Kaiser Permanente recently announced awarding $1.245M in grants to 19 community organizations and nonprofits for programs between January and September 2025. These recent grants reflect Kaiser Permanente’s ongoing commitment to address the social factors of health, which research shows accounts for about 80% of health outcomes.
Kaiser Permanente strategically selected these grant recipients for their dedication to improving health and advancing equity in the communities we serve by addressing the root causes of health disparities, such as access to health care, nutritious food, affordable housing, economic opportunity, mental health and community safety.
The grants will support the following organizations and initiatives throughout the Mid-Atlantic region:
- Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, Inc. ($275,000): Funding supports the first medical respite program in Prince George’s County, stabilizing homeless individuals with chronic health needs and connecting them to permanent housing.
- The TRIGGER Project ($98,000): The grant will support T.R.I.G.G.E.R. University in implementing year-round social and emotional programming for youth ages 14-18 in Washington, DC., with a particular focus in Ward 7 and 8.
- Miriam’s Kitchen ($95,000): Resources support planning efforts for a new medical respite program in D.C., including partnership development and creation of business, financing, and operating plans.
- Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. ($95,000): The grant supports low-income mothers in Baltimore with postpartum care, well-child services, and social health resources in their community.
- Arlington Free Clinic, Inc. ($95,000): Grant funding supports improvements to patient care and coordination for uninsured residents in Arlington, including patients with chronic or complex health conditions
- Loudoun Community Health Center ($95,000): Grant funding supports critical technology infrastructure enhancements aimed at improving patient access and provider satisfaction at five clinic locations in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.
- Baltimore Medical System, Inc. ($95,000): Grant funding supports maternal health navigation, ensuring low-income mothers in Baltimore receive coordinated care for better health outcomes.
- Grassroots Health ($75,000): This grant will support Grassroots Health to recruit and train 50 NCAA athlete volunteers, providing innovative Sports Based Sexual Health Promotion Programs for 600 Title 1 Middle School Youth and their families in Washington, DC.
- George Mason University ($75,000): Grant funding supports improving health outcomes for low-income residents in Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore by co-locating clinical and social health services at the newly established Culmore Health and Wellness Hub
- Shepherd’s Clinic, Inc. ($30,000): Grant funding supports the clinic’s operations, including primary care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and social support for uninsured Baltimore residents.
- Associated Catholic Charities, Inc. ($30,000): Grant funding supports Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center, to increase access to diagnostic screening and monitoring for low-income, uninsured residents in Baltimore
- Gaithersburg HELP, Inc. ($24,500): Funding supports distribution of nutritious food, transportation to medical and social services, and pharmaceutical payments for low-income residents of Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village.
- Community Reach of Montgomery County, Inc. ($24,500): The grant supports patient navigation and case management services to reduce barriers to care and address health equity in Montgomery County.
- New Life Food Pantry, Inc. ($24,500): Grant funding to support food distribution in under-resourced neighborhoods in Baltimore City by ensuring perishable items are stored and distributed safely
- Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc. ($24,500): Funding supports access to healthy meals for eligible clients for eight-weeks through the Home Delivered Meal Program in Maryland
- Loudoun Cares, Inc. ($24,500): Funding supports enhanced coordination of social health resources in Loudoun County through electronic referral acceptance
- Capital Area Food Bank, Inc. ($24,500): The grant expands access to nutritious foods for seniors in D.C. by adding five additional distribution sites
- Charles County Public Schools ($20,000): Funding helped launch the FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Academy in the 2025–2026 school year to strengthen the partnership between families and schools
- Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation, Inc. ($20,000): The grant supports health and wellness activities launched in schools awarded the America’s Healthiest Schools distinction, a recognition of excellence in school health and wellbeing developed by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
“Kaiser Permanente’s investment makes it possible to bring the first medical respite program to Prince George’s County,” said Candace Vanderwater, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, Inc. “This facility will provide a safe place to heal for patients experiencing homelessness after hospital discharge and ensure they are connected to stable housing and ongoing care. Together, we are creating a model that saves lives and reduces costly hospital readmissions.”
“This grant allows us to expand TRIGGER University and invest in workforce programs that help young people exposed to the disease of gun violence reclaim their futures,” said Tia Bell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The TRIGGER Project. “Kaiser Permanente’s partnership demonstrates the power of investing in community-led solutions to break cycles of trauma and build opportunity. We are proud to support an effort to join stakeholders and medical providers to treat gun violence as a disease.”
Investing in health equity initiatives across the region is a critical component of Kaiser Permanente’s mission to improve the health of the communities we serve. In 2024, Kaiser Permanente invested nearly $2.3 million in grants to 38 community organizations and nonprofits across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
