General Operating Support
We allocate most of our funding to unrestricted general operating support, allowing us to invest boldly in organizations and community-led efforts that promote an equitable recovery from the pandemic in our service region.
Through general operating support, we believe that strengthening our partner organizations from within helps them be more adaptive, innovative, and mission-driven, which fosters sustainable, scalable systems change that advances racial and health equity in our communities.
Partnership Types
Annual
These one-year grants are awarded annually through an open, competitive grant cycle. This funding enables us to respond to emerging health equity strategies and crises, promote ongoing collaboration with current and prospective partners, and gain a deeper understanding of the local health ecosystem to better support health equity efforts in our region.
Multi-Year
Multi-year grantee partners receive renewable general operating support for a set period to support their leadership efforts toward advancing health equity in our region. This long-term partnership is a collaborative learning process shaped by our partners’ expertise, input and capacity. Grantee partners are not eligible for the annual open grant cycle during this partnership.
In 2021, we launched our first cohort with a 3-year grant commitment. In 2024, based on insights from the first cohort, we launched our second cohort and expanded the grant commitment to 5 years. This change reflects our understanding that more extended funding periods can cultivate more resilient and adaptive organizations.
2024 General Operating Support Grants
Total: $6,975,000
| Total Grants Awarded | Partner Count | Percent of Partners Serving Legacy & Equity Zone | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$2,525,000 |
46 |
65% |
|
|
$4,450,000 |
32 |
78% |
Grantmaking Priorities
All grantee partners’ work aligns with one or more of our grantmaking priorities, focusing on downstream, midstream, and upstream strategies to advance racial and health equity.
Access
to Quality Health Services
Systemic racism, high medical costs, and lack of culturally affirming care often make comprehensive healthcare inaccessible to our region’s community members.
Partners focused on removing healthcare access barriers, strongly emphasizing community leadership in their systems change strategies.
Address
Social Determinants of Health
Unfair and avoidable health inequities show that where people are born, live, work, and age often impact health outcomes more than lifestyle choices or clinical care.
Partners addressing social and structural determinants of health through innovative, racially equitable approaches.
Advocate
for Health Policies & Systems Change
Policy change can address the root causes of health inequities and impact structures that perpetuate racism.
Partners advocating for health policy and upstream solutions to health inequities.
Augment
Local Health Knowledge
Access to local health data empowers community members to make informed health decisions and advocate for better policies.
Partners focused on community-led inquiry and local public health data collection.
