HOW TO APPLY

GRANT CRITERIA

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be public agencies or nonprofit organizations (tax exempt at the Federal and State level). To check your organization’s status with the California Franchise Tax Board, click here. To check your organization’s status with the IRS, click here.
• Projects must directly benefit residents of Santa Clara County and/or Northern San Benito County.

Priority will be given to organizations and projects that:

• Strive to address health disparities.
• Support communities and/or neighborhoods experiencing deep health disparities, prioritizing communities whose economic circumstances act as a barrier to health, as evidenced by data and/or research.
• Demonstrate the applicant’s ability to successfully execute the project, including established community rapport.
• Projects must meet the aforementioned criteria and demonstrate that they are timely and address health disparities.

Proposals must include SMART outcomes to support the desired project goal and communicate the impact of the project.

The Health Trust strives to rotate grants among community partners. As a result, we are not in a position to be an ongoing funder for any organization, program, and/or project.

The Health Trust does not typically fund:

• Annual appeals or membership drives
• Endowments
• Debt retirement
• Equipment purchases unless part of an eligible project
• Grants to individuals

APPLICATION PROCESS

Health Equity Fund proposals are by invitation only. In the section below, you will find information related to our decision-making and application process.

• Health Equity Fund proposals are reviewed by The Health Trust’s Grantmaking Committee, composed of Board of Trustees and community members who are subject-matter experts in their respective fields.
• The Grantmaking Committee reviews and recommends proposals for funding to the Board of Trustees.
• The Board of Trustees review the recommendations of the Grantmaking Committee and make funding decisions. Funding decisions are made quarterly, in September, December, March, and June.

Step 1. Project Concept

• Once alignment is determined, applicants must submit a Concept Form.
• Concept Forms are accepted on a rolling basis. There are no submission deadlines. Staff will share the concept form with the Grantmaking Committee for review and consideration during one of the scheduled Grantmaking Committee meetings.
• The Committee will determine whether a full proposal will be invited.

Step 2. Full Proposal – Invitation Only

• When The Health Trust is interested in further considering a concept, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Invitation to submit a full proposal does not indicate a commitment of funding.
• After the full proposal has been submitted, staff will conduct due diligence and provide technical assistance, including a follow-up phone call or site visit.
• The Grantmaking Committee will review the proposal and decide whether to recommend the proposal to the Board of Trustees. Funding decisions for recommended proposals will be made by the Board of Trustees.
• If you have any questions pertaining to Health Equity Fund Grants, please contact grants@healthtrust.org.

GRANT CRITERIA

Eligibility Criteria

• Grant requests should align with the mission of The Health Trust to build health equity in Silicon Valley.
• Grant requests should not exceed $5,000.
• Requests include, but are not limited to: annual fundraisers, health fairs, and projects that support community health.
• Events must be held in Santa Clara County and/or Northern San Benito County.
• Projects must directly benefit residents of Santa Clara and/or Northern San Benito County.
• Requests must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the event or project start date and can generally expect a response within 30 days.
• Organizations are eligible to receive one (1) Community Grant per fiscal year.
• The Health Trust encourages new applicants to apply for funding, as we strive to rotate grants among different agencies. Community Grants aren’t typically awarded to the same organization year after year.
• Nonprofit organizations must be tax exempt at the Federal and State level. To check your organization’s status with the California Franchise Tax Board, click here. To check your organization’s status with the IRS, click here.

For organizations with an active Health Partnership or Health Equity Fund grant:

• Due to our limited Community Grant Fund budget, active Health Partnership and Health Equity Fund grantee partners are not eligible to apply for Community Grants.

Requests will be considered based on:

• The extent to which the event/project has potential to build health equity in Silicon Valley.
• The extent to which the event/project supports people disproportionately impacted by health and/or social inequities.
• The agency’s ability to establish strong community rapport.
• The agency’s history of receiving Community Grants and successfully meeting reporting requirements.

The Health Trust does not typically fund:

• Nationally-sponsored local events, where a majority of the proceeds will not be used to fund services for local residents.
• Events for which the proceeds will be used to support academic or medical research.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for a Community Grant, you must have an existing online account. New applicants are required to create an account before applying. Once your account is created, you will be able to access the Community Grant Application.

Create Account Now

If you have any questions pertaining to Community Grants, please
contact grants@healthtrust.org.