Sierra Health Foundation
Sierra Health Foundation is a Sacramento-based private philanthropy that promotes health, racial equity, and racial justice across Northern California and statewide through The Center. The foundation conducts strategic grantmaking and programs (including a Responsive Grants program) and publishes funding opportunities and application guidance on its website.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
California-based or California-serving nonprofits working on health, racial equity or related community/public policy strategies, typically seeking small-to-mid sized grants or responsive support.
Good Fit
- • Organizational work explicitly tied to health, racial equity, or racial justice in California.
- • Programs that serve Northern California communities or have clear statewide California impact.
- • Project budgets appropriate to small-to-medium awards (typical grants cluster under $25K with some larger exceptions).
- • Ability to engage with a Responsive Grants application and follow public submission instructions.
- • Community-rooted organizations or policy groups with measurable local outcomes.
Geography
Observed giving is strongly California-focused—97% of dollars went to CA in the latest year—while a small number of grants were made to recipients in about ten other states, indicating state-level concentration with limited out-of-state activity.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a broad portfolio (237 distinct recipients and 250 grants) with many small awards and a high count of new grantees, so the observed recipient set is wide and not limited to a tiny circle.
New Applicants
Direct evidence supports newcomer access: the foundation publishes application guidance (a Responsive Grants program), lists a submission contact, and the latest year included a large number of new recipients (159), so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
