Getting good medical care is about much more than health benefits. For one West Marin resident, it also means going to a clinic where he and his family are known and feel welcomed—having a “medical home.”  Read more.

Learn more about improving community health

Read the guidelines for this grant area

Find out about the results of our grantmaking

MCF Strategic Plan:

Improving Community Health

Because of social, economic, and political inequities that exist in Marin, low-income residents and people of color are more likely to struggle with poor health than their higher-income/white counterparts. MCF is addressing these inequities by ensuring access to health services and supporting efforts to change environments that impact people’s health. The Foundation works from the premise that individuals who can access quality, affordable, and culturally appropriate health services and who live in healthy communities are more likely to lead healthy lives. Reducing health disparities ultimately creates a stronger community.

Strategy: Improve the health of underserved residents

MCF is funding in three areas to support this strategy:

We are subsidizing health insurance premiums for children who do not qualify for public programs.

We are supporting efforts that strengthen the delivery of health services, with a focus on efforts that coordinate the work of providers to identify, treat, and prevent chronic disease among underserved patients.

And we are funding programs that address the social determinants of health, such as access to affordable healthy food by low-income residents and people of color.

Grants made since the implementation of MCF’s Strategic Plan:

Grants
Organization Description Awarded Amount
CaliforniaKids Healthcare Foundation To provide access to medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care services to 1,200 children. $375,000
CaliforniaKids Healthcare Foundation To provide health insurance for children who are not eligible for public insurance programs. $80,420
CaliforniaKids Healthcare Foundation To provide over 1,200 children access to medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care services. $125,000
CaliforniaKids Healthcare Foundation To provide over 1,200 children access to medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care services. $125,000
Center Point, Inc. To support planning efforts for collaboration between Center Point and Marin Community Clinic. $75,000
Coastal Health Alliance To implement new business and clinical models aimed at improving fiscal health and clinical efficiencies $100,000
Coastal Health Alliance To provide technical assistance for the search for a new Executive Director. $8,811
Coastal Health Alliance To provide technical assistance for the search for a new Executive Director. $3,317
Coastal Health Alliance To support the provision of health services in West Marin. $121,000
Coastal Health Alliance To upgrade clinical systems, including integrated practice management systems and electronic health record systems. $90,000
Conservation Corps North Bay To construct and operate community garden and healthy foods projects in Marin. $40,000
Planned Parenthood Golden Gate To support the San Rafael Health Center, offering reproductive programs for low-income women and teens. $25,000
Healthy Marin Partnership Fund of the Marin Community Foundation To support community engagement activities that will contribute qualitative data to the 2010 Community Needs Assessment and Plan. $20,000
Huckleberry Youth Programs To support integrated health services. $150,000
Huckleberry Youth Programs To support provision of direct health services for youth in Marin. $170,000
Huckleberry Youth Programs To support the Huckleberry Wellness Center. $150,000
Legal Aid of Marin To support the improvment of poor housing conditions of vulnerable Marin residents. $66,500
Legal Aid of Marin To support the Marin Medical-Legal Partnership, through which Marin Community Clinic patients receive legal support to address issues that affect their health. $35,000
Marin Adolescent Health Network To support a one-year planning grant to develop a core system of adolescent health services. $40,000
Marin Agricultural Institute connect low-income residents to local farms $40,000
Marin Agricultural Institute To expand access to locally grown, healthy food. $20,000
Marin Agricultural Institute To support creating social & political change from the ground up. $40,000
Marin City Health and Wellness Center To provide medical services to the homeless, indigent, and low-income populations of southern Marin. $75,000
Marin City Health and Wellness Center To support provision of health services and build capacity of the Wellness Center. $85,000
Marin City Health and Wellness Center To support the provision of health services in Southern Marin. $100,000
Marin Community Clinics To establish a sustainable, pay-as-you-go health care program to improve access for Marin's uninsured employees and their families. $120,000
Marin Community Foundation To support research and analysis related to the Improving Community Health program area (contract with Celia Graterol). $5,250
Marin Community Foundation To support research and analysis related to the Improving Community Health program area. $34,063
Marin Organic support its organic lunch program $50,000
Marin Organic To support school lunch program. $60,000
Marin Organic To support the School Lunch and Gleaning Program. $30,000
MarinLink To support the Marin County Food Systems Assessment. $30,000
Novato Unified School District To Novato & San Rafael School District's - Chef to School Initiative. $54,000
Novato Youth Center To support health services for youth and families at the Novato Wellness Center. $85,000
Novato Youth Center To support provision of direct health services for youth in Marin. $90,000
Novato Youth Center To support services offered through Novato Youth Wellness Collaborative. $85,000
Operation Access To provide donated outpatient surgical and specialty care for low-income, uninsured residents of Marin. $25,000
Operation Access To Support the provision of Specialty Care for the Underserved in Marin County. $35,000
Parent Services Project, Inc. To support a network of Promotores (lay community health workers) in Marin. $150,000
Partnership HealthPlan of California To support the provision of health insurance premiums for families ineligible for Medi-Cal. $400,000
PDI Surgery Center To provide case management through PDI Surgery Center. $10,000
PDI Surgery Center To support the provision of specialty dental care. $13,000
Ritter Center To support primary and urgent care for low-income, homeless, and uninsured patients. $100,000
Ritter Center To support provision of health services. $100,000
Ritter Center To support the provision of direct health services. $100,000
San Geronimo Valley Community Center To plan and pilot a wellness center. $15,000
San Geronimo Valley Community Center To support a wellness center pilot program. $20,000
Youth Leadership Institute To engage a youth/adult coalition in understanding the importance of and advocating for healthy, sustainable food offerings in school. $60,000
Youth Leadership Institute To support Policy Change to Improve the Supply of Healthy Food in Marin Schools. $67,500
Total Improving Community Health Grants: $3,898,861.00