New health grants open for Valley organizations

New grants of up to $20,000 are available for San Joaquin Valley organizations working to improve community health, the Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program Management announced this week.

The Sierra Health Fund targets groups in Merced, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties that work to advance programs and policy changes that promote health equity.

Applications are due by noon Dec. 1, and awards will be announced in March.

Earlier this year, nearly $630,000 was awarded to 30 organizations working to reduce health disparities in the Valley.

In Merced, some of the previous grantees include Golden Valley Health Centers, which received $10,000 for its community safety program known as Neighbors United for a Better South Merced; the Merced Organizing Project, which received $20,000 for its Youth 4 Tomorrow program; as well as United Way of Merced, which was awarded $15,000 for its Hmong Cultural and Wellness Center.

Applicants are encouraged to review the 2015 Funding Opportunity and participate in a conference in early October. More information can be found in the foundation’s site at www.shfcenter.org/sjvhealthfund.

According to the guidelines, this opportunity is for new prospective grantees only, and previously funded San Joaquin Valley Health Fund grantees will be eligible for funding under a different process announced later.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 2:59 PM with the headline "New health grants open for Valley organizations."