2026 Community Health Improvement Grants (STD) WA-Seattle-Tacoma

Through the Community Health Improvement Grants program, CommonSpirit Health hospitals fund programs and services delivered by collaborating 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, to address significant needs in the hospitals’ community health needs assessments and implementation strategies. Community Health Improvement Grants help to improve community health and enhance local service systems via restricted charitable contributions for defined projects. Participating hospitals include those of Catholic Health Initiatives, Dignity Health and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. These hospitals are all members of CommonSpirit Health. Some hospitals located close to one another collaborate on a single grant process, and do not each accept separate proposals. Consult the "Hospital List for Applicants" linked below and on the grant program website for specific information about participating hospitals.

Indirect costs of no greater than 10 percent of the total request are allowable. Indirect costs include items such as rent, utilities, telecommunications, insurance, clerical and managerial salaries and benefits. Indirect costs are entered in the budget section of the application.

Hospitals' Local Grant Leaders may, in their sole discretion, request that a submitted application be revised prior to or during the review process.

Review the Grant Information and Resources Video and the AmpliFund Applicant Portal Training Video at https://www.commonspirit.org/impact/community-health-initiatives/community-grants for detailed guidance on preparing and submitting an application. All applicants should consult the Hospital List for Applicants and other documents linked below before planning their proposals and completing application forms. These documents include information necessary to submit an application that meets program criteria, including: minimum and maximum grant award amounts by hospital, Local Grant Leader contact information, and links to hospitals' community health needs assessments and significant community health needs. Hospitals and hospital clusters each have specific minimum and maximum individual grant award amounts. The grant program only considers proposed projects that address one or more significant needs in the hospitals’ community health needs assessments.

Questions about local hospitals’ grant priorities and processes should be addressed to the appropriate Local Grant Leaders noted on the Hospital List for Applicants linked below. General questions about the Community Health Improvement Grants program can be directed to communitygrants@commonspirit.org. Applicants should download and read the documents linked here, as they contain necessary and valuable information for the preparation and completion of grant applications.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Applicants must be IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, or have a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)3 organization and capable of administering grant project funds. Applicants must provide an IRS Determination Letter documenting 501(c)3 status and be in good standing. Applicants and partners must have a philosophy and services not inconsistent with the mission and vision of CommonSpirit Health (https://www.commonspirit.org/about-us/mission-vision-and-values). PROPOSAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Proposals are for projects that address one or more significant health needs in the hospital’s most recent community health needs assessment (CHNA), with sustained project activity over the course of between 9 and 12 months. Prospective applicants should consult the Hospital List for Applicants linked above and review the relevant CHNA report before applying. The program is intended both to support the delivery of services and to strengthen collaborative service systems. Consistent with this aim, proposals must include collaborating partner organizations other than the hospital with distinct, complementary and substantive project roles. Collaborating partner organizations (“partners”) can be non-profit or public organizations. Partners may receive a portion of the grant that is awarded to the applicant, for costs of their project activities. This is communicated by applicants in the proposal budget. Distribution of any awarded funds to partners is the responsibility of the recipient. People and communities to be served are within the hospital’s service area and include identified underserved or vulnerable populations, to help address health inequities. People to be served can include members of the community at-large, patients of CommonSpirit Health entities or both. (If any CommonSpirit patient Protected Health Information is to be shared in the course of proposed activities, appropriate patient authorization procedures and/or Business Associate Agreements may be required of funded projects to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).) Proposals convey how their proposed projects reflect one or more of the following principles: focus on disproportionate unmet health-related needs (advancing health equity); emphasize prevention, including activities that address social determinants of health; contribute to a seamless continuum of care; build community capacity; and demonstrate collaboration. Proposal budgets can include equipment purchases of up to $5,000 and computer equipment up to $2,500, with the total not to exceed 50% of funds requested. Proposals are for one year periods only. Applicants can apply in subsequent years for substantially the same or similar scopes of work if the CHNA significant health need priorities remain and recipient performance and outcomes meet or exceed expectations. Projects delivering substantially the same or similar activities will not be funded for more than four consecutive years. Ineligible proposals include those for unrestricted general operating support, event sponsorships and activities less than 9 months in duration, capital projects (e.g., buildings, renovations), and lobbying or political campaigns.

Community Health Improvement Grants web page

Award recipients will be required to provide semi-annual narrative and quantitative reports on activities, services and expenditures compared to the approved application and budget. These reports, completed within AmpliFund, are due on November 13, 2026 and May 16, 2027.