Health and healthcare Grants

A community mental health organization, a cancer research institute and a rural hospital may all fit under Health & Healthcare. 

However, they should not be looking for the same foundations. 

Grants for health and healthcare can support hospitals, community health organizations, disease research, mental health services, rehabilitation programs, public health initiatives and many others. 

Depending on the foundation, funding may be used for patient services, medical research, equipment, staffing, mental health programming, prevention programs, rehabilitation, community outreach, facilities and many other health needs. 

The key is to identify foundations that have funded programs similar to those you are offering in the past. 

In this article, we will examine health and healthcare grants, what they can be used for, and how to research foundations that provide programs like yours. 

Find Foundations for Health and Healthcare Grants

What Are Health and Healthcare Grants? 

Health and healthcare grants are the funds that are donated to non-profits and other institutions working to improve the physical and mental health of people, provide proper medical care, conduct research on different diseases and illnesses and ensure that the communities have access to healthcare. 

Funding may cover areas such as: 

• Hospitals and other healthcare facilities 
• Community health programs 
• Disease research 
• Mental health services 
• Rehabilitation 
• Public health initiatives 
• Maternal and child health 
• Preventive care 
• Health education 
• Healthcare access 
• Medical equipment 
• Patient support 
• Health equity initiatives 

Funding sources may be: 

• Private foundations 
• Family foundations 
• Community foundations 
• Corporate foundations 
• Government agencies 
• Medical research foundations 
• Charitable trusts that focus on health and healthcare 
• And other philanthropic organizations 

Each health funder has its priorities and focus area. 

One foundation may be interested in supporting cancer research. 

The other one may fund mental health programs. 

Another foundation may fund hospitals, healthcare access or public health initiatives in one particular community. 

That is why being able to define a foundation as a “health funder” is only the beginning. 

The key is to understand: 

Is this foundation funding the kind of healthcare organizations, programs, population and geographic area you are servicing? 

How to Find Foundations for Grants 

Who Can Apply for Health and Healthcare Grants? 

Health and healthcare funding is open to various non-profit organizations and institutions, including: 

• Nonprofit hospitals 
• Community health centers 
• Medical research organizations 
• Mental health non-profits 
• Rehabilitation programs 
• Addiction treatment and recovery organizations 
• Public health organizations 
• Disease-specific organizations 
• Patient advocacy groups 
• Hospice and palliative care organizations 
• Maternal health programs 
• Child health organizations 
• Disability and rehabilitation services 
• Health education non-profits 
• Preventive health programs 
• Mobile health programs 
• Rural health organizations 
• Medical clinics 
• Universities and research institutions 
• Health access programs 

There are foundations that will also fund universities, medical schools, public agencies, tribal or Indigenous organizations and community organizations providing health-related programs. 

Eligibility requirements differ from foundation to foundation. 

Before approaching a funder, make sure they fund your organization type, healthcare focus, population and geographic area. 

What Can Health and Healthcare Grants Be Used For? 

Health grants can be used to fund various expenses, but there is no universal list of allowed costs. 

What healthcare grant funding can cover depends on the specific foundation, the program and the award terms. 

Common Healthcare Funding Needs 

Funding NeedsExamples
Patient Services	Support, navigation, transportation and patient assistance
Mental Health	Counseling, crisis support, therapy, prevention and community programs
Medical Research	Research on diseases, clinical research and research equipment
Equipment	Medical devices, diagnostic equipment and assistive technology
Public Health	Prevention, outreach, screening, education and community health programs
Rehabilitation	Physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy and recovery programs
Staffing	Healthcare professionals, counselors, program staff and specialists when permitted
Facilities	Clinic improvements, hospital upgrades and accessibility improvements
Health Education	Prevention programs, workshops and community education
Technology	Telehealth, patient systems, health data and digital-access initiatives
Operating Support	Salaries, rent and other operating expenses when permitted

What is grant funding?

Grants for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities 

Hospitals and healthcare facilities may have many different funding needs beyond provision of medical care itself. 

Grant funding may be used to: 

• Procure medical equipment 
• Develop patient-care programs 
• Improve facilities 
• Launch community health initiatives 
• Conduct staff training 
• Implement patient navigation 
• Develop transportation programs 
• Develop technology solutions 
• Ensure access to healthcare 
• Develop specialized treatment programs 
• Conduct capital projects 

The foundation that funds hospital capital projects may not necessarily fund community health programming – and vice versa. 

Take a closer look at what the past hospital grants have been funding. 

Grants for Disease Research 

The organizations dedicated to research may seek grants for better understanding, prevention and treatment of diseases and illnesses. 

Grant funding may be used to: 

• Conduct laboratory research 
• Conduct clinical research 
• Conduct medical studies 
• Purchase research equipment 
• Collect data 
• Conduct patient studies 
• Hire research staff 
• Provide fellowships and training 
• Conduct collaborative research projects 
• Conduct translational research 

Public funding is also significant in this area. 

For mental-health research specifically, the National Institute of Mental Health also publishes research funding opportunities and grant mechanisms. 

Private foundations can also be a good source of research funding especially if the giving history of the foundation shows strong interest in a particular disease, institution or research field. 

Mental Health Grants for Nonprofits 

The organizations providing services related to mental health may seek foundation grants for services such as prevention and education, counseling and crisis intervention. 

Grant funding may be used to: 

• Provide counseling programs 
• Conduct therapy 
• Provide crisis intervention services 
• Youth mental health services 
• Suicide prevention programs 
• Conduct peer-support programs 
• Provide community mental health services 
• Conduct mental health education 
• Develop trauma-informed programs 
• Provide family support 
• Conduct outreach 
• Provide workforce training 

Mental health is a broad category. 

A foundation interested in youth mental health services may not be interested in adult addiction services. A funder that is focused on research may not fund counseling. 

Take a closer look at what programs and populations the foundation funds. 

Rehabilitation Grants 

The organizations providing rehabilitation services can help people recover their abilities, independence and quality of life after illness, injury, disability or other health issues. 

Grant funding may be used to: 

• Conduct physical rehabilitation 
• Conduct occupational therapy 
• Conduct speech therapy 
• Procure assistive technology 
• Adapt technology 
• Provide community reintegration 
• Provide recovery programs 
• Conduct patient transportation 
• Help people live independently 
• Educate caregivers 

The rehabilitation programs may align with other foundation priorities such as disability services, senior population, veterans, healthcare access or community support. 

Your organization may belong to several funding categories. 

Public Health Grants 

The public health funding may focus on improving the health of communities and population rather than only providing medical care to individuals. 

Some possible programs may be: 

• Disease prevention 
• Health screenings 
• Vaccine initiatives 
• Community health education 
• Chronic disease prevention 
• Maternal and child health 
• Nutrition 
• Health data 
• Public-health workforce development 
• Health equity 
• Emergency preparedness 

The CDC also provides grants and cooperative agreements for the organizations working on public-health initiatives. 

Private foundations can be a great supplement to public funding by supporting local prevention programs, community-based initiatives and health initiatives aligned with the mission of the foundation. 

Grants for Community Health and Healthcare Access 

For many organizations, the challenge is not creating a new treatment. 

The challenge is ensuring that people can access care. 

The grant funding may be used for: 

• Free or low-cost clinics 
• Mobile health services 
• Rural healthcare 
• Transportation services 
• Patient navigation services 
• Telehealth services 
• Health screenings 
• Conduct community outreach 
• Provide language-access services 
• Serving uninsured or underserved populations 

When researching foundations, take a closer look at what communities previous healthcare grants have been intended to serve. 

Grants for Maternal and Child Health 

The organizations dedicated to supporting mothers, infants, children and their families may also be eligible for healthcare funding. 

Some potential grant-supported programs may be: 

• Prenatal care 
• Maternal health 
• Infant health 
• Parenting education 
• Early childhood health 
• Nutrition 
• Postpartum support 
• Health screenings 
• Family health education 
• Community-based maternal health programs 

These programs may also be aligned with children and youth, family services, education and poverty reduction funding. 

Foundations That Support Health and Healthcare Organizations 

Here are some of the foundations in Grant Advance that have a history of providing funding to hospitals, healthcare organizations, medical research organizations, treatment programs and other health-related causes. 

These examples show why it is important to look at the past recipients, health focus, grant amounts, geography and repeat giving rather than only the interest of the foundation in health. 

FoundationsExamples of Healthcare and Health-related GivingGrant SizeGeographic & Giving InsightsGrant Advance Profile
100 Acre Wood Foundation	Some recent healthcare giving includes $1,000 to Pancreatic Cancer Cure Foundation in 2025; $10,000 to St. Luke’s University Health Network for the Sue Hoch Scholarship Fund in 2024; and $50,000 to St. Luke’s University Health Network for the St. Luke’s Hospital – Upper Bucks construction project in 2023.	Average: $8,414 Median: $2,200 Largest: $100,000	Based in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The visible giving history indicates a strong local and regional pattern, with several recipients located in Bucks County and surrounding communities. It has provided funds to hospitals, medical education and disease organizations.	View 100 Acre Wood Foundation in Grant Advance
100 Hearts 1 Mission Foundation Inc.	Some recent healthcare grants include $60,000 to Truxton Trust – Sabino Recovery Group for adult medical treatment in 2024; $1,000 to Tidewell Foundation for hospice care in 2024; $500 to Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for addiction treatment in 2023; and $200 to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation for research and patient support in 2023.	Average: $5,780 Median: $1,000 Largest: $66,174	Based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Grant Advance shows the giving in 15 states. Its health-related giving encompasses adult medical treatment, hospice care, addiction treatment, disease research and patient support.	View 100 Hearts 1 Mission Foundation Inc. in Grant Advance
12K Foundation	This foundation has been providing substantial repeat funding to Huntington Hospital including $100,000 in 2025 for health services and research, $100,000 in 2024, $150,000 in 2022, $150,000 in 2021 and $50,000 in 2020. Other examples of the healthcare giving include $20,000 to Doctors Without Borders for medical relief and $10,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation for health services, education and advocacy.	Average: $39,650 Median: $10,000 Largest: $150,000	Based in Pasadena, California. Grant Advance shows giving in 8 states. Its history is very helpful in demonstrating repeat healthcare funding with multiple substantial grants to the same hospital over several years.	View 12K Foundation in Grant Advance

What Can Health and Healthcare Non-profits Learn From These Examples? 

These examples show how diverse healthcare funders can be. 

The 100 Acre Wood Foundation shows local giving patterns including the funding of hospitals, medical education and disease organizations. 

The 100 Hearts 1 Mission Foundation covers a broader range of healthcare needs, including treatment, hospice care, addiction recovery, research and patient support. 

The 12K Foundation is another great example of a repeat funding – providing multiple substantial grants to the same healthcare organization over several years. 

When comparing health and healthcare funders, take into consideration: 

• Past recipients: Has the foundation funded hospitals or health organizations similar to yours? 
• Health focus: Does it support hospitals, disease research, mental health, treatment, rehabilitation, public health or some other specific area? 
• Grant purposes: What has the foundation funded in the past? 
• Grant amounts: Are the previous awards sufficient for your funding need? 
• Geography: Does it regularly fund organizations in your region? 
• Repeat giving: Does the foundation repeatedly fund certain hospitals, programs or healthcare organizations? 

Even if a foundation claims it supports health, the giving history can show the kind of healthcare funding it provides. 

Find More Foundations for Health and Healthcare Grants

How to Find Healthcare Grants for Your Non-profit Organization 

The search for “health grants” can be really wide and result in an enormous number of grants. 

Start by narrowing down the search by your organization’s area of work. 

Step 1. Define the Healthcare Need 

What do you need to fund? 

Do you need: 

• $25,000 for a mental health program? 
• Medical equipment for a clinic? 
• Funding for disease research? 
• Funding for patient transportation? 
• Funding for a rehabilitation program? 
• A community health initiative? 
• Facility improvements? 
• General operating support? 

Each of these funding needs may result in very different foundations. 

The more specific you are, the easier it will be to identify relevant giving patterns. 

Step 2. Identify All Relevant Funding Categories 

Do not assume that Health & Healthcare is the only category for you. 

A youth mental health program can be aligned with: 

• Health & Healthcare 
• Mental Health 
• Children and Youth 
• Human Services 
• Education 

A rehabilitation program for veterans can be aligned with: 

• Health 
• Disability Services 
• Veterans 
• Rehabilitation 
• Community Services 

Looking at your mission from multiple angles can help you find additional funders. 

Step 3. Research Foundations That Provide These Types of Funding 

Once you know the healthcare needs and the relevant funding categories, you can start researching the relevant foundations. 

Grant Search Engine for Nonprofits 

Step 4. Review Foundation’s Giving History 

Check the following: 

• Past recipients 
• Grant purposes 
• Grant amounts 
• Geographic focus 
• Type of health organizations funded 
• Population served 
• Diseases or health areas covered 
• Frequency of giving 
• Repeat recipients 
• Program versus capital or operating support 

For example, the foundation may have “Health” listed as its focus area but fund almost all of its grants to the major hospitals. 

If you run a small community mental health program, this detail can make the difference. 

Research Aligned Funders 

Step 5. Compare Grant Amounts and Geography 

Suppose your non-profit needs $75,000. 

One of the foundations regularly gives grants between $5,000 and $20,000. 

Another foundation provides $50,000 to $150,000 grants to organizations similar to yours. 

While the giving history does not tell you how much to request, it can help you to evaluate if your funding need is realistic for that funder. 

Geography is also important. 

Some health foundations fund nationally. 

Others concentrate on one hospital system, city, county, state or region. 

Compare the geography indicated by the foundation with where its past healthcare recipients are located. 

Step 6. Prioritize Strongest Healthcare Funders 

Not every health-focused foundation fits your pipeline. 

Prioritize your strongest prospects using: 

Mission + Health Focus + Population + Geography + Grant Size + Giving History 

The more aligned it is across these factors, the stronger your prospect can be. 

Find Aligned Foundations 

What Do Foundations Consider When Providing Healthcare Grants? 

Every foundation evaluates funding differently, but some factors can play a big role. 

A research foundation for cancer, a funder of mental health, and a health foundation serving the community all support health but fund entirely different work. 

Demonstrated Health Need 

Describe the need your program addresses. 

These may include: 

• Limited access to health 
• High health needs in the community 
• Missing mental health services 
• Disparities in health 
• Disease burden 
• Shortages in rural health 
• Rehabilitation needs 
• Barriers to care 

Include health statistics when relevant. 

Clear Use of Funding 

Describe exactly what the grant will pay for. 

For example: 

• Number of patients to serve 
• Program activities 
• Staffing 
• Equipment 
• Research 
• Outreach 
• Facilities 
• Transportation 
• Treatment support 

Evidence of Health Impact 

The correct outcomes will vary from program to program. 

Potential outcome measures may include: 

• Patients served 
• Screenings conducted 
• People linked to care 
• Treatment completion 
• Reduced waiting times 
• Increased access 
• Program participation 
• Rehabilitation progress 
• Research accomplishments 
• Participation in health education 
• Referrals conducted 
• Participant feedback 

Choose measures that align with the true purpose of your program. 

Public Health Grants vs. Private Foundation Grants 

There are multiple funding sources for health organizations. 

Government agencies fund public health, medical research, prevention, and other healthcare priorities. 

Researchers in mental health should also look for funding from NIMH. 

Another funding source is family foundations. 

In addition to the current health funding opportunities, one of the advantages of foundation research is the chance to learn about past giving patterns and select funders whose history matches the healthcare work of your organization. 

How Grant Advance Helps Health & Healthcare Organizations Research Foundation Funding 

Healthcare funder research includes visiting foundation websites, analyzing historical grants, comparing funding amounts, studying Form 990-PF and managing opportunities in spreadsheets. 

Grant Advance Solutions consolidates most of this research work into one place. 

Health and healthcare organizations can use Grant Advance to: 

• Find foundations that fund health and healthcare 
• Investigate funding categories related to your work 
• Narrow down foundations geographically 
• Analyze Foundation Profile Pages 
• Study historical grants 
• Examine previous healthcare recipients 
• Compare grant amounts 
• Discover funding patterns 
• Save potential funders 
• Manage funding opportunities 
• Conduct outreach and track deadlines 
• Prepare LOIs and proposals 
• Manage grant opportunities throughout the process 

The purpose is not to find every foundation that has ever funded healthcare programs. 

The goal is to find the foundations that will give you the justification to say: 

This funder might be suitable for our health program. 

Nonprofit Grant Search Engine 

Foundation Profile Pages 

Research Healthcare Funders Using Form 990-PF 

For U.S. private foundations, Form 990-PF provides data on such things as: 

• Foundation assets 
• Annual giving 
• Officers and directors 
• Previous recipients 
• Grant amounts 
• Grant purposes 
• Geographical giving patterns 

Using Form 990-PF can help health organizations better understand how a particular foundation distributes its funding rather than just rely on the mission statement. 

Find Foundations That Fund Health & Healthcare 

Not all foundations listing health among their priorities are right for healthcare nonprofits. 

What healthcare nonprofits need is the foundations whose historical grants indicate their connection to the work they do. 

Grant Advance Solutions helps healthcare organizations research foundation funders, analyze previous funding, find potential opportunities and manage the grant process in one place. 

Find foundations that fund hospitals, mental health, medical research, rehabilitation, public health and other healthcare programs. 

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Health and Healthcare Foundation Grant FAQ