Centene Foundation
The Centene Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. It is Centene Corporation’s charitable foundation and supports local organizations working on healthcare, social services and education, with an emphasis on community health, health equity and addressing barriers to health.
Centene Foundation at a glance
In short: Centene Foundation gave $39.4M across 155 grants in 2025 (avg $254K), top state California. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,445,230
- +32.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 155
- +23.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $254,485
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $195,040,187
- -11.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (85 of 155, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Centene Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says grant applications will move to an invitation-only model in 2026; application guidelines, deadlines and applications are not available directly through the website. Event sponsorship requests may be submitted separately, and requestors are notified only if the Foundation moves forward. The Foundation says it does not fund organizations that discriminate on the bases listed in its Code of Conduct, including race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7700 Forsyth Blvd Suite 800, St Louis, MO 63105
Phone: (314) 725-4477
Website: https://centene.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Centene Foundation
Who Centene Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was JWCH Institute Inc ($2.9M). Together the top 10 received $15.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 699 grants of 1,160 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation reported 2025 investments across 29 states and the District of Columbia. Its 2025 grant dollars were concentrated in California (30%), Missouri (12%), Illinois (8%), Georgia (7%) and Texas (6%). Its impact reporting also describes activity across 30 Centene markets.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 155 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Centene Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 85 of 155 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $219K; repeat grants $298K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $185K repeat.
- 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 394% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $27.5M (2020) to $39.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 155 grants totaling $39.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JWCH Institute Inc Commerce, CA | Residential Care Facility for Persons Experiencing Homelessness | $2,912,778 |
| Community Health Development Inc Uvalde, TX | Support New Construction and Associated Site | $2,300,000 |
| Physicians for a Healthy California Sacramento, CA | Support Latino Physician Representation Coalition Vision | $2,250,000 |
| Safer Foundation Chicago, IL | Provide $2 Million Over Three Years | $1,631,961 |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA | Securing the Workforce Pathway for Physician Diversit | $1,500,000 |
| Central Iowa Shelter & Services Des Moines, IA | Simplify and Educate Community Members | $1,150,000 |
| Altamed Health Services Corporation Commerce, CA | Altamed Community Mobile Services Program | $1,000,000 |
| Community Medical Centers Inc Stockton, CA | Provide Medical Care and BH Services | $1,000,000 |
| Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA | Increase recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of bsn nursing students | $1,000,000 |
| Health Center Association of Nebraska Omaha, NE | Establish & Implement Project Access | $1,000,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Centene Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $195,040,187 | $7,176,100 | $41,204,572 | $39,445,230 | 155 | $40,272,467 | $6,501,568 | $10,216,446 |
| 2024 | $221,084,856 | $7,724,853 | $30,340,305 | $29,773,155 | 126 | $29,993,303 | $6,727,395 | $12,802,036 |
| 2023 | $241,700,308 | $16,994,377 | $35,232,457 | $34,725,994 | 186 | $34,880,042 | $6,220,848 | $11,164,941 |
| 2022 | $259,102,242 | $5,821,965 | $29,028,026 | $28,673,048 | 331 | $28,844,348 | $5,300,018 | $13,124,583 |
| 2021 | $282,316,117 | $316,778,226 | $37,204,673 | $37,045,887 | 362 | — | $274,207 | $5,482,591 |
| 2020 | $2,734,749 | $29,300,416 | $27,478,699 | $27,469,110 | 407 | — | — | $109,578 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Centene Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation advances Centene’s mission of “transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time.” Its stated philanthropic pillars are healthcare, social services and education. Its 2025 priorities included healthcare access and quality, maternal and child health, affordable housing, food insecurity, social connection and healthcare workforce development.
The Foundation partners with charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or Section 170(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work: JWCH Institute describes its mission as providing outpatient primary health services in underserved areas and developing comprehensive care programs; Community Health Development says it provides primary and dental care in its local service area; and Physicians for a Healthy California says it works to improve community health, grow a diverse physician workforce and promote health equity. Other 2025 recipients include Safer Foundation, whose mission is to support people with arrest and conviction records through services and advocacy, and Central Iowa Shelter & Services, which provides shelter, meals and assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
The Foundation’s 2025 impact reporting describes $34.9 million in investments to 209 nonprofit organizations, including $29.8 million in multi-year commitments across 71 partnerships and $5 million in single-year donations across 164 donations. Separately, its 2025 filing lists 155 grants totaling $39,445,230; those itemized grants ranged from $1,200 to $2,912,778, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest grants listed for 2025 were $2,912,778 to JWCH Institute, $2,300,000 to Community Health Development, $2,250,000 to Physicians for a Healthy California, $1,631,961 to Safer Foundation and $1,500,000 to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The filing’s stated purposes include support for a residential care facility for people experiencing homelessness, new construction, physician workforce diversity, and healthcare workforce pathways.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Andrew L. Asher, director/treasurer; Keith H. Williamson, director/president; Sarah M. London, director/chairman; Christopher A. Koster, director/secretary; and Kenneth J. Fasola, director/vice chairman.
Centene Foundation is led by Keith H. Williamson, Director & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Keith H. Williamson
Director & President
President & Director → President, 2022
President → Director & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah M. London
Director & Chairman
Director → Chairman & Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher A. Koster
Director & Secretary
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew L. Asher
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth J. Fasola
Director & Vice Chairman
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Brent D. Layton (2022) — Chairman & Director
- Former: Jeffrey A. Schwaneke (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Michael F. Neidorff (2020–2021) — Chairman & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Centene Foundation
How much does Centene Foundation give each year?
Centene Foundation gave $39.4M across 155 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29.8M across 126 grants.
What is Centene Foundation's typical grant size?
Centene Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $254,485, across 155 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Centene Foundation that year got $219K on average.
Where does Centene Foundation give grants?
Centene Foundation's top state is California, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (12%) and Illinois (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (26 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants), Dallas, TX (6 grants) and Chicago, IL (5 grants).
Does Centene Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Centene Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 155) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Disaster Relief - Hurricane Helene" (22 grants), "Centene Bod - 2024 Annual Match" (7 grants) and "2024 Noea Day Award" (4 grants).
Who are Centene Foundation's largest grantees?
Centene Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include JWCH Institute Inc ($2,912,778), Community Health Development Inc ($2,300,000) and Physicians for a Healthy California ($2,250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Centene Foundation?
Centene Foundation reported $195.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Centene Foundation fund?
The Foundation advances Centene’s mission of “transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time.” Its stated philanthropic pillars are healthcare, social services and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Centene Foundation?
The Foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Centene Foundation's EIN?
Centene Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1298192. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Centene Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Centene Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Centene Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/centene-foundation-morg_ee5ef2c03b874244bd9ae1b46e51b00f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201298192_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Centene Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/centene-foundation-morg_ee5ef2c03b874244bd9ae1b46e51b00f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Centene Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Centene Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?