Episcopal Health Foundation's 2026 Grant Cycle: A Critical Opportunity for Community Health Groups in Texas

Why EHF's 2026 Grants Matter

For community-based health organizations — clinics, nonprofits, coalitions — funding that supports integrated care, preventive health, and social-determinant interventions has become more essential than ever. Many underserved populations in Texas face barriers not only to clinical care, but to underlying social supports, insurance coverage, and holistic services that combine health, social, and community resources.

The Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) aims to address these gaps. With its newly finalized Strategic Framework covering 2025–2030, EHF is launching a 2026 grant cycle that prioritizes systemic change — not just traditional health care delivery — by funding programs focused on comprehensive care, community voice, and connection to health coverage and benefits. For nonprofits and community-health organizations operating in Texas (especially within EHF's service area), this grant cycle could be a pivotal moment to secure resources for sustainable, equity-focused work.

Who Can Apply EHF's 2026 Grant Program

EHF accepts applications from:

• Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations recognized under U.S. IRS code (501(c)(3) or 170(c)), not private foundations
• Organizations whose work directly align with EHF's vision, strategy, and impact drivers
• Importantly — while EHF is affiliated with a diocese, applicants do not need religious affiliation or Episcopal Church ties.
• Nonprofits headquartered outside EHF's service area may apply if their programs serve communities within EHF's geographic scope (the counties covered by Episcopal Diocese of Texas).

But note EHF's funding is geographically restricted — all funded programs must be implemented within the ~81-county (or 57-county, depending on documentation) service area defined by the Diocese of Texas.

What EHF Funds (and What It Doesn't)

Eligible uses include: technical assistance; planning; demonstration projects; program implementation; evaluation; organizational operating support. EHF offers both "restricted grants" (for specified projects/programs) and "unrestricted grants" (supporting general operations).

What EHF generally does not fund:

• Capital projects (except by invitation)
• Grants for inpatient care, long-term care institutions, or acute care hospitals
• Scholarships, conferences, galas, fundraising events, or routine service funding by public agencies
• Disease- or condition-specific organizations (outside EHF's strategic priorities), pure research, and most school-based interventions (unless it's a school-based clinic providing comprehensive primary care)

2026 Application Portal & Key Deadlines

• Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Submissions open: January 5, 2026
• LOI Deadline: January 16, 2026
• Full Application Due: March 6, 2026
• Notification of Award: by May 28, 2026

To apply, organizations must register (or log in) to EHF's grant portal (built on the Fluxx platform). First-time applicants must create an account; returning grantees simply log in to submit.

Application Portal link: https://www.episcopalhealth.org/grantmaking/

EHF uses a multi-step grant evaluation process, which may include a due-diligence review and, often, a site visit after application.

Priority Focus Areas & Impact Drivers

Under its 2025–2030 Strategic Framework, EHF's 2026 open call will prioritize initiatives aligned with the following Impact Drivers:

• Strengthening Comprehensive Care: Supporting integrated primary care, behavioral health, and whole-person approaches
• Activating Community Voices: Empowering community-based organizations and networks to influence health systems
• Maximizing Connections to Health Coverage and Benefits: Supporting programs that help individuals get and maintain health coverage, benefits, and navigate systems
• Supporting Community Health Workers & Multi-Sector Collaboration: Encouraging collaborative models spanning healthcare, social services, community organizations — to address social determinants and advance equity

Given these priorities, ideal proposals might include: integrated primary + behavioral health care, outreach to uninsured or under-insured populations, community health-worker models, health coverage enrollment and benefit navigation, preventive care expansion, and systems-level collaborations.

Past EHF Success Stories: What Work Looks Like On the Ground

In 2023, EHF announced its largest single grant cycle to date — investing US$ 22.8 million to support non-medical drivers of health, preventive care, and community-based services.

One example of effective grant use: Integral Care — a nonprofit that received US$ 400,000 to expand primary care services and hire Community Health Workers. The grant allowed Integral Care to contract with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), enabling on-site primary care services at two outpatient behavioral health clinics — effectively integrating behavioral and physical health care for underserved clients.

Through such grants, community organizations have broadened their capacity: adding on-site primary care, community-health worker outreach, and virtual or home-based care models — lowering barriers to access and improving continuity of care.

These examples illustrate EHF's preference for integrated, community-centered, preventive and primary care models that tie together health services, social determinants, and community supports — rather than narrow, single-issue or facility-based care.

How to Apply — Step-by-Step Guide for Nonprofits

1. Read the 2026 Grant Guidance & Strategic Framework

• Download the Grant Guidance document from EHF's "Grant Opportunities" page
• Confirm that your proposed project aligns with one or more of the Impact Drivers (Comprehensive Care; Community Voice; Coverage & Benefits; Community Health Workers; Multi-Sector Collaboration)

2. Confirm Eligibility

• Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (or equivalent)
• Must serve communities within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas service area — even if your headquarters are elsewhere
• Note that EHF excludes requests for capital-only projects (unless invited), acute/inpatient care institutions, standalone research projects, event-based funding (galas, conferences), and typical disease-specific/condition-only funding outside strategic priorities

3. Register for the Fluxx Portal & Submit an LOI

• Go to the EHF grants portal (Fluxx) and create / log in to an account
• Prepare a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) summarizing your project concept, intended outcomes, beneficiary population, alignment with EHF strategies, and preliminary budget

4. If LOI is accepted — submit full application by March 6, 2026

• Include detailed work plan, timeline, measurable outcomes, evaluation metrics, budget (restricted or unrestricted), sustainability plan, and evidence of community need / demographic data
• Be prepared for possible site visit or follow-up questions from a Program Officer

5. Post-award Requirements

• EHF requires interim progress reports (every 6 months) and a final report at project end — detailing deliverables, outcomes, expenses, and learnings
• Payments via electronic funds transfer (EFT) after contract signature via DocuSign

What Makes a Strong, Competitive EHF Proposal

Based on what EHF has funded previously, successful applicants likely demonstrate:

• Integrated, comprehensive care models — combining primary care, behavioral health, community health workers, and social support rather than siloed services
• Focus on underserved or vulnerable populations — people uninsured/underinsured, low-income, facing social determinants barriers (housing, food, mental health, etc.)
• Scalable & sustainable interventions — projects with potential for continuation beyond grant period, replication in other counties, or building systemic changes via partnerships and multi-sector collaboration
• Data-driven planning and evaluation — clear outcome metrics, demographic data, measurable health or social impact, realistic budgets, and sustainable staffing/planning
• Alignment with EHF's Impact Drivers — especially comprehensive care, community voices, coverage/benefits access, and community health worker support

Where Pillar by SocialRoots.ai Can Help

Winning a grant from a forward-looking foundation like EHF requires more than good ideas — it demands evidence, accountability, sustainability, and clarity. That's where Pillar comes in:

• Centralized data & reporting: Track client demographics, service utilization, health outcomes (primary care visits, preventive screenings, behavioral health interventions), social determinants, metrics, and community outreach all in one place
• Funder-ready reports: Generate clean, structured reports (mid-term, final) showing meetings of deliverables, impact, and financial transparency — aligning with EHF's reporting requirements
• Outcome visualization & dashboards: Transform data into compelling visuals for funders: e.g., populations served, before/after health or social metrics, coverage enrollment stats, community reach
• Sustainability tracking & planning: Show how continuing services, multi-sector collaborations, community health worker programs, and social support interventions will maintain impact beyond grant tenure

With Pillar, nonprofits can substantially increase their competitive edge — ensuring proposals are both compelling and credible for a Grantmaker like EHF.

Conclusion: EHF's 2026 Cycle — A Strategic Opening for Community Health Impact in Texas

For any nonprofit organization serving communities in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the 2026 funding window from the Episcopal Health Foundation represents a significant opportunity. With a clear strategic framework, transparent guidelines, and a focus on equity, integrated care, and community-driven health solutions, EHF is poised to support transformative health work — especially for underserved, under-resourced populations.

If your organization can deliver integrated care, show measurable outcomes, and align with EHF's strategic priorities — now is the time to act. By combining your mission with smart data platforms like Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, you'll not only be ready to apply — but to lead meaningful, sustainable change.