McKesson Foundation Grant: above $25,000

The McKesson Foundation Grant provides funding above $25,000 to support health equity initiatives across North America. The foundation prioritizes projects that align with strategic pillars: reducing cancer burdens, preparing the healthcare workforce, and enhancing crisis response. Eligible organizations include national and local nonprofits. Funding is limited to specific regions and assessed based on demonstrated need and expected impact.

NOTE: The McKesson Foundation accepts applications for funding requests above $25,000 February 1 through April 30 each year. We accept funding requests up to $25,000 year-round. See page for requests up to $25,000 here.
Strategic Giving Pillars and Areas of Focus
The McKesson Foundation champions health equity by partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance efforts aligned with three strategic giving pillars and corresponding areas of focus:

• Reducing the Burden of Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 1.9M people will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2022 and two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These cancer diagnoses often create both a health and financial crisis for patients and their families. Studies show factors including race/ethnicity, health insurance status and income can affect the timing of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as their survival and financial impact.
Prevention provide education and services to encourage people to adopt healthy diets, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and protect their skin.Screening and Treatment increase awareness of the importance of screenings, early detection and timely treatment among vulnerable populations; provide free health screenings for patients and connect them to care.Financial/Logistical Assistance connect uninsured and underinsured patients to programs providing low or no-cost co-pays and social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, e.g., transportation, childcare, healthy food, home meal delivery; reduce the economic burden of low-income patients with emergency funds for rent, utilities and other household expenses.
Preparing Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce
Patients report that they feel more heard and are more compliant with medical guidance when they share race/ethnicity with their healthcare practitioner. Nearly a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, yet the combined Black and Hispanic representation among oncologists is 8 percent and the combined Black, Indigenous and Hispanic representation among pharmacists is 10.7 percent. Closing the gap between diverse representation among the general population and among healthcare practitioners will improve health equity and patient outcomes.
Oncology Professionalsincrease underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student recruitment and retention;increase all health professionals’ cultural competency to better serve a diverse patient population.Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians  increase URiM recruitment and retention; prepare students for broader pharmacist roles; leverage pharmacists’ extensive training, community presence and public trust to serve vulnerable and rural patient populations.Student Engagement increase students’ awareness of STEM careers; support students’ financial literacy; help prepare middle and high school students for higher education.
Accelerating Crisis Response
With the increased frequency and intensity of climate events, more people across North America need temporary or extended shelter, as well as food and medications, during and in the aftermath of crises. And with 10 percent of the population in both Canada and the U.S. living in food insecure households, programs to provide regular, nutritious meals to children, families and seniors can reduce chronic disease and improve long-term health.
Preparednesssupport relief agencies’ efforts to prepare for forecasted as well as unforeseen emergencies; support relief agencies’ efforts to help people become Red Cross Ready.Disaster Relief and Recovery mobilize resources to provide acute services, such as water, food, shelter, comfort kits, medicines, and healthcare for people affected by natural disasters or crises;help families return to normalcy after a disaster.Medicine and Food assist vulnerable individuals and communities by supporting acute and chronic care services that provide medicines and food.

Eligibility

The Foundation supports both national and local organizations. For organizations working at a national level, program scope can be across the United States and/or Canada or in targeted regions. For organizations working locally or regionally, the Foundation has eight priority locations: Atlanta, Ga.; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; Montreal, Quebec; Richmond, Va.; and Toronto, Ontario. Funding to local organizations serving outside these communities is unlikely to be approved.All funding requests are assessed on the project’s alignment with the Foundation’s strategic giving pillars, demonstrated need, expected impact, cost, and other evaluation criteria.

Ineligibility

Examples of areas the Foundation does not fund include:Event sponsorshipsDirect donations, scholarships, or grants to individualsPolitical campaigns and legislative lobbying effortsBuilding, capital, or endowment campaignsFaith-based organizations, unless the activities being funded are accessible to the general public and are not aimed at promoting one religion or faith over any otherOrganizations without U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) charitable certification or equivalency, if internationalPrograms based outside the United States or CanadaBiomedical research; clinical research and trials; or research on treatments, cures, drug therapies, or medical devicesOrganizations whose primary purpose it is to re-grant funding receivedOrganizations and programs that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin or citizenship, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief, except where those activities support the Foundation’s commitment to diversity and the elimination of health disparities.