Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $4 billion (2024 total community investment)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by region; 4 grant rounds annually (seasonal)
Grant Range: $20,000 - $600,000+ (typical community grants: $100,000-$500,000)
Geographic Focus: Eight US states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington) and District of Columbia

Contact Details

Website: https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/expertise-and-impact/healthy-communities

Regional Grant Pages:

Phone: Varies by region

Overview

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc (EIN: 94-1340523) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945. As one of the largest managed care organizations in the United States, Kaiser Permanente serves 12.5 million health plan members across eight states and the District of Columbia. The organization invested $4 billion in community health in 2024, including $11.4 million in direct grants. Kaiser Permanente's philanthropic mission focuses on improving access to affordable healthcare, addressing social determinants of health, and advancing health equity in underserved communities. Their community health team operates at the intersection of philanthropy and public health, providing grants primarily focused on addressing community needs identified through hospitals' Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) conducted every three years. Since transitioning to an invitation-only grant process in 2019, Kaiser Permanente has strategically invested in pre-identified organizations through competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Health Grants (invitation-only): $100,000 - $500,000

Four seasonal grant rounds annually (winter, spring, summer, fall)
Multi-year investments can reach $1 million or more for large-scale projects
Invitations sent by community health grant leads in advance of each round

Regional Grant Examples:

Mid-Atlantic: Recent awards of $20,000 - $275,000 per organization
San Bernardino County: $4.16 million distributed to 61 organizations
Gun Violence Prevention: $60,000 - $600,000 grants through Center for Gun Violence Research and Education

Priority Areas

Kaiser Permanente strategically funds initiatives addressing root causes of health disparities:

Core Focus Areas:

Access to affordable healthcare and health services
Housing and homelessness (including medical respite programs)
Food security and nutrition programs
Mental health and behavioral health services
Economic opportunity and workforce development
Community safety and violence prevention
Youth empowerment and education
Health equity and addressing social determinants of health

Alignment Requirements:

Projects must align with findings from hospital Community Health Needs Assessments
Must serve communities within Kaiser Permanente's geographic service areas
Must address health inequities in underserved communities
Preference for organizations working on systemic change rather than one-time projects

What They Don't Fund

Organizations:

Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status
International, social, or recreational clubs
Organizations promoting alcohol or tobacco use
Activities sponsored solely by alcohol, tobacco, or pharmaceutical companies

Activities & Programs:

Sports teams, tournaments, golf/tennis events, walks, or runs
Local sporting events, individuals, or teams
Field trips, tours, school bands, orchestras, choirs, drama groups
Yearbooks, class parties, or class/team projects
Personal medical care, insurance coverage for individuals
Individual scholarships, tuition, or educational expenses
Conference registration fees
Organizations that already received sponsorship funding within the calendar year

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.):

Gregory A. Adams - Chair, President & CEO
Ramón F. Baez
David J. Barger
Regina M. Benjamin, MD
Leslie S. Heisz
David F. Hoffmeister
Judith A. Johansen, JD
Jonathan S. Lewin, MD
Jenny J. Ming
Matthew T. Ryan

Leadership Philosophy:

Greg Adams, current President & CEO, has stated: "Kaiser Permanente will continue to move forward together to deliver on our mission: providing high-quality, affordable health care services, improving the health of our members and the communities we serve, and transforming American health and health care."

Adams on leadership approach: "Leadership is about innovation and creation in an organization. The role of a leader is to be a catalyst for change, to have a vision, be clear on how to achieve that vision, and plan on where we are now and where we need to go next."

The late Bernard Tyson, former CEO (passed 2019), championed health equity and social justice issues. As Greg Adams honored his legacy: "Bernard was on a determined mission to transform health care in America, and through his leadership helped bring issues of equity into the mainstream."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Since 2019, Kaiser Permanente's regional grants programs transitioned to an invitation-only process. Unsolicited Letters of Intent (LOIs) or proposals are no longer accepted.

How Organizations Get Invited:

Kaiser Permanente identifies organizations through their Community Health Needs Assessments
Community health grant leads proactively research and identify organizations aligned with funding priorities
Organizations serving communities within Kaiser Permanente's service areas addressing health inequities may receive formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
Previous grantees may receive repeat invitations based on performance

Important Note: An invitation to apply does not guarantee funding. The process remains competitive even for invited organizations.

Decision Timeline

Grant Rounds: Four annually, aligned with seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall)
RFP Process: Varies by region and grant round
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed, but announcements typically made quarterly
Funding Period: Grants typically cover 6-12 months; some multi-year grants extend longer

Success Rates

Kaiser Permanente does not publicly disclose success rates or the ratio of invited applications to funded grants. However, recent regional data shows:

Mid-Atlantic 2024: 38 organizations funded across the year
San Bernardino County 2022: 61 organizations funded

Incomplete or misaligned proposals are commonly disqualified, emphasizing the importance of alignment with Community Health Needs Assessment priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. As the process is invitation-only, organizations must wait to receive new invitations for subsequent grant rounds. Previous successful grantees appear to have opportunities for continued funding based on performance and ongoing alignment with CHNA priorities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Community Health Needs Assessments:

Organizations must demonstrate how their work addresses specific needs identified in Kaiser Permanente's regional CHNAs
Projects should target underserved communities within Kaiser Permanente's service areas
Proposals should explicitly connect to health equity goals

Focus on Root Causes: Kaiser Permanente prioritizes organizations addressing social determinants of health—the underlying factors accounting for 80% of health outcomes. Successful projects typically:

Address systemic issues rather than symptoms
Target multiple interconnected health determinants
Demonstrate sustainable, long-term impact potential

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2024):

Volunteers of America ($275,000): Medical respite program stabilizing homeless patients with chronic health needs and connecting them to permanent housing
FACETS Cares ($75,000): Community Development Center enhancing community safety and social connections in Annandale, VA
Greater Baden Medical Services ($75,000): Hiring bilingual registered nurse to address workforce gaps in Charles County, Maryland
Fusion Partnerships ($75,000): Youth Equity Summit empowering youth through violence prevention and mental health workshops
Bridge Builders Foundation (Watts, CA - $50,000): Community-based equity initiative

Language and Approach: Use terminology emphasizing:

Health equity and addressing disparities
Social determinants of health
Community health needs
Underserved populations
Systemic and sustainable solutions
Evidence-based approaches

Geographic Specificity: Clearly demonstrate your work serves communities within Kaiser Permanente's footprint (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, or DC).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only process: You cannot submit an unsolicited application. Focus on building organizational visibility through excellent work in Kaiser Permanente's service areas addressing CHNA-identified needs.
CHNA alignment is critical: Review the Community Health Needs Assessment for your specific Kaiser Permanente region. Your work must directly address identified community health priorities.
Think systemically: Kaiser Permanente favors projects addressing root causes of health disparities rather than temporary fixes. Demonstrate how your work creates sustainable, systemic change.
Emphasize health equity: Every aspect of your work should connect to advancing health equity in underserved communities. This is central to Kaiser Permanente's mission.
Geographic specificity matters: Clearly articulate which Kaiser Permanente service area you operate in and how your work benefits those specific communities.
Competitive even when invited: Receiving an RFP invitation does not guarantee funding. Proposals must be complete, well-aligned, and demonstrate strong organizational capacity.
Multi-determinant approach valued: Projects addressing multiple social determinants of health (housing + healthcare access, mental health + economic opportunity, etc.) align well with Kaiser Permanente's holistic approach.

References

Accessed: December 2024