Home Community Benefit Grant Program

The El Camino Healthcare District (ECHD), in collaboration with El Camino Health, administers a Community Benefit Grant Program designed to address significant health needs across its geographic service area. ECHD serves specific communities including Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and portions of Cupertino, with funding limited to programs that directly serve residents who live, work, or attend school within these district boundaries. The program reflects El Camino Health’s broader commitment to health equity and wellness, targeting underserved populations and addressing disparities through focused community investments. The FY2027 grant cycle covers the period from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The application window opened on December 10, 2025, and the final deadline for submission is Friday, February 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST. Proposals will be reviewed between March and May 2026, with final notifications issued following the June board meetings. Applicants may apply for either Program Grants or Support Grants. Support Grants are limited to $30,000 and are available to agencies with operating budgets under $1.5 million. This year’s cycle encourages applicants to request funding based on current organizational needs, with additional funding expected to be available to support expanded or innovative programming. Applicants must propose programs that align with the five priority health needs identified in the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy Plan. These priorities include: Healthcare Access and Delivery (including oral health), Behavioral Health (including trauma and domestic violence), Diabetes and Obesity, Chronic Conditions (excluding diabetes and obesity), and Economic Stability (including housing, food insecurity, and workforce support). Strategies may range from increasing access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services, to programs supporting disease management, independent living, and workforce training. Programs that offer culturally appropriate food distribution, health screenings, education, and mental health support are also encouraged. To be eligible, organizations must be nonprofits, school districts, safety net clinics, government-sponsored health programs, or community coalitions with a demonstrated service history within the District. Programs must exclusively benefit individuals within the defined district boundaries. The application process is conducted online, with applicants required to submit various materials including a W9, financial documentation (audit or Form 990), and board rosters. The platform supports submission tracking and allows applicants to access and revise applications prior to the deadline. Review and approval processes are overseen by both the Community Benefit Advisory Council and the ECHD Board of Directors. Applicants are encouraged to clearly define the funding need, particularly how requested funds will complement or expand existing services. A minimum request threshold is suggested at $15,000, below which applicants may be directed toward alternative funding opportunities, such as sponsorships. Evaluation criteria will include program alignment with funding priorities, service area eligibility, evidence of health disparities being addressed, and projected outcomes with associated metrics. Applicants are also required to set specific program targets across four metric types: individuals served, services provided, collective impact, and program outcomes. Reporting occurs at mid-year and at the end of the grant cycle. All metrics must reflect only the proportion of services funded by the Community Benefit grant. For program grants, outcome metrics are mandatory, while support grant applicants may optionally include them. Applications must be fully completed, submitted online, and include all required documentation to be considered for funding in the FY2027 cycle.