IEHP Foundation Responsive Grants

The IEHP Foundation Responsive Grants program is a private funding initiative designed to support nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Inland Empire region. The foundation focuses on advancing what it defines as Vibrant Health, a framework that emphasizes improving access to basic needs, strengthening nonprofit infrastructure, and fostering healthier community environments. Through its grantmaking, the organization seeks to empower local leaders and trusted community-based organizations to expand their reach and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families, particularly those from low-income, rural, or medically underserved communities. The program is structured around two primary grant types: Healthy Organizations grants and Healthy Communities grants. The Healthy Organizations grant is intended for individual nonprofit organizations and focuses on strengthening internal capacity, including leadership development, financial systems, operational infrastructure, and program delivery effectiveness. In contrast, the Healthy Communities grant is designed for formal collaboratives, coalitions, or networks of three or more organizations working together to achieve broader systems-level change, including policy improvements, workforce development pipelines, and population health outcomes. Both grant types must align with IEHP Foundation priorities and demonstrate a clear connection to improving social drivers of health. Funding under the Healthy Organizations grant typically ranges from 5000 to 20000 dollars, while Healthy Communities grants range from 20000 to 75000 dollars. Funds are intended to support capacity-building activities rather than general regranting or large-scale capital projects. Allowable uses include infrastructure upgrades, technology improvements, workforce training, and strategic planning. Administrative or overhead costs should generally not exceed 30 percent of the grant budget, although exceptions may be considered. The grant period for both opportunities is one year, with a defined performance timeline from January 1 through December 31 of the award year. Eligibility requirements vary by grant type but are centered on nonprofit status and organizational capacity. Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations. For Healthy Organizations grants, organizations must have an annual budget of at least 200000 dollars and may be fiscally sponsored. For Healthy Communities grants, applicants must represent formal collaboratives and have a combined organizational structure with a minimum budget threshold of 500000 dollars, and fiscally sponsored entities are not eligible. Certain entities are generally excluded, including private foundations, 501c4 organizations, and organizations currently participating in specific IEHP Foundation programs or with active overlapping grants, unless an exception is granted upon inquiry. The application process is conducted through the IEHP Foundation grant management portal. Applicants must first complete an eligibility quiz and then submit a full application that includes a detailed description of the proposed project or activity. Supporting documentation and alignment with IEHP Foundation goals, priority populations, and Vital Conditions are critical components of the evaluation process. The foundation also offers an informational webinar during the application period to provide guidance and answer applicant questions. While no formal pre application such as a letter of intent is required, applicants are encouraged to review all guidance materials and frequently asked questions prior to submission. For the 2026 to 2027 Cycle 2 funding round, the application window opens on July 14, 2026 and closes on August 31, 2026 at 5 pm Pacific Time. Final award decisions are expected to be announced in late September 2026, with grant payments distributed in early November 2026. The funded project period begins January 1, 2027 and concludes December 31, 2027, followed by a required reporting deadline in early February 2028. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with two application periods per year, although organizations may only apply once per calendar year for one of the two grant types. IEHP Foundation evaluates applications based on alignment with its mission, the strength of the proposed project, organizational readiness, and the potential for measurable impact. Priority is given to projects that address key Vital Conditions such as Basic Needs for Health and Safety, Meaningful Work and Wealth, and Humane Housing. The foundation emphasizes sustainability and long-term impact, seeking to fund initiatives that strengthen organizational or system capacity beyond the grant period. For additional information or clarification, applicants may contact the foundation directly via email at grants at iehpfoundation dot org.

Ensure strong alignment with IEHPF Vital Conditions and clearly demonstrate how funding will build long term organizational or system capacity