The vision of this grantmaking program, Advancing Wellness, is centered on the belief that every person in California should enjoy health and wellness. This encompasses living in safe and healthy communities, having access to quality education and good jobs, drinking clean water, and having access to healthy foods. The program recognizes that various systemic barriers often hinder health and wellness, including factors like race, class, gender, disability, zip code, family history, immigration status, and past involvement with the criminal justice system.
In response to these challenges, the program partners with community organizations to dismantle these barriers and implement more equitable processes and systems that enhance individual and community wellness. The focus of Advancing Wellness is on supporting organizations that increase access to health care, advocate for quality education, and fight for good jobs with fair wages and benefits. It also backs local initiatives working to make streets and neighborhoods safer.
Annually, more than $35 million dollars are awarded to advance wellness in communities, cities, counties, and statewide across California. The program supports a range of efforts, including direct services, public policy, leadership, and capacity building. To be eligible for funding, projects must align with one or more of the program's specific priority areas and serve one or more of its target populations. These include low-income communities, people of color, youth, immigrants, and residents of rural areas, focusing on addressing urgent needs within these communities. This holistic approach to grantmaking reflects a commitment to fostering a healthier, more equitable California.
