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MultiCare Foundations

Annual Giving
$0.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
5mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $800,000 (Community Partnership Fund, 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-5 months (applications close June 30, awards announced November)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Washington state (Puget Sound, Inland Northwest, Yakima Valley regions) and Kootenai County, Idaho

Contact Details

Website: www.multicare.org/about/community/partnership-fund/

Email: communityfund@multicare.org

General Foundation Contact: foundation@multicare.org | 253-403-1264

Foundation Office Address: Tacoma, WA

Overview

MultiCare Foundations (established 1991) is the umbrella organization for six regional foundations that support MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit health care organization serving communities in Washington state since 1882. The foundations include Mary Bridge Children's Foundation, MultiCare Behavioral Health Foundation, MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation, MultiCare Health Foundation, MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation, and MultiCare South King Health Foundation. In 2023, MultiCare Foundations distributed $4.8 million in grants. While the foundations primarily support MultiCare Health System's hospitals, clinics, and programs, they also award grants to external nonprofit organizations through the Community Partnership Fund. Since 2014, the Community Partnership Fund has distributed more than $6 million to hundreds of community organizations. In 2024, the fund awarded $800,000 to over 60 nonprofit organizations across Washington state, focusing on behavioral health, housing and homelessness, food insecurity, health care access, and children's needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Partnership Fund: $5,000 - $25,000 per award

  • Annual application cycle (April 1 - June 30)
  • One-year grant cycle only
  • Organizations may reapply annually
  • Awards announced in November
  • 53-60+ organizations funded annually statewide

Priority Areas

Social Determinants of Health Focus:

  • Behavioral health and mental health services
  • Housing and homelessness initiatives
  • Food insecurity and nutrition programs
  • Healthcare access and oral health
  • Children's health and services
  • Education programs
  • Economic well-being initiatives
  • Arts programs that enhance community health and vitality

Preference Given To:

  • Projects that support MultiCare's community health priorities as outlined in their Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Programs that address social determinants of health and environmental conditions contributing to health disparities
  • Initiatives providing significant, measurable community impact
  • Projects that align with MultiCare's mission, vision, and values

Geographic Service Areas:

  • Puget Sound Region: King, Kitsap, Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis counties
  • Inland Northwest Region: Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln, Grant, Adams, Whitman counties in Washington; Kootenai County in Idaho
  • Yakima Valley Region: Yakima County

What They Don't Fund

  • Building or remodeling projects (capital campaigns)
  • Event sponsorships (separate sponsorship request process available)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) designation
  • Projects outside their defined geographic service areas

Governance and Leadership

MultiCare Foundations operates under the broader MultiCare Health System governance structure. The Community Partnership Fund uses regional review committees of community leaders rather than a single dedicated board. Applications are reviewed by committees that include leaders from MultiCare hospitals and community representatives.

Mission: "Partnering for healing and a healthy future"

Values: Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, Excellence, Collaboration, Kindness, and Joy guide all funding decisions and community partnerships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Online grant portal only

Application Period: April 1 - June 30 (annually)

Application Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation required
  • Must serve one of the eligible counties
  • Project must be for ongoing programs and services (not events or capital projects)
  • Previous grantees must submit all required reports before applying

Multiple Applications: Organizations may submit multiple proposals from the same organization and can apply in all three regions for projects and programs within each region.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Opens: April 1
  • Application Deadline: June 30
  • Awards Announced: November (approximately 4-5 months after deadline)
  • Grant Period: One year from award date
  • Reporting Requirements: Six-month and one-year reports required

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, in 2024 approximately 53-60+ organizations were funded from an undisclosed number of applicants. The fund distributed $800,000 across multiple regions.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply for funding each year. All grants are for a one-year grant cycle only. Previously funded organizations must submit required reports with a due date by or before their new application submission date to be eligible for the current grant cycle. There is no stated waiting period for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Community Health Needs Assessment: MultiCare conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years in collaboration with public health departments (Public Health Seattle & King County, Spokane Regional Health District, Thurston County Public Health, and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department). Applications that directly address priorities identified in these assessments receive preference.

Focus on Social Determinants of Health: MultiCare explicitly prioritizes programs that address "environmental conditions that contribute to health disparities and inequities" rather than just direct healthcare services.

Measurable Community Impact: Applications must demonstrate how they will provide "significant, measurable community impact." Include specific metrics and outcomes.

Recent Funded Project Examples (2022-2024):

  • Child abuse medical exams and mental health crisis intervention services
  • Dental voucher programs for uninsured patients at community health clinics
  • Foster care services providing safety, housing, mental health counseling, and dental care
  • School-based mental health counselors and art therapists for children with behavioral needs
  • OB addiction units at hospitals
  • Oncology programs and caregiver support services
  • Food bank and nutrition programs addressing food insecurity

Values Alignment: Applications should reflect MultiCare's core values of Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, Excellence, Collaboration, Kindness, and Joy.

Regional Committees: Understanding that applications are reviewed by regional committees of hospital and community leaders can help tailor proposals to regional priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is Critical: Mark your calendar for the April 1 - June 30 application window; late applications are not accepted
  • Study the Community Health Needs Assessment: Review MultiCare's most recent CHNA for your region (available at multicare.org/about/community/needs-assessment/) to align your proposal with documented community priorities
  • Emphasize Social Determinants: Frame your program in terms of addressing root causes like housing, food security, economic stability, or access to care rather than just symptoms
  • Show Measurable Impact: Include specific metrics, evaluation plans, and expected outcomes in your proposal
  • Consider Regional Opportunities: If your organization operates across multiple regions, you may submit separate applications for each region
  • Previous Funding Doesn't Exclude You: Organizations can apply annually, but ensure all reports are submitted on time if previously funded
  • Think Beyond Healthcare: While this is a health system foundation, they fund arts, education, and economic programs that enhance community health and vitality

References

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