← Back to US Funders Directory

Parkview Legacy Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
36%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.2 million (inaugural 2024 cycle)
  • Success Rate: ~36% (13 of ~30+ applications in first cycle)
  • Decision Time: 8-10 weeks (September 30 deadline, November 30 notification)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $125,000 (Core Operations and Collective Impact)
  • Geographic Focus: Riverside region (specific ZIP codes in Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Corona, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Moreno Valley, and unincorporated Riverside County)

Contact Details

Website: www.parkviewlegacy.org
Phone: 1-833-943-0003
Email: info@parkviewlegacy.org
Address: 3890 Orange Street #111, Riverside, CA 92502
Grant Inquiries: Shari Chun, External Affairs and Grants Program Manager

Overview

Parkview Legacy Foundation was established in July 2019 following the sale of Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center (a nonprofit hospital) to AHMC Healthcare (a for-profit hospital group). The State of California required the proceeds from the sale to benefit the community through creation of an independent public charity. After five years of planning and research into best practices, the foundation launched its Impact Grants Program in August 2024 and awarded its inaugural grants totaling $1.2 million in late 2024/early 2025. Led by President and CEO Damien O'Farrell (former CEO of Path of Life Ministries, Riverside County's largest homeless shelter and housing provider), the foundation's mission is to "advance the equitable probability of wellness through social determinants of health" in the Riverside region. Final capitalization of the foundation was completed in late 2024, positioning it to make ongoing investments in community transformation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Collective Impact Fund: $50,000 - $125,000
Supports collaborative, multi-agency initiatives advancing community-wide solutions. Requires partnership between multiple organizations. Applications due September 30 annually.

Core Operations and Capacity Support Fund: $50,000 - $125,000
Provides flexible funding to strengthen or expand current nonprofit efforts. Applications due September 30 annually.

Special Needs Fund: Amount not specified
One-time grants for specific projects or equipment needs. Reviewed and awarded on a rolling monthly basis.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four interconnected areas essential to health and well-being:

  • Housing Stability: Supporting efforts to ensure safe, affordable housing
  • Social Mobility: Addressing systemic barriers to economic advancement
  • Whole Health Accessibility: Improving access to comprehensive health services
  • Integrated Solutions: Regional collaboration addressing multiple determinants of health simultaneously

The foundation prioritizes organizations serving historically marginalized populations and those working on systemic change rather than just urgent services.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly detailed; organizations should review eligibility requirements at parkviewlegacy.org before applying.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., Board Chairperson - Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Social Innovation, Interim Director for the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and Assistant Professor of Social Work at California Baptist University
  • Jose Medina, Board Member
  • Karen DeMarco, Board Member - Senior communications and marketing executive with 20+ years' experience in business, technology, consumer lifestyle, entertainment and cause advocacy sectors
  • Matt Stowe, Board Member
  • Kim Saruwatari, Board Member
  • Dwight Tate, Board Member

Leadership Team

Damien O'Farrell, President and CEO
Former CEO of Path of Life Ministries (Riverside County's largest nonprofit homeless shelter and housing provider), where he led the organization to double in size and service area. Also served as Director of Community Development at Today's Urban Renewal Network (TURN), where he now serves as a board member.

Shari Chun, External Affairs and Grants Program Manager
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Critical Care, founder of Kokua Consulting Services, and co-founder of Riverside Heartsavers. Volunteer with the foundation since 2017/2018, promoted to current role in 2024 to lead the Impact Grants Program.

Leadership Quotes

Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr. (Board Chairman): "Equity is not a value add... Increasing the equitable probability of well-being for all residents is at the core of our mission."

Damien O'Farrell (CEO): "The collective impact work is uniquely exciting because it's exactly the type of effort we need to move from urgent services toward long-term advancements."

Damien O'Farrell on grant flexibility: "We're not telling the organizations how to use the money... We trust that the organizations will use the funds as they are most needed."

Shari Chun (Grants Program Manager): "Our goal is to make this process empowering and accessible, not burdensome."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the foundation's grant portal at parkviewlegacy.org. The application process has been designed to be streamlined and minimize administrative burden on applicants while ensuring accountability for community impact.

Core Operations and Capacity Support Fund: Applications due September 30 annually
Collective Impact Fund: Applications due September 30 annually
Special Needs Fund: Rolling monthly review and award cycle

Nonprofit organizations must serve the foundation's defined geographic service area (specific ZIP codes in and around Riverside, including Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Corona, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Moreno Valley, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County).

Decision Timeline

For annual grant cycles (Core Operations and Collective Impact):

  • Application deadline: September 30
  • Notification of funding decisions: November 30
  • Grant distribution: Early the following calendar year

For Special Needs Fund: Monthly rolling review

Success Rates

In the inaugural 2024 funding cycle:

  • Grant requests totaled approximately $3.6 million
  • The foundation awarded $1.2 million (one-third of total requested)
  • 13 organizations received funding
  • This suggests an approximate 36% success rate, though the exact number of applications was not disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not publicly detailed. Organizations should contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication procedures.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated evaluation criteria and inaugural grant cycle, successful applications demonstrate:

  1. Organizational Health: Strong organizational infrastructure and capacity to manage grant funds effectively

  2. Clear Progress Metrics: Defined objectives and measurable outcomes toward addressing systemic challenges in the four priority areas

  3. Service to Marginalized Populations: The foundation specifically evaluates how organizations serve historically marginalized communities. Dr. Mejico emphasized that equity is "at the core of our mission."

  4. Regional Collaboration Potential: Particularly for the Collective Impact Fund, the foundation seeks organizations working together on multi-agency initiatives. As O'Farrell noted, they're looking for "the type of effort we need to move from urgent services toward long-term advancements."

  5. Systemic vs. Urgent Approach: The foundation prioritizes organizations working on long-term systems change rather than solely providing urgent/emergency services

  6. Flexibility in Fund Use: The foundation offers unrestricted grants, trusting organizations to use funds where most needed. This suggests they look for organizations with strong strategic planning and self-awareness about their capacity needs.

  7. Community Impact Focus: Organizations should demonstrate how their work addresses social determinants of health and contributes to "equitable probability of wellness" in the Riverside region

The foundation spent nine months researching best practices before developing their grant structure, and emphasizes developing local solutions that could potentially be scaled regionally.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • New funder with flexible approach: Launched in 2024 with emphasis on trust-based, flexible funding rather than restrictive grants
  • High competition expected: Inaugural cycle had 3x more requests than available funds; applications must clearly demonstrate impact
  • Equity-centered mission: Board Chair explicitly states equity is "at the core" - applications should demonstrate commitment to serving marginalized populations
  • Collaboration valued: Collective Impact grants prioritize multi-agency partnerships working on systemic change
  • Long-term systems change: Foundation seeks to move "from urgent services toward long-term advancements"
  • Geographic specificity: Must serve specific ZIP codes in Riverside region; review eligibility carefully
  • Streamlined process: Foundation designed application to minimize administrative burden; don't over-complicate your submission
  • Annual deadline: Mark September 30 on your calendar for Core Operations and Collective Impact funds; Special Needs grants reviewed monthly

References

← Back to US Funders Directory