What We Fund

The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust (Trust) is a non-profit, public benefit health care foundation dedicated to building a healthier community in the greater Pajaro Valley. The Trust provides grants for projects that advance our mission to improve the health and quality of life for all people of the greater Pajaro Valley. The Trust welcomes applications from organizations that meet the criteria below.

Geographic Focus

Applicant organizations must provide or plan to provide programs/services benefiting the health of residents in the Trust's primary geographic service area, which consists of three zip codes: 95076, 95019, and 95004. Communities within this service area include Watsonville, Pajaro, Freedom, and Aromas. The home office of the applicant organization need not be located in the Pajaro Valley, but the applicant organization must demonstrate that it provides or plans to provide services that directly benefit residents of the Pajaro Valley.

Core Grantmaking Programs

For projects to be eligible for funding they must address one or more of the Trust's current strategic program areas. The Trust has committed to focusing its program and grantmaking activities in the following areas through June 2015:

• Diabetes and Contributing Factors
• Oral Health
• Access to Care
• Health Professions

Please refer to the 2010-2015 Program Strategic Plan for more information on the Trust’s strategic program areas and specific goals..

Target Populations

In addition to the four core grantmaking programs, the Trust remains committed to making a special effort to support programs and projects that serve the following populations: Children & Youth (Ages 0-21); Farm Workers and their Families; and Low-Income and Underserved Individuals.

Types of Organizations

The applicant organization must be a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization; a school-based health program; or have a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt organization as a fiscal sponsor.  In general, the Trust's Board of Directors prefers not to fund programs or projects administered by a city, county, state, or federal government with the exception of school-based health programs.  Other exceptions will be considered on a limited basis when the Board of Directors believes that funding a proposed project involving government will best serve the Trust's mission and goals as outlined in the Trust's strategic plan.

Types of Grant Support

The Trust Board of Directors prefers to provide program/project support and does not generally provide capacity-building, core operating, or capital grants.  Exceptions have been made when this type of support was included as part of a program/project grant.

Multi-year Grants

The Trust generally provides support for one year.  Multi-year grants are rarely considered and only after accessing a number of factors, such as the feasibility of the program without multi-year funds and the benefits to the community. Funding from the Trust is not intended as a source of ongoing support.

Consecutive Years of Foundation Support

There is no strict policy about the number of years an organization is eligible to apply for additional support. However, grantees are expected to seek funding from other sources for ongoing support.

Commitment to Cultural Competency

The Trust believes that organizational performance is greatly enhanced when people of different backgrounds and perspectives are engaged in an organization's activities and decision-making process. It is with that belief in mind that the Trust requires all applicant organizations to have a nondiscrimination policy in place and show a commitment to developing and maintaining organizational cultural competency.

What We Don't Fund

In general, the Trust does not give grants to:

• Projects that do not substantially benefit residents of the Pajaro Valley.
• Projects and proposals unrelated to the Trust's mission, eligibility requirements, and current strategic plan funding priorities and objectives.
• Individuals, with the exception of the Trust's scholarship programs.
• Religious organizations for secular purposes.
• Endowments, building campaigns, annual fund appeals, fundraising events, or celebrations.
• Commercial ventures.

At the discretion of the Board, the Trust’s grantmaking policies may be modified in response to changing circumstances and priorities.

How to Apply

Grants from the Trust are awarded annually through a competitive process to organizations that have programs or projects that advance the strategic goals in each of the Trust’s four program areas.  The Trust issues grant guidelines for competitive grants by November 15 of each year.  All organizations seeking a grant from the Trust should apply through this process. In order to apply, organizations must follow the specific directions outlined in the  grant guidelines. Applicants will find important information and downloads on this website to guide them through the process. Organizations may also request a hard copy of the grant guidelines .  It is important that applicant organizations read all instructions carefully to determine if their project addresses one of the specific strategic program area goals, and if the organization and project meet the eligibility criteria.

Beginning in 2010, all interested applicants will be required to submit a letter of intent (LOI) prior to being invited to submit a formal proposal.  Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis across all four strategic program areas, and the Trust will no longer have separate direct and responsive grant application processes.

LOIs must be received by 4:00 p.m. on the due date. The LOI must be submitted by email. After the LOIs are reviewed, a formal proposal will be requested from those applicants whose projects best address the Trust’s program guidelines and priorities.  Applicants will be provided with the necessary information for completing the application process at that time.  Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.  The Foundation's Grants Review Committee and Board of Directors meets in January,February, and March to review LOIs and grant applications.  Applicants will be notified no later than 30 days after the Board of Directors' meeting inApril.

Grantmaking Philosophy

IMPLEMENT OUTCOME MEASURES TO TRACK PROGRESS IN THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY:  Through the establishment of long-term outcome measures, the Trust will be able to track fluctuations in the health status of the community, particularly in the Trust’s strategic program areas.  These outcomes will provide direction in all program activities and will provide a strategic framework to which all grants can be aligned.  To this end, all grants brought forward for funding will advance these outcome measures.

MAKE DATA-INFORMED DECISIONS:  Utilizing the available data from trusted sources, such as the Community Assessment Project, the California Health Information Survey, the Surgeon General, and the County Health Department, the Trust will make informed decisions regarding program direction.  The Trust will continue to access this information and use it to keep its programs relevant.

UTILIZE AGREED UPON PROGRAM DELIVERY APPROACHES:  The Trust has identified specific program delivery approaches that dictate the program activities of the organization.  These include grantmaking, convening, operating the Diabetes Health Center, and participating in other special projects approved by the board.  This allows the Trust to focus on the activities that can have the greatest impact rather than taking on additional activities that would negatively impact the Trust’s resources and effectiveness.

STAY IN FOR THE LONG HAUL: It is imperative that the Trust set an example in the community as an organization that is willing to stay committed to its goals.  As issues evolve, the Trust has evolved with them and will continue to support the areas of greatest need in our community until a significant impact can be seen.

BE FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE:  The Trust will strive to adhere to the strategic direction set forth by the Board; however, it must remain flexible in order to be able to respond to the most pressing needs of the community. 

ADHERE TO BOARD APPROVED STRATEGIC PROGRAM AREAS AND TARGET POPULATIONS:  The Board approves the direction of the Trust’s program activities.  The Grants Review Committee will uphold these directions and keep abreast of the most relevant issues affecting the strategic program areas and target populations to maintain consistent support of the issues most important to the Trust.

Past Grants

Please visit the Past Grants page to see a comprehensive list of the grants awarded by the Trust.

Grantee Profiles

The Trust is pleased to feature stories about the vital nonprofit programs and services that donations to the Trust help to fund. These stories, and the people who tell them, inspire us with their dedication to improving the quality of life and health for all the residents of our community.

• Dental Program Made for the Community
• Bright Future for the Children of Our Community
• New Community Health Program Fights Tooth Decay: Developing Healthy Smiles to Last a Lifetime
• Life Lab Science Program: Kids Learn How to Plant it, Grow it, Eat it!
• Population Services International: Teen Advocates Join the Childhood Obesity Battle

Contact Us

For more information on our grantmaking programs or eligibility requirements, please contact Kathleen McCarthy, Program & Grants Manager, by phone at (831) 761-5695 or by email at Grants Info.

For all other inquires, please contact:

Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust
85 Nielson Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

Tel (831) 761-5639

info@pvhealthtrust.org