Community Health Improvement Grants

The Community Health Improvement Grants program is administered by CommonSpirit Health, a large nonprofit health system that operates hospitals across multiple states in the United States. Through this program, participating hospitals provide funding to community-based nonprofit organizations to address significant health needs identified in their local Community Health Needs Assessments. The program is designed to improve community health outcomes, advance health equity, and strengthen collaborative service systems through targeted, project-based funding. The primary purpose of the grant is to support programs and services that respond directly to documented health priorities within a hospital’s service area. These priorities may include issues such as access to care, mental health, chronic disease, housing instability, food insecurity, and other social determinants of health. Funded projects must demonstrate a clear connection to these identified needs and show how proposed activities will improve health outcomes or enhance service delivery systems. Projects are expected to serve underserved or vulnerable populations and contribute to measurable improvements in community health. Funding is provided in two main categories: small grants and standard grants. Small grants are available for requests up to 19500 dollars, while standard grants range from 20000 dollars to as much as 150000 dollars depending on the specific hospital or grant cluster. Funds are awarded as restricted charitable contributions and must be used for defined project activities. Allowable expenses include personnel, supplies, equipment within specified limits, and indirect costs capped at 10 percent of the total request. The program does not fund capital projects, lobbying, political activities, or contracts for services, and equipment purchases are limited to a portion of the total request. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that hold 501c3 status or have a qualified fiscal agent with such status. Applicants must provide documentation confirming their nonprofit designation and demonstrate alignment with the mission and values of CommonSpirit Health. For standard grant requests of 20000 dollars or more, applicants are required to include at least two collaborating partner organizations with distinct and substantive roles in the project. Partner organizations may include other nonprofits or public agencies such as health departments or school districts. Projects must serve populations within the hospital’s service area and include members of the broader community, not exclusively hospital patients. The application process is conducted through an online grant portal. Applicants must complete detailed forms that include organizational information, project descriptions, population served, and measurable outcome goals. Required attachments include an IRS determination letter, a completed W9 form using the March 2024 version, a board of directors list, and financial documentation. The application also requires a detailed project budget that accounts for both grant-funded and non-grant-funded resources. Applicants must outline specific project activities, the number of individuals to be served, and clearly defined outcome measures. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with community health priorities, clarity and feasibility of project design, strength of partnerships, and potential for measurable impact. Projects should emphasize prevention, collaboration, and sustainability, and demonstrate how they contribute to a continuum of care or build community capacity. Reporting requirements vary by award size, with semi-annual reports required for grants of 20000 dollars or more and final reporting required at the conclusion of the grant period for all recipients. The application period for the program opens on July 20, 2026 and closes on September 18, 2026. Funding decisions are expected around January 20, 2027, followed by grant agreement execution and payment distribution in February and March 2027. The grant period begins on April 1, 2027 and runs through March 31, 2028, with mid-year reports due in November 2027 and final reports due in May 2028. The program operates on an annual cycle, and applicants may reapply in future years for similar or new projects, although substantially similar projects are not funded for more than four consecutive years. Questions about the program can be directed to the general program email at communitygrants@commonspirit.org.

Align proposal with hospital CHNA priorities; demonstrate strong collaboration for standard grants; focus on underserved populations and measurable health outcomes