigrants into healthcare workforce
  • Rural Health: Specific focus on mental health of older adults in rural areas
  • Maternal Health: Dedicated funding stream for maternal health initiatives
  • Childhood Hunger: Targeted investments in addressing food insecurity for children

Funded Project Examples (2024):

  • Lifespan of Greater Rochester's recovery and wellness programs for older adults with substance abuse disorders in Finger Lakes Region
  • Yeshiva University's assessment of Self-help's Virtual Senior Center reducing social isolation among homebound older adults
  • St. Peter's Hospital (Albany) improvements to geropsychiatry and behavioral health units
  • Kids in Need of Defense providing legal and social services to unaccompanied migrant children
  • Albany Housing Coalition's case management connecting homeless and at-risk veterans with supportive housing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Scale Matters: With over $200 million in annual giving and minimum grants of $75,000, this funder seeks significant projects with demonstrable impact. Half of grants awarded are $250,000 or more.

  • Direct Services Priority: Foundation explicitly prioritizes direct service programs over advocacy, research, or indirect approaches. Successful applications clearly articulate direct health services or social determinants interventions.

  • Catholic Alignment Non-Negotiable: While your organization need not be Catholic, all funded projects must adhere to Catholic teachings. Familiarize yourself with these principles and ensure your proposed program aligns before applying.

  • Competitive but Accessible: With ~1,000 LOIs annually and ~33% invited to full application, the initial stage is highly competitive. However, the Foundation welcomes new organizations and diverse approaches, stating renewal grants are not assured.

  • Strategic Population Focus: Select one of eight priority populations as your primary focus at LOI stage. Applications serving multiple populations should still identify clear primary beneficiary group.

  • Timeline Planning Critical: The 6-8 month process from LOI to decision requires advance planning. Submit LOI in March-April for potential October-December awards and subsequent year implementation.

  • Capacity Documentation Essential: Demonstrate sound financial management, governance, and operational capacity to work with vulnerable populations. This is evaluated alongside programmatic merit.

References

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