What We Do
The John Muir Community Health Fund (CHF) was formed as an independent community benefit organization in 1997, when the John Muir and Mt. Diablo health systems merged. John Muir Health supports the CHF with $1 million annually in grant-making funds aimed at improving the health and wellness of underserved individuals in Central and East Contra Costa County.
We are especially focused on addressing the social determinants of health, including: Economic Mobility/Dignity, Food Access/Housing, Education/Mentorship, Healthcare Access & Behavioral Health. We prioritize partnerships with community-based organizations that address these social determinants in ways that reflect our priority funding criteria
- Seek systemic change. Large, systemic concerns such as poverty or racism, often limit access to services. Lasting improvements in health and wellness benefit from groups willing to tackle these big picture concerns.
- Build increased community capacity. Because we want the initiatives we support to last, we seek grantees that build the capacity of the community to meet critical needs.
- Support emerging organizations. We are increasingly interested in identifying and helping to build the capacity of emerging leaders and organizations that address the root causes of poor health.
- Partner strategically. Lasting health initiatives that optimize their impact are often those in which organizations work collaboratively with existing or emerging services. We prioritize support for such organizations.
- Demonstrate Representative Leadership. Lifting up leaders that are representatives of underserved populations in the nonprofit sector is critical for redressing past and current biases while also honoring lived experiences.
- Bring lived experience to the table. The best solutions often emerge organically from individuals and communities designing solutions for their own needs. We support organizations that incorporate people with lived experience in their leadership and decision-making processes