Parkview Legacy Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1.2 million (inaugural 2024 cycle)
• Success Rate: ~36% (13 of approximately 36 applications in first cycle)
• Decision Time: ~13 weeks (August 31 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 Programme 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 Programme in August 2024 and awarded its inaugural grants totalling $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 capitalisation of the foundation was completed in late 2024, positioning it to make ongoing investments in community transformation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Collective Impact Grant: $50,000 - $125,000
Supports collaborative, multi-agency initiatives advancing community-wide solutions. Requires partnership between multiple organisations. Letters of Intent due July 31; completed applications due August 31 annually.

Core Operations and Capacity Impact Grant: $50,000 - $125,000
Provides flexible funding to strengthen or expand current nonprofit efforts. Letters of Intent due July 31; completed applications due August 31 annually.

Emergent Needs Impact Grant: 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 prioritises organisations serving historically marginalised populations and those working on systemic change rather than just urgent services.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly detailed; organisations 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 organisation 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 Programme 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 Programme.

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 organisations how to use the money... We trust that the organisations will use the funds as they are most needed."

Shari Chun (Grants Programme 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 minimise administrative burden on applicants while ensuring accountability for community impact.

Core Operations and Capacity Impact Grant: Letters of Intent due July 31; completed applications due August 31 annually
Collective Impact Grant: Letters of Intent due July 31; completed applications due August 31 annually
Emergent Needs Impact Grant: Rolling monthly review and award cycle

Nonprofit organisations 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):

• Letter of Intent deadline: July 31
• Full application deadline: August 31
• Notification of funding decisions: November 30
• Grant distribution: Early the following calendar year

For Emergent Needs Impact Grant: Monthly rolling review, with decisions within 30-60 days

Success Rates

In the inaugural 2024 funding cycle:

• Grant requests totalled approximately $3.6 million
• The foundation awarded $1.2 million (one-third of total requested)
• 13 organisations received funding
• Approximately 36 applications were received, suggesting a success rate of approximately 36%

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not publicly detailed. Organisations 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. Organisational Health: Strong organisational 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 Marginalised Populations: The foundation specifically evaluates how organisations serve historically marginalised communities. Dr. Mejico emphasised that equity is "at the core of our mission."

4. Regional Collaboration Potential: Particularly for the Collective Impact Grant, the foundation seeks organisations 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 prioritises organisations working on long-term systems change rather than solely providing urgent/emergency services

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

7. Community Impact Focus: Organisations 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 emphasises 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-centred mission: Board Chair explicitly states equity is "at the core" - applications should demonstrate commitment to serving marginalised populations
• Collaboration valued: Collective Impact grants prioritise 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 minimise administrative burden; don't over-complicate your submission
• Two-stage annual process: Mark July 31 for Letters of Intent and August 31 for full applications for Core Operations and Collective Impact funds; Emergent Needs Impact grants reviewed monthly

References

• Parkview Legacy Foundation official website: https://www.parkviewlegacy.org (accessed January 2026)
• Parkview Legacy Foundation Impact Grants page: https://www.parkviewlegacy.org/impact-grants (accessed January 2026)
• Raincross Gazette, "Parkview Legacy Foundation's First Grants Invest $1.2 Million in Regional Collaboration": https://www.raincrossgazette.com/parkview-legacy-foundations-first-grants-invest-1-2-million-in-regional-collaboration/ (accessed January 2026)
• Raincross Gazette, "After 5 Years of Preparation, Parkview Legacy Foundation Launches Grants Program for Local Nonprofits": https://www.raincrossgazette.com/after-5-years-of-preparation-parkview-legacy-foundation-launches-grants-program-for-local-nonprofits/ (accessed January 2026)
• PRWeb, "Parkview Legacy Foundation Launches Impact Grants Program" (August 2024): https://www.prweb.com/releases/parkview-legacy-foundation-launches-impact-grants-program-302527517.html (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/95-3290732 (accessed January 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/953290732 (accessed January 2026)
• SoCal Grantmakers Directory: https://socalgrantmakers.org/profile/org/3159 (accessed January 2026)