Guidelines

Focus areas for grant-making include:

• Health and Well Being: Our highest priority is serving as a leading foundation for organizations that promote health and well being. Programs that promote basic health and human needs such as healthcare, housing and food, as well as higher levels of mental and physical wellness can be supported through HCA grants.
• Childhood and Youth Development: Our second priority is supporting organizations engaged in promoting positive growth and development in children and youth. We award grants intended to promote success in school, character development, responsibility, service and leadership.
• Arts: Finally, the HCA Foundation will support arts organizations engaged in community outreach and educational programs that uniquely serve children and adults in the community.

Recommendations for foundation funding include consideration of the following criteria:

• Relationship to HCA's Mission/Strategy
• Critical Need in Our Community
• History and Depth of Relationship with the Organization (Board Service/Significant Year-Round Volunteer Involvement)
• Funding Based on Budget Size
• Measurable Outcomes

New applicants are asked to complete a preliminary one- to two-page letter of inquiry to the Foundation at the address below to ensure that the proposed project, organization, and goals align with HCA Foundation priorities. Please describe the proposed project, its goals and objectives, and the approximate level of funding required. Foundation staff will then review and follow up with the applicant organization.

Organizations must have a full and updated GivingMatters.com profile to be considered for funding. For more information please go to the Giving Matters site.

Operational and program requests are reviewed at all quarterly board meetings. In 2011, the Foundation will accept capital request on an exception basis. Please contact Foundation staff for more information.

The Foundation makes charitable contributions to tax-exempt 501(c) 3 organizations as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Because the Foundation focuses its giving in Middle Tennessee, all requests outside of the Nashville area should be submitted to the closest HCA facility location or division office. A map of HCA facilities may be accessed on the HCAHealthcare.com site.

Restrictions

The Foundation does not consider requests for:

• individuals or their projects
• private foundations
• political activities
• advertising or sponsorships of events
• social events or similar fund-raising activities

As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not ordinarily support: organizations in their first three years of operation and organizations involved in research, sports, environmental, wildlife, civic and international affairs. The Foundation does not accept proposals from individual churches or schools, but will support broad faith-based initiatives consistent with our mission and guidelines.

Organizations that receive funding will be asked to submit expected results and semi-annual progress reports using appropriate forms below.

• Capital Funding Progress Report Update (Excel Document)
• General Operational Funding Progress Report Update (Excel Document)
• Program Management Progress Report Update (Excel Document)

The purpose of this evaluation strategy is to provide a consistent and comprehensive framework of accountability and continuous quality improvement for successful agencies and programs. Grants are classified by type of grant as shown below:

• General Operational: Organization will report on attainment of goals and objectives of strategic plan.
• Program: Organization will briefly summarize program and use logic model to identify and report on short and long term result.
• Capital: Organization will identify and report on capital project budget and timeline.

Levels of funding include:

• Less than $20,000: Grantee submits plan for expected results and semi-annual reports. Foundation staff will conduct informal review prior to subsequent grant approval.
• $20,000-$99,000: Grantee submits plan for expected results and semi-annual reports. Foundation staff will conduct formal written review prior to subsequent grant approval.
• $100,000 or more: Grantee submits plan for expected results. Foundation staff may contract for independent evaluation, possibly external to grantee. Capital grants will include a proposed timetable for design and construction.

Online Applications