The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is a private philanthropic organization operating in southeastern Pennsylvania. As a licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the Foundation has focused on improving community health and advancing access to care since its inception. It supports a range of initiatives through strategic grants, partnerships, and research efforts. Its core areas of impact include healthcare access, the health workforce, and community health, with the overarching goal of fostering a stronger, healthier region.
Grantmaking from the Foundation is mission-aligned and tightly focused. To apply, organizations must be registered as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and meet additional public charity requirements under Section 509(a)(1) or (2), or qualify as Type I or II supporting organizations. Applicants must be based in or serve one or more of the following counties in southeastern Pennsylvania: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia. The Foundation requires all applicants to provide services equitably and without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The Foundation does not fund a variety of ineligible activities and entities, including capital construction, award dinners, endowments, grants to individuals, fundraising events, religious activities, and political causes or campaigns. Additionally, any organization whose mission does not align with the Foundation’s stated goals will be deemed ineligible.
The Foundation outlines its priorities and past initiatives publicly and encourages potential applicants to review these materials to assess alignment. While specific programmatic or application cycles are not detailed in the public grant information, applicants are expected to demonstrate alignment with one or more of the Foundation’s areas of impact. Submission steps, evaluation criteria, and application components are not specified in detail.
Prospective applicants can contact the Foundation at 1-855-422-3386 or by emailing [email protected]. The Foundation is headquartered at 1901 Market Street, 37th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1480. Though no deadlines or recurring cycles are detailed, organizations are encouraged to initiate contact for further guidance on timing and process.
