2026 Community Benefit Grant Program

The El Camino Health & El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit Program for FY2026 is a funding opportunity aimed at addressing the health needs of underserved populations within the community. El Camino Health and El Camino Healthcare District each offer separate grant programs designed to improve access to healthcare and support the community in addressing key health disparities. The main distinction between the two programs is geographic, with the Healthcare District focusing on individuals who live, work, or go to school in its defined boundaries, while El Camino Health’s service area includes additional regions within northern Santa Clara County. Both entities are committed to funding programs that respond to the community’s health challenges, especially those impacting underserved populations. The funding priorities are rooted in the findings of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), with specific focus on five key health needs: healthcare access and delivery (including oral health), behavioral health (including domestic violence and trauma), diabetes and obesity, chronic conditions, and economic stability (including food insecurity, housing, and homelessness). These priority areas guide the types of programs eligible for funding, which should aim to increase healthcare access, behavioral health support, chronic disease management, and improve economic stability. The Community Benefit Program accepts applications for program grants that support these health priorities. El Camino Health funds only program grants, while the El Camino Healthcare District provides both program grants and support grants for smaller organizations (with an operating budget of under $1.5 million) requesting amounts up to $30,000. Organizations applying for funding must demonstrate that their programs serve individuals in the appropriate geographic areas: Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and parts of Cupertino for the Healthcare District, and a broader region including these cities and other areas like San Jose, Santa Clara, and Saratoga for El Camino Health. The application process is carried out online. Applicants must submit a variety of documents and information, including a detailed program description, budget, health needs statement, and performance metrics. Required documents also include a W9 form, financial statements (audited or unaudited), and a roster of the organization’s Executive Director and Board of Directors. The review process for applications involves evaluation by respective committees: the Hospital Community Benefit Committee for El Camino Health and the Community Benefit Advisory Council for the Healthcare District. Notifications of awards will be sent in late June, with formal agreements following the decisions. Applications for grants must demonstrate a clear link between the proposed program and one or more of the identified health needs. Additionally, programs should focus on underserved and disadvantaged populations, reflect local diversity, and prioritize operational programmatic costs rather than capital expenses. The program encourages new and innovative projects but also welcomes applications from established service providers. Key dates for the FY2026 cycle, including the application deadline, are not explicitly listed, but further details can be found on the respective websites of El Camino Health and El Camino Healthcare District. Interested applicants can contact the Community Benefit Program team via email at CommunityBenefit_ECH@elcaminohealth.org or by phone at 650.940.7052.