← Back to US Funders Directory

UniHealth Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.4M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.5M
Decision Time
10mo

UniHealth Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15,427,279 (2024)
  • Assets: $332 million
  • Decision Time: Approximately 10 months (LOI to final decision)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $450,000
  • Typical Grant Size: $250,000 - $400,000 over 2-3 years
  • Geographic Focus: Los Angeles and Orange Counties (primary); limited funding for other California areas
  • Application Method: Invitation only (LOI required first)

Contact Details

Address: 690 E Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (213) 630-6500
Email: communications@unihealthfoundation.org
Website: https://unihealthfoundation.org
Grants Portal: https://uhf.smartsimple.com

Overview

UniHealth Foundation was established in 1998 when the Board of UniHealth determined it could better serve its constituency by becoming a grantmaking foundation. For over two decades, this private healthcare grantmaking organization has supported nonprofit, community-based hospitals and health organizations throughout Southern California, with assets totaling approximately $332 million and annual giving of over $15 million. The foundation's mission is to "support and facilitate activities that significantly improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities." UniHealth operates through three strategic funding priorities: Population & Community Health, Healthcare Delivery Systems, and Healthcare Workforce. In 2024, the foundation awarded 104 grants and has demonstrated responsiveness to community crises, including contributing $4.35 million to wildfire relief efforts as an inaugural partner in the California Community Foundation's Community Healing & Restoration Initiative.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking: $250,000 - $400,000 over 2-3 years (typical range)

  • Rolling basis via invitation after Letter of Inquiry review
  • Quarterly board decisions (November, March, June, September)
  • Maximum 10% indirect costs on direct expenses

Pathway to Health and Home: Multi-million dollar initiative

  • $15 million commitment over two years (partnership with Cedars-Sinai and Providence Southern California)
  • Focuses on integrating clinical services into interim and supportive housing
  • Three focus areas: (1) communication and collaboration among housing/healthcare providers; (2) embedding clinical services in housing, including recuperative care; (3) improving care transitions for seniors/elderly

Medical School Scholarship Program: Amount varies

  • Annual invitations to ten California medical schools
  • For third- or fourth-year medical students interested in working in medically underserved communities

Special Initiative Grants: Variable amounts

  • Recent example: $1.75 million to seven organizations for wildfire mental health services

Priority Areas

Population & Community Health

  • Empowering positive health behaviors and informed healthcare decisions
  • Addressing social determinants of health and economic circumstances affecting health outcomes
  • Strategies and partnerships to address health disparities
  • Building healthy environments and reducing disease impact
  • Community-based initiatives for underserved and vulnerable populations

Healthcare Delivery Systems

  • Enhancing organizational capacity and financial stability of nonprofit hospitals
  • Increasing access to comprehensive, coordinated care
  • Promoting use of technology, data, and scientific advances
  • Supporting cost-effective, patient-centered, high-quality care
  • Recuperative care programs

Healthcare Workforce

  • Developing sufficient, diverse, and quality healthcare workforce
  • Supporting medical practitioners in underserved communities
  • Workforce development assessment and planning
  • Training programs for evolving healthcare needs

Cross-Cutting Themes

  • Mental health services, particularly for vulnerable populations
  • Substance use disorder intervention and treatment
  • Housing stability and homelessness services
  • Services for transition-age youth
  • Culturally and linguistically competent programming
  • Collaborative, multi-sector partnerships

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Activities

  • Propagandizing or influencing legislation
  • Lobbying or political campaigns
  • Programs promoting religious doctrine
  • Events
  • Endowments
  • Annual fund drives
  • Non-applied research
  • General operating expenses
  • Retirement of debt
  • Construction projects
  • Direct grants to individuals

Ineligible Organizations

  • Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (unless using fiscal sponsor)
  • Organizations in poor financial standing
  • Organizations established for less than three years
  • Organizations with leadership teams in place for less than three years
  • Geographic Exclusion: Organizations whose primary work does not target Southern California (specifically Los Angeles and/or Orange Counties)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Bradley C. Call, MS – Chairman & CEO (founding board member, 1998)
Former design engineer at North American Aviation, management consultant at Touche Ross & Co., President of Everest & Jennings Inc., and President and CEO of Kleinert Industries Inc. Education: UCLA (Bachelor's in Engineering, Master's in Engineering Economics and Management).

Quote: "For nearly 20 years, UniHealth Foundation has been deeply committed to supporting nonprofit, community-based hospitals and health organizations in Southern California."

Lydia H. Kennard, JD, MCP – Vice Chair
Frank M. Sanchez, PhD – Secretary
Michael Galper, MPH, CPA – Board Member
Patrick C. Haden, JD – Board Member
Patrick Niemann – Board Member
Robert G. Splawn, MD, MPH, FACEP – Board Member
Amy Wohl, PhD, MPH – Board Member

Executive Leadership

Jennifer Vanore, PhD – President & Chief Operating Officer (appointed 2018)
Previously Vice President of Programs. Education: PhD (University of Chicago), MA (Yale University), BA (Vassar College). Board roles include Southern California Grantmakers and National Health Care for the Homeless Council Advisory Panel.

Quote: "As a funder, we recognize that the social determinants of health are key to long-term community wellness."

Kathleen H. Salazar, MBA – Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (joined 1999)
Manages financial operations, accounting, tax compliance, audit, and investment portfolio. Education: MBA (Claremont Graduate University), BA (University of San Francisco).

Program Staff

Mercy Siordia – Senior Program Officer (joined 2019)
Previous experience: Community Investment & Infrastructure at Health Net; Community Benefit Manager at Kaiser Permanente; Program Director at The California Wellness Foundation.

David Spatz, PhD – Grants and Program Manager (joined 2018)
Education: PhD and MA (University of Chicago), BA (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

Marilyn Orman, MA – Program Associate
Expertise in data, program evaluation, and strategic planning. Education: Master's in Developmental Psychology and Program Evaluation (Claremont Graduate University).

Tara Pak – Program Manager (joined 2025)
Manages convening space, communications, and programs. Previous: Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at PATH (California homeless services agency). Education: BA in Literary Journalism (UC Irvine).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

UniHealth Foundation does not accept uninvited proposals. The application follows a mandatory two-stage invitation-only process:

Step 1: Eligibility Quiz
Complete the pre-registration eligibility quiz on the foundation's website to determine if your organization meets basic requirements.

Step 2: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Submit an LOI through the grants management portal at https://uhf.smartsimple.com. LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadlines and are reviewed quarterly.

Step 3: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
Organizations selected after LOI review will be invited to submit a full proposal with specific deadlines provided at the time of invitation.

Application Portal: All LOIs and proposals must be submitted through the SmartSimple grants management platform. User guides and FAQs are available on the UniHealth website.

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: Approximately 10 months from LOI submission to final decision

Stage 1 - Inquiry Stage: 4 months
LOI submitted at any time → Internal review → Notification of invitation status

Stage 2 - Application Stage: 3 months
Invitation to submit full proposal → Proposal development and submission → "The proposed project will be considered on a docket approximately six months from the point of invitation"

Stage 3 - Review Stage: 3 months
Program staff review proposals and contact applicants for additional information → If aligned with mission, proposal advances to quarterly Board of Directors meeting

Stage 4 - Finalizing Stage: 6 weeks
Board approval → Award agreement execution → Fund release

Board Meeting Schedule: Grants are approved quarterly in November, March, June, and September.

Notification: Applicants can monitor submission status by logging into their grants management portal account. Program staff will reach out during the review process to discuss proposals and gather additional information.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. In 2024, UniHealth Foundation awarded 104 grants out of total applications received (exact number not disclosed). Historical grant awards: 80 grants (2023), 95 grants (2022), 111 grants (2021), 97 grants (2020), 112 grants (2019).

Given the foundation's invitation-only model after LOI screening, organizations invited to submit full proposals likely have higher success rates than typical open-application foundations.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may resubmit: Organizations whose LOIs were declined are welcome to submit a new Letter of Inquiry. There is no mandatory waiting period before reapplication.

Feedback Available: Applicants may contact the Program Officer for clarification about the foundation's interests and feedback on their declined application.

Active Grantee Restriction: Current grantees cannot submit new grant proposals while holding an active UniHealth grant, though they may submit LOIs for future consideration after their current grant period ends.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission and Strategy

UniHealth Foundation emphasizes that proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with their three funding strategies. As stated in their application guidance: "If the proposal is complete and determined to be in alignment with UniHealth's mission, it will be presented at a quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors for review." Carefully review the specific priorities within Population & Community Health, Healthcare Delivery Systems, or Healthcare Workforce to ensure your project fits.

Sustainability and Scalability

"Having a realistic plan to maintain and expand successful programs is a core component of our grantmaking." The foundation seeks innovative pilots or demonstration projects that, if successful, could be scaled into private or public programs to improve community health. Applications should include a clear path to sustainability at the end of the grant term.

Partnerships and Collaboration

President Jennifer Vanore has emphasized that "partnerships and shared investments are vital to change and improvement in the healthcare sector." External analysis confirms that the funder prioritizes large, collaborative projects. Projects involving multiple organizations, cross-sector partnerships (e.g., healthcare and housing providers), or coordination with public agencies are particularly attractive.

Community Engagement

"Working with community stakeholders to develop and implement solutions increases the likelihood of long-term success." Organizations should demonstrate a history and expertise in working in the proposed community with culturally and linguistically competent programming.

Social Determinants of Health

President Jennifer Vanore stated: "As a funder, we recognize that the social determinants of health are key to long-term community wellness." Projects that address underlying social and economic factors affecting health outcomes—such as housing, economic stability, and community environments—align well with the foundation's priorities.

Clear Health Focus

Projects must have "a clear health focus" to be considered. Even if addressing social issues like housing or workforce development, proposals should explicitly connect to health outcomes and demonstrate measurable health impact.

Geographic Specificity

The foundation prioritizes Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Applications should clearly articulate how the project serves these primary geographic areas and demonstrate deep knowledge of the local community context.

Organizational Capacity

UniHealth requires organizations to have been established for at least three years with leadership teams in place for at least three years. Organizations must have annual operating budgets over $1,000,000 and provide audited financial statements. This suggests they seek established, stable partners capable of managing significant grants.

Recent Funding Examples

Mental Health Services: LA Voice received funding to hire two additional community health workers to expand support for wildfire-affected households; Union Rescue Mission expanded mental health teams for people experiencing homelessness with part-time clinical social worker and psychiatrist support.

Integration of Health and Housing: Multiple grants through the Pathway to Health and Home initiative support embedding clinical services in interim and supportive housing units.

Healthcare Workforce: Medical school scholarships for students committed to working in medically underserved communities; grants to institutions like Keck School of Medicine of USC ($681,000) for attenuating clinician burnout.

Substance Use Disorder: Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission received $300,000 for expanding mental health and substance abuse services to people experiencing homelessness.

Application Reminders

  • Grant proposals are a request for funding, not a guarantee of an award
  • Maximum indirect costs: 10% of requested direct costs
  • Projects must demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence
  • Organizations must not discriminate in service delivery

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: You must start with a Letter of Inquiry—no full proposals accepted without invitation. Invest time in a compelling LOI that clearly demonstrates alignment with one of the three funding strategies.

  • Plan for a long timeline: Budget 10 months from LOI submission to potential funding. The quarterly board meeting schedule means timing matters—understand when board meetings occur and plan accordingly.

  • Emphasize partnerships: UniHealth strongly values collaborative approaches. If possible, develop partnerships with other organizations, particularly cross-sector collaborations between healthcare and social service providers.

  • Los Angeles and Orange Counties focus: Unless you serve these primary counties, securing funding is unlikely. Make your geographic service area crystal clear and demonstrate deep community knowledge.

  • Sustainability is essential: Your proposal must include a realistic plan for continuing the work after grant funding ends. One-off projects without sustainability plans will not be competitive.

  • Social determinants matter: Frame your health-focused work in the context of social determinants. Projects addressing housing, economic stability, workforce development, or community environments alongside health outcomes are well-positioned.

  • Meet organizational capacity requirements: Ensure you have at least three years of organizational history, $1,000,000+ annual budget, and audited financials before applying. The foundation seeks established, stable partners.

  • Contact program staff: If your LOI is declined, reach out to program officers for feedback before reapplying. Building relationships with program staff can provide valuable insights for future applications.

  • Scale matters: With typical grants of $250,000-$400,000 over 2-3 years and an emphasis on scalability, think big. Small pilot projects may be less competitive unless they demonstrate clear potential for broader impact.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory