Our two-tiered Systems Change and Spark Grants are designed to catalyze collaborative work that transforms systems through changes to policies and practices that improve the health for our communities.

Systems Change Grants invest in efforts that positively address complex community health challenges and reduce structural and/or systemic gaps in health outcomes or opportunities.

Grants Process

• The grant cycle opens in the Fall and awarded in the Spring.
• Letters of Intent (LOIs) are first reviewed by staff for clarity and conciseness in meeting these criteria.
• Select LOIs are invited to submit a full proposal and present to the Vitalyst grants review team.

Grant Criteria

• 2+ partners working collaboratively, the lead being an Arizona-based nonprofit serving Arizonans
• Clearly identified policy, systems, or environmental change
• Specific health outcomes to be improved and intersections of the Elements of a Healthy Community
• Framed with a health equity lens benefiting and including an identified population
• Budget consistent with the proposed scope of work
• Sustainable solution that endures after the grant funding

Award Amount
•Three-year awards
• Up to 175,000 total

Key Dates
Letter of Intent Due October 6, 2023
Proposals Due January 19, 2024
Presentations to Vitalyst team February 5 to February 9, 2024

• Not required, but to discuss your Systems Change Grant proposal with a Vitalyst team member, complete this Discovery form below and note interest in Systems Change Grants, and we will be in contact to schedule a 30-minute conversation via phone call or Zoom.
• Letters of Intent (LOIs) are due by 5:00 PM (MST-AZ) on Friday, October 6 to this Vitalyst online portal. Refer to these instructions for portal submission.
• Notifications of invitation to submit a full proposal will be made on Friday, December 9^th.

To learn more about what Systems Change means to Vitalyst and see links to the information sessions recording, slides and FAQs, click here.

System change takes time, so Spark Grants support collaborations in their journey to address systemic change. Planning grants to fund time for partners to figure out solutions, not to fund an already identified solution. Support collaborations in the journey to address systemic change.

Award Amount
• One-year awards
• Ranging from $10,000-25,000 total

Grant Criteria
Proposals will be assessed based upon clear and concise responses.
• Articulation of how health and well-being outcomes could be positively affected by a possible systems change
• Readiness and capacity of the partners to work collaboratively
• A clear equity lens approach to the work
• The intersection of two or more elements of a healthy community

Submission Deadlines

• Quarter 1: July 28, 2023
• Quarter 2: October 20, 2023
• Quarter 3: February 2, 2024
• Quarter 4: May 3, 2024

Vitalyst Health Foundation was created when the St. Luke’s Hospital System was sold in 1995. In keeping with the hospital’s long tradition of charity care, restricted funds for Medical Assistance Grants were transferred to Vitalyst with the sale of the hospital system. 

Every three years, Vitalyst requests proposals from nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations that provide services, treatment, and programs in the areas of hearing, vision, substance use disorder, and heart and lung that leverage existing resources and maximize community benefit. Note: The Medical Assistance Grants Cycle is now closed and will reopen in 2026. 

 Medical Assistance Grants are designed to improve access to this type of healthcare and improve the quality of care through direct services for low-income and underserved populations in Maricopa County. 

 Funds must be used for services such as screening training, surgeries, program development related to direct services, and client-related equipment such as assistive devices and adaptive equipment.  

Award Amount

• Hearing: up to $150,000 per year for three years (approximately $330,000 total available)
• Vision: up to $150,000 per year for three years (approximately $300,000 total available)
• Substance Use Disorder: up to $25,000 per year for three years (approximately $25,000 total available)
• Heart and Lung: up to $50,000 per year for three years (approximately $100,000 total available)

Grant Criteria

• Nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations 
• Directly serving low-income or underserved individuals, measured by: 

• enrollment in a government assistance program (SNAP, AHCCCS, CHIP, etc.) or 
• annual household income less than 250% of federal poverty guidelines, in 2022 for Arizona set as $33,975 for an individual income or $69,375 for a family of four (See Income Guidelines); and 

• Focused on supporting residents experiencing the greatest disparities in health including, but not limited to those with limited financial means, communities of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and rural communities. 

• Services provided to individuals residing in Maricopa County 
• Maintenance of a log recording direct services provided to individuals 
• Submission of a mid-year and annual report documenting individuals served 

Fiscal year 23-24 funds for Technical Assistance Grants are expended. The Discovery intake process remains open, but new Technical Assistance Grant partnerships are not available. Thank you to all partners and consultants working on a variety of projects.

Nonprofits across Arizona have a unique niche they fill in their communities. Through connections and lived experience, these nonprofits provide resources, services and support that improve community health. Sometimes, those nonprofits need additional technical assistance – like fundraising support, strategic planning, leadership development. Vitalyst can provide this technical assistance by connecting nonprofits with trusted consultants who can help these nonprofits increase their expertise to continue their work in communities.

Nonprofits have a unique ability to engage in developing meaningful public policy that builds healthier communities. This can range from sharing of information to conducting research to grassroots or direct lobbying. Regardless of the tactics, public policy must be responsive to community needs, and community-based nonprofits play an invaluable role in ensuring these needs are reflected in meaningful public policy.

Vitalyst offers technical assistance to nonprofits focused on any of the Elements of a Healthy Community, and financial assistance may be offered to those working to advance issues included in Vitalyst’s Public Policy Agenda.

Learn more here. 

Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona (TAPAZ) is a full-service fiscal sponsor focused on providing behind-the-scenes support to local nonprofits. Fiscal sponsorship allows TAPAZ to accept and disburse funds for projects and programs, allowing nonprofits to focus on carrying out their mission.  Learn more about levels of fiscal sponsorship provided and visit the website for additional information. 

Arizona Together for Impact Fund

This program offers a full slate of resources for every step of an organization’s journey, including funding for initial discussions and exploration phases. Financial support is offered, enabling organizations to engage with consultants and technical advisors that can help them and their potential collaborators find the most effective solutions. The goal is for these collaborations to achieve more significant impacts in the financial, programmatic, and organizational capacity sectors. Visit the website for additional information.  

Business on Board

This program provides workshops to teach professionals and community members what they need to know before joining a nonprofit board. It also provides a refresher to current board members and other organization leaders. Expert speakers teach attendees about nonprofit board services such as fundraising, legal, and fiduciary roles. Visit the website  and training calendar for additional information.  

Finance & Loan Navigator

This free resource provides a deeper understanding of both organizational nonprofit finances and the loan preparedness process. This program has three modules that help break down information so individuals can digest and follow along at their own pace. Once the program is completed, your organization will receive a complimentary consultation. Visit the website for additional information.

How to Start a Nonprofit

This free resource guides newly formed organizations in thinking about the difference they seek to make and the structure best suited to move forward. This interactive guide leads people through key-decision making steps to determine whether a nonprofit is the best way to accomplish their goals. Suppose a newly formed organization decides to move forward with a nonprofit. In that case, this guide walks them through the compliance and good-practices steps to become operational. Visit the website for additional information. 

Local First Arizona Economic Recovery Center

AZERC aims to enable eligible Arizona cities, counties, tribal communities, and nonprofits to win and implement competitive federal, state, municipal, or foundation grants. If eligible, this center provides a variety of services free of charge, such as grant assistance, project management, budget guidance, economic impact analysis, facilitation, and strategic planning. If interested, free consultations are available to see if this organization is the right fit for you. Visit the website for additional information.

Nonprofit Lifecycles

Based on the award-winning book Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity. This workshop helps organizations learn about their capacities using the four “table legs” and developing Capacity Improvement Plans. A week after the workshop, the organizations are responsible for sending in their current Lifecycle Placement and Capacity Improvement Plan to be eligible for 3-6 hours of consultation from a trained and experienced consultant to assist with capacity improvement goals. Visit the website for additional information.

SDOH Funding Matrix

The Arizona Partnership for Healthy Communities Funding Matrix represents a quick look at several programs available throughout the State across service categories for individuals, families, and organizations to access. While this list is not entirely comprehensive, it does offer a single location for discovering many of the existing tools around Arizona groups have at their disposal as they seek to make stronger communities for themselves and their neighbors. Download the funding matrix as an Excel file

Vitalyst Health Foundation does not provide funding for:

• Programmatic or direct service;
• Capital expenditures and long-term capital assets;
• General fundraising sponsorships (not to be confused with our fiscal sponsorship program TAPAZ).

Previous Grant Awardees

Previous Systems Change (2020-present), Innovation (2015-2019), Spark (2020-present) and Medical Assistance Grants have invested in a culture of creativity disrupting barriers to health.  Read more about previously funded projects and the catalytic work they are doing in their communities.

Awarded Grants

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Past Live Well Incubator Projects 

Previously Awarded Grants