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Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of The Northwest

Grant Range
$4K - $0.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of The Northwest

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly specified for Northwest region (Kaiser Permanente organization-wide invested $3.1 billion in community health in 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only grant process)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (for sponsorships)
  • Grant Range: $3,500 - $200,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Oregon (11 counties) and Southwest Washington (4 counties)

Contact Details

Website: https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/expertise-and-impact/healthy-communities/communities-we-serve/northwest-community/our-impact/grants-and-sponsorships

Email: kaiser-permanente-events@kp.org (Oregon and Southwest Washington inquiries only)

Service Area: Clackamas, Columbia, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill counties in Oregon; Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties in Washington

Overview

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of The Northwest (EIN: 93-0798039) is the regional health plan entity of Kaiser Permanente serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. As part of the larger Kaiser Permanente integrated healthcare system, the organization makes community benefit investments aligned with its mission to promote mental, physical, and social well-being. The organization conducts Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) every three years in partnership with the Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative, which includes 15 hospitals, 4 local public health departments, and 2 coordinated care organizations. These assessments drive strategic grantmaking priorities, with recent focus on housing affordability, homelessness prevention, and addressing social determinants of health including structural racism and poverty. Kaiser Permanente Northwest partners with more than 150 local community organizations annually through various funding mechanisms including invitation-only grants, employee volunteer grants, sponsorships, and the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Invitation-Only Grants: Grant proposals are accepted on an invitation-only basis with no unsolicited proposals accepted. Grantmaking programs align with local and national Community Health priorities identified through the CHNA process.

Kaiser Permanente Community Fund (KPCF): Established in 2004 with a $28 million initial investment by Kaiser Permanente, this fund (managed through Northwest Health Foundation) has awarded over $25 million to more than 189 organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The fund concluded its grantmaking in 2020 after investing approximately $32 million total. Historical grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $200,000, with annual distributions of $1.9 million to $2.5 million to 10-19 organizations per cycle.

KP Gives — Volunteer Donation Program: Limited funding program supporting select nonprofits where Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians volunteer. Maximum donation request: $3,500. Proposals reviewed once annually with August 15 submission deadline.

Sponsorships: Event sponsorship opportunities available by invitation only. Proposals must be submitted at least 60 days before event date. Decision timeline: 8-12 weeks from event date.

Surplus Equipment Donations: In-kind donations of surplus medical equipment available to any qualified tax-exempt organization through open application.

Priority Areas

Based on the 2022 CHNA, Kaiser Permanente Northwest has identified the following priorities through 2025:

  • Housing: Affordable, safe, and stable housing; preventing homelessness; strengthening homeless systems of care; improving care coordination
  • Health Equity: Addressing structural racism and poverty as root causes of health disparities
  • Social Determinants of Health: Access to healthcare, nutritious food, affordable housing, and economic opportunity
  • Community Health Improvement: Preventive care, mental health services, chronic disease management

The organization emphasizes addressing "upstream" or underlying factors that impact community health rather than just treating symptoms.

What They Don't Fund

Eligibility Restrictions:

  • Organizations outside Kaiser Permanente Northwest's service area (11 Oregon counties and 4 Washington counties)
  • Organizations that discriminate based on sex, age, economic status, educational background, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status
  • For-profit organizations (must be nonprofits, government entities, or academic institutions)

Governance and Leadership

Regional President: Wendy Watson was appointed president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of the Northwest in February 2024. Watson is a 32-year veteran of Kaiser Permanente Northwest, serving most recently as chief operating officer before her appointment.

Director of Regional Strategy: Jeff Collins directs the regional strategy for the Northwest, focusing on expanding services and improving access to care. Collins has launched community health initiatives that increased preventive screening rates by 15%.

Governance Structure: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Northwest operates under a Board of Directors that oversees the organization's strategic direction and community benefit activities. The organization is part of the larger Kaiser Permanente system, which maintains both national leadership and regional autonomy for community-focused initiatives.

Collaborative Partnerships: The CHNA process is conducted through the Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative, a public-private partnership that demonstrates the organization's commitment to transparent, rigorous, and collaborative community health improvement.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Of The Northwest does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Grant funding is provided on an invitation-only basis.

Invitation-Only Process: Organizations, programs, or projects that fit well with community health goals may receive a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or invitation to apply for funding. Beginning in 2019, grants are made to pre-identified organizations through a competitive RFP process.

Strategic Selection: Kaiser Permanente strategically selects potential grant recipients based on their dedication to improving health and advancing equity by addressing root causes of health disparities. Selection is informed by the Community Health Needs Assessments conducted every three years.

KP Gives Volunteer Donation Program: This is the only program with a regular open application period. Nonprofits where Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians volunteer may apply during the designated submission period (deadline: August 15 annually). Online application details available at the program's dedicated page.

Sponsorships: Accepted by invitation only. Organizations must submit proposals at least 60 days before the event date to kaiser-permanente-events@kp.org.

Getting on Their Radar

Participate in Community Health Collaborative: Kaiser Permanente Northwest conducts its CHNA process in association with the Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative, which includes 15 hospitals, 4 local public health departments, and 2 coordinated care organizations in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington counties (Oregon), and Clark County (Washington). Organizations embedded in this collaborative network may have better visibility.

Align with CHNA Priorities: Review publicly available CHNA reports at https://www.kp.org/chna to understand current priority health needs. Organizations addressing these priorities—particularly housing, health equity, and social determinants of health—are more likely to be identified for funding opportunities.

Employee Volunteer Connection: The KP Gives program provides a concrete pathway for organizations to access funding by engaging Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians as volunteers. Building these relationships can lead to funding opportunities up to $3,500.

Demonstrate Deep Community Embeddedness: Kaiser Permanente Northwest partners with more than 150 local community organizations annually. They look for organizations "deeply embedded in the mission of community health" that serve underserved populations and address health inequities.

Decision Timeline

Sponsorships: Decision communicated within 8-12 weeks from the event date.

KP Gives Program: Proposals reviewed once annually after August 15 deadline. Decision timeline not publicly specified.

Invitation-Only Grants: Timeline varies based on specific RFP process. Not publicly specified.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of most grant programs. Organizations receive funding invitations based on strategic alignment with CHNA priorities rather than through open competitive application.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the invitation-only structure, reapplication would depend on receiving subsequent invitations to apply for funding.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment with CHNA: Organizations must demonstrate clear alignment with priorities identified in Kaiser Permanente Northwest's Community Health Needs Assessment. The organization emphasizes that "grantmaking programs align with local and national Community Health priorities and strategies to meet the health needs of the communities they serve."

Focus on Root Causes: Kaiser Permanente strategically selects grant recipients for their dedication to "addressing the root causes of health disparities, such as access to health care, nutritious food, affordable housing, and economic opportunity." Applications should demonstrate upstream interventions rather than symptom treatment.

Health Equity Commitment: The CHNA process is "driven by a commitment to improve health equity." Organizations must show how their work addresses structural racism, poverty, and lack of access to health-related resources affecting underserved communities.

Geographic Service Area: Must operate within Kaiser Permanente Northwest's 15-county service area (11 Oregon counties and 4 Southwest Washington counties). Regional impact and community embeddedness are key factors.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Organizations "must not discriminate based on sex, age, economic status, educational background, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status."

Partnership Capacity: Kaiser Permanente Northwest seeks to "cultivate thoughtful partnerships with local organizations" that can demonstrate long-term community health impact. The organization partners with more than 150 organizations annually, suggesting they value ongoing collaborative relationships.

Measurable Community Health Outcomes: Given that regional leadership has "launched community health initiatives that increased preventive screening rates by 15%," organizations should be prepared to demonstrate measurable health outcomes and impact metrics.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: Do not submit unsolicited proposals; focus instead on building visibility through the Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative, employee volunteer engagement, or alignment with published CHNA priorities
  • CHNA is the roadmap: Study the publicly available Community Health Needs Assessment reports to understand current funding priorities—housing, health equity, and social determinants of health are current focal areas through 2025
  • Think upstream: Kaiser Permanente Northwest invests in addressing root causes of health disparities, not just symptoms; frame your work around structural solutions to poverty, racism, and resource access
  • Geographic precision matters: Ensure your organization operates within the 15-county service area (11 Oregon, 4 SW Washington counties) and can demonstrate deep community embeddedness
  • Employee volunteer pathway: The KP Gives program ($3,500 max) offers the only regular open application opportunity; recruiting Kaiser Permanente employees/physicians as volunteers can create a funding pathway
  • Partnership orientation: With 150+ annual partnerships, Kaiser Permanente values collaborative, long-term relationships over transactional grants; position your organization as a strategic partner in community health improvement
  • Non-discrimination compliance: Ensure your organization's policies explicitly prohibit discrimination across all protected characteristics listed in their eligibility requirements

References

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