CommonSpirit Health's 2026 Community Health Improvement Grants: A Strategic Funding Opportunity for Community Health Organizations

CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation's largest nonprofit Catholic health systems, addresses these challenges through its Community Health Improvement (CHI) Grants program. The 2026 grant cycle represents a significant opportunity for community-based nonprofits, public health organizations, and healthcare partners working alongside CommonSpirit hospitals to deliver measurable, equity-driven health interventions.

These grants are designed to directly support initiatives aligned with local Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) — ensuring funding is rooted in real, place-based health priorities.

Who Can Apply

CommonSpirit Health invites applications from organizations that partner with its hospitals and serve local communities. Eligible applicants typically include:

• Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Community-based organizations delivering health or social services
• Public health agencies and community coalitions
• Nonprofit clinics, free clinics, and safety-net providers
• Organizations collaborating with CommonSpirit Health hospitals or regions

Key requirement:

Projects must align with the CHNA priorities of a specific CommonSpirit hospital or region. Direct hospital partnership is strongly encouraged and often required.

Not eligible:

• Individuals or for-profit entities
• Capital-only or endowment projects
• Purely advocacy or fundraising initiatives

Priority Focus Areas

CommonSpirit Health's Community Health Improvement Grants focus on whole-person health and addressing social drivers of health. Priority areas vary slightly by hospital, but commonly include:

Access to Care

• Primary care and preventive services
• Care coordination and navigation
• Services for uninsured or underinsured populations

Behavioral Health

• Mental health services and early intervention
• Substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery
• Community-based behavioral health integration

Chronic Disease Prevention & Management

• Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity
• Health education and self-management programs

Maternal, Child & Family Health

• Prenatal and postpartum support
• Infant and child health programs
• Family stability and early childhood interventions

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

• Food insecurity and nutrition access
• Housing stability
• Transportation and social support services
• Workforce development and economic stability

Each CommonSpirit hospital publishes a CHNA priorities list, and applicants must clearly align proposals to those identified needs.

Grant Size & Duration

Typical award size:

• Ranges widely by hospital and region — often $20,000 to $150,000+

Small grants:

• Some regions offer grants under ~$20,000 for targeted community programs

Grant term:

• Generally 12 months, aligned with CommonSpirit's fiscal year

Allowable costs:

• Programmatic costs are prioritized; reasonable administrative costs are typically allowed but must be justified

Projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes, community impact, and alignment with CHNA goals.

Application Portal & Timeline (2026)

Key Dates

Application period:

Fall 2025 (most regions closed applications between September–October 2025)

Award notifications:

January 2026

Grant agreements finalized:

February–March 2026

Project start date:

April 1, 2026

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through CommonSpirit Health's Community Grants portal, typically managed at the hospital or regional level.

Apply via the CommonSpirit Health Community Grants portal

Applicants should:

• Identify the relevant CommonSpirit hospital or region
• Review its CHNA priorities
• Follow region-specific application instructions and deadlines

Past Success Patterns: What CommonSpirit Funds

Based on prior grant cycles, CommonSpirit Health tends to fund programs that:

• Address local CHNA priorities with clear community need
• Integrate clinical care with social services
• Serve low-income, uninsured, or marginalized populations
• Demonstrate strong community partnerships
• Provide measurable outcomes, not just activities

Examples of funded initiatives across regions include:

• Community-based behavioral health outreach programs
• Food access and nutrition education initiatives linked to chronic disease
• Care coordination programs connecting patients to housing, transportation, and primary care
• Maternal and family health support programs in underserved neighborhoods

CommonSpirit favors practical, implementable solutions that strengthen community health infrastructure.

How to Apply for CommonSpirit Health Community Grants

Step 1: Identify the Right Hospital or Region

Visit CommonSpirit Health's Community Grants page and locate the hospital(s) serving your community. Review their CHNA reports and priority areas.

Step 2: Align Your Program with CHNA Priorities

Your proposal should clearly map:

• The identified community need
• Your intervention strategy
• How outcomes support CHNA goals

Step 3: Build a Measurable, Community-Focused Proposal

Strong proposals include:

• Clear description of services and target population
• Defined service area and community partners
• Quantifiable outcomes (e.g., patients served, improved access, reduced disparities)
• Data collection and reporting plan
• Sustainability beyond the grant year

Step 4: Submit Through the Official Portal

Follow the region-specific instructions and submit your proposal through the CommonSpirit Community Grants portal before the stated deadline.

What Makes a Competitive CommonSpirit Grant Proposal

Successful applicants typically demonstrate:

• Strong hospital-community alignment: Programs that complement hospital community benefit strategies
• Equity-driven design: Focus on underserved or high-need populations
• Community partnerships: Collaboration across healthcare, social services, and public health
• Data and accountability: Clear metrics tied to health outcomes and social impact
• Operational readiness: Ability to implement within a 12-month grant period

Where Pillar by SocialRoots.ai Fits In

Hospital-linked grants like CommonSpirit's increasingly expect clear data, reporting, and community impact visibility.

With Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, organizations can:

• Track service delivery and community outcomes in real time
• Capture social determinants of health alongside program metrics
• Aggregate data across clinics, outreach teams, and partner organizations
• Generate hospital- and funder-ready reports aligned with CHNA outcomes
• Demonstrate sustainability, scalability, and accountability

Pillar helps community organizations move beyond narratives — delivering data-backed proof of impact that hospital systems value.

Conclusion: A High-Value Opportunity for Community Health Partners in 2026

CommonSpirit Health's 2026 Community Health Improvement Grants represent a meaningful funding opportunity for nonprofits working to improve access, equity, and outcomes at the community level.

For organizations aligned with local CHNA priorities — and prepared to demonstrate measurable impact — these grants offer not only funding, but the chance to build long-term hospital-community partnerships.

By pairing strong community programs with robust data and reporting through Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, applicants can significantly strengthen both their proposals and their long-term sustainability.