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Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado

Annual Giving
$110.0M
Grant Range
$50K - $5.0M

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $110 million (2024 community investment)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $5,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Colorado (primarily Front Range)

Contact Details

For sponsorship requests: communityco@kp.org

Overview

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado (EIN: 84-0591617) is the Colorado regional division of Kaiser Permanente, established in 1969 as a health maintenance organization. In 2024, Kaiser Permanente invested nearly $110 million in community health programs, partnerships, and charitable care and coverage in Colorado. Since 2010, the organization has invested more than $1 billion back into Colorado communities. Their mission is "to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve." Their strategic approach emphasizes addressing social determinants of health alongside mental and physical health, dedicating over $5 million specifically to help connect Coloradans to essential resources like housing and nutritious food. As Colorado's largest nonprofit health plan, Kaiser Permanente was recognized for its high-quality health plans, earning national accolades from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado operates through invitation-only grantmaking informed by their triennial Community Health Needs Assessment. Recent major grant programs include:

  • Mental Health Workforce Accelerator: $4.2 million (multi-year, 2024-2025)
  • Major Institutional Partnerships: $5-10 million (e.g., Denver Health commitment)
  • Food Is Medicine Program: $1.4 million through 2026
  • Thriving Schools Initiative: $3 million over 3 years (2023-2026)
  • Education/Economic Opportunity: $1 million+ (Colorado Community College System scholarship fund)
  • Community Health Initiatives: $50,000 - $500,000 typical range
  • Small Project Grants: $50,000 - $95,000

Applications are by invitation only. There is no open application portal or fixed deadline schedule.

Priority Areas

Kaiser Permanente Colorado focuses on nine national community health priorities:

  1. Access and Affordable Health Care: Supporting safety net providers, community health centers, and expanding treatment capacity
  2. Mental Health: Workforce development, school-based mental health, diversifying mental health providers
  3. Homelessness and Housing Stability: Preventing homelessness, strengthening homeless response systems, increasing affordable housing
  4. Food Security: Food Is Medicine programs, addressing diet-related diseases, ensuring access to healthy foods
  5. Economic Opportunity: Healthcare career pathways, workforce development, scholarship programs
  6. Social Health Connections: Connecting people to essential services and resources
  7. Environmental Stewardship: Sustainable community development
  8. Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: Addressing root causes of health inequities
  9. Thriving Schools: Social-emotional well-being integration in K-12 spaces

The organization prioritizes charitable and community-based organizations addressing health disparities in low-income, underserved, and at-risk communities.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, Kaiser Permanente Colorado's invitation-only model means they do not accept unsolicited proposals for:

  • General operating support (unless aligned with strategic priorities)
  • Projects outside Colorado's service area (primarily Front Range)
  • Organizations not addressing their identified community health priorities
  • Projects without measurable health outcomes or impact on health equity

Governance and Leadership

Regional Leadership

Mike Ramseier serves as Regional President of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. Ramseier has emphasized the organization's commitment to addressing social determinants of health, stating: "At Kaiser Permanente, we know that there are a variety of factors that influence people's health and well-being." On food security initiatives, he noted: "We are excited to lead Colorado's health care community in this space and gather more industry support for Food Is Medicine. It's part of our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve."

Jeff Krawcek, MD served as President and Executive Medical Director of the Colorado Permanente Medical Group, overseeing more than 1,200 physicians, before being appointed as Executive Vice President and CEO for the KP Medical Foundation in August 2025.

National Governance

Kaiser Permanente's board structure includes a dedicated Community Health Committee chaired by Ramón Baez, who joined the boards of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in April 2016. The board also includes a Governance, Accountability, and Nominating Committee, demonstrating the organization's commitment to community health at the highest governance levels.

Gregory A. Adams serves as Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals (since December 2019).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado does not have a public application process. Grantmaking is by invitation only, meaning unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Strategic alignment with Kaiser Permanente's Community Health Needs Assessment (conducted every 3 years)
  • Identification through the organization's community health team and regional leadership
  • Existing relationships with community partners and safety net providers
  • Board discretion and strategic priorities

For sponsorships (limited to organizations serving Colorado's Front Range), organizations can email requests to communityco@kp.org.

Getting on Their Radar

Kaiser Permanente Colorado identifies potential grantees through several specific channels:

Community Health Needs Assessment Process: Kaiser Permanente conducts a comprehensive CHNA every three years, engaging with community leaders, healthcare providers, and local organizations during this assessment. Organizations that participate in or contribute to this process may be considered for future funding opportunities.

Partnership with Safety Net Providers: Kaiser Permanente has explicitly stated their commitment to building partnerships with community health centers, local health departments, and public hospitals. Organizations in these categories are more likely to be invited to apply.

Food Is Medicine Colorado Coalition: Kaiser Permanente leads the Food Is Medicine Colorado Coalition (FIMCO), which brings together healthcare and community organizations. Joining relevant coalitions or collaborative initiatives led by Kaiser Permanente can increase visibility.

Regional Health Policy and Advocacy Work: Kaiser Permanente recognizes organizations working on policy initiatives that align with their priorities. Mike Ramseier has specifically praised local leaders "building health equity through policy" and organizations working on "effective policies and programs that build vibrant, healthy communities."

Subscribe to Updates: Monitor the Colorado Community Health Grants & Sponsorships page and subscribe to updates for upcoming funding windows, particularly the 2026 cycle, as the 2025-2026 programs were under review as of late 2025.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decision timelines vary based on grant size and strategic importance. Major multi-million dollar partnerships appear to be negotiated over several months, while smaller community health initiatives may have shorter timelines once invited.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Due to the invitation-only model, traditional success rate metrics are not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. As grants are by invitation only, there is no formal reapplication process for organizations that have previously received funding or been considered. Continued alignment with Community Health Needs Assessment priorities and demonstration of measurable outcomes from previous funding may lead to renewed invitations.

Application Success Factors

Since Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado operates on an invitation-only basis, success depends on strategic positioning and demonstrated alignment with their priorities:

Data-Driven Outcomes: According to research on Kaiser Permanente's grantmaking approach, "The key to winning these grants is data, outcomes, and scalable technology that prove you can make every dollar count." Organizations should be prepared to show measurable outcome data and real patient stories backed by evidence.

Alignment with CHNA Priorities: Kaiser Permanente's grantmaking is directly informed by their triennial Community Health Needs Assessment. Successful partnerships demonstrate explicit alignment with identified community health needs: mental health workforce development, housing stability, food security, economic opportunity, and health equity.

Focus on Health Equity: Kaiser Permanente explicitly states that successful partners "fit within Kaiser Permanente's funding priorities with work that examines social determinants of health and/or addresses the elimination of health disparities and inequities." Projects must demonstrate how they address structural barriers to health in underserved communities.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Priorities:

  • Mental Health Workforce Accelerator ($4.2 million): Collaboration with National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Metropolitan State University of Denver to increase and diversify mental health workforce
  • Denver Health Partnership ($10 million commitment): Largest gift in Denver Health Foundation history, supporting safety-net healthcare access
  • Food Is Medicine Program ($1.4 million): Providing 2.4 million meals to 10,000 individuals with chronic health conditions through 2026
  • Thriving Schools Initiative ($3 million): Integrating social-emotional well-being into K-12 spaces over 3 years
  • Colorado Community College System Scholarship ($1 million): Supporting students pursuing healthcare careers

Partnership Approach: Mike Ramseier has emphasized that Kaiser Permanente works "side-by-side with local leaders and organizations, connecting people to critical services." Successful partners demonstrate collaborative capacity and ability to work within integrated health systems.

Scalability and Systems Change: Large grants support initiatives that can scale statewide or create systemic change. The Mental Health Workforce Accelerator and Food Is Medicine Coalition exemplify this approach—both aim to transform systems rather than provide one-time services.

Safety Net Provider Status: Kaiser Permanente has explicitly committed to "building partnerships with community health centers, local health departments, and public hospitals, helping these vital health care providers improve care and expand treatment capacity."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of Colorado operates entirely through invitation-only grantmaking. Building relationships and visibility through their CHNA process, coalitions, and community health initiatives is essential.

  • Data and Outcomes Are Critical: Kaiser Permanente prioritizes evidence-based interventions with measurable health outcomes. Organizations must demonstrate capacity for data collection, outcome tracking, and impact assessment.

  • Think Big and Systemic: Recent grants range from $1.4 million to $10 million for transformative initiatives. Kaiser Permanente invests in projects that create systems change—workforce development, policy advocacy, coalition-building—rather than direct services alone.

  • Health Equity Is Non-Negotiable: Every initiative must explicitly address health disparities and social determinants of health in underserved communities. Generic community health projects without an equity lens are unlikely to be considered.

  • Triennial CHNA Cycle Matters: Community Health Needs Assessments are conducted every three years and directly inform funding priorities. Engaging during the CHNA process (participating in community input sessions, contributing data) increases visibility for future funding cycles.

  • Safety Net Providers Have Strategic Advantage: Kaiser Permanente has made explicit commitments to supporting community health centers, local health departments, and public hospitals. Organizations in these categories should prioritize relationship-building with Kaiser Permanente's community health team.

  • Front Range Geographic Focus: While Kaiser Permanente serves all of Colorado, their community investment appears concentrated along the Front Range. Organizations in Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, and surrounding areas have greater access to funding opportunities.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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