CommonSpirit Health Equity & Advancement Fund Grant

The CommonSpirit Health Equity & Advancement Fund aims to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. Launched in 2021, this initiative focuses on enhancing social justice through community engagement, addressing social determinants of health, and supporting innovative health equity projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and tribal nations that collaborate to serve underrepresented communities. Funding priorities emphasize collaboration, unique health equity solutions, and leveraging additional resources.

The CommonSpirit Health Equity & Advancement Fund, soon to be the CommonSpirit Mountain Region Community Health Improvement Grant, was launched in 2021 in support of CommonSpirit’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across our vibrant communities in Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. Our commitment to social justice lies in CommonSpirit’s Core Values, and advances our Mission to make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
Applicants should ensure their proposed work/project:

• Serves a specific diverse, underrepresented, or underserved community (either based on geography or lived experience).
• Addresses specific Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
• Integrates members of communities being served (community participatory approach)
• Builds community capacity, with an emphasis on utilizing community health workers
• Identifies specific objectives that will be measured and reported.
• What are the 2026 funding focus areas?
• Mental health/Substance Use
• Access to Care
• Food Security/Nutrition
• Proposals otherwise advancing social justice and health equity

Eligibility

Eligible activities:

• Project or program activities, operating support to address identified needs, capacity building, and technical assistance.
• Eligible applicants:

501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organizationsNon 501(c)(3) community-based organizations dedicated to serving diverse, underrepresented populations applying in conjunction with a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization as a fiscal sponsorSovereign Tribal Nations (federally recognized tribal governments)Applicants must be operating in Colorado, Kansas, or Utah and serving within 50 miles of a CommonSpirit facility, or within their service area.

Ineligibility

Ineligible activities/applicants:
Debt retirement or operating deficitScholarships/endowmentsStudies/researchPolitical advocacy work or campaignsPublic agencies including health departments and local governments (excluding Sovereign Tribal Nations)Physician-owned (or physician immediate family-owned) organizations where physician may be able to referCapital projects