Paso del Norte Health Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Paso del Norte Health Foundation focuses grantmaking on a wide range of health programs for people living in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.

IP TAKE: For grant seekers who serve select poor and historically unemployed counties of West Texas and Southern New Mexico, this is a great locally focused funder to know. There has been a big push for youth funding in the area, especially since over 750,000 residents in this geographic area are under 18.

PROFILE: Established in 1995 from the $130 million sale of Providence Memorial Hospital to the Tenet Healthcare Corporation, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) is committed to improving the health and wellness of people in West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico through a partner foundation. There are over 2.2 million people living in these regions, with a 78 percent Hispanic population and high rates of unemployment, poverty, and poor health. Since 2018, the private Paso del Norte Health Foundation has been a supporting organization to the Paso del Norte Foundation to "grow its assets through philanthropy, increase partnerships with external funders and ultimately increase grantmaking to nonprofits in the region, leading to measurable improvements to health."

The foundation worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of Health to assess local needs and complete the El Paso Health Report, the first survey of its kind in the region. Rather than going the traditional philanthropy route, the foundation engaged in brain-storming gatherings in the community and developed three levels of grants: multi-year grants, program grants, and planning grants.

Grants for Public Health and Access, Mental Health, and Diseases

The foundation funds three priority areas that focus on healthy eating and active living, tobacco control and alcohol prevention, mental and emotional well-being, healthy relationships with families and community organizations, and health leadership.

The Healthy Living program works to “support efforts that promote positive behaviors to prevent disease including healthy eating, physical activity, smoking/vaping prevention, and positive opportunities for youth.” The Disease Prevention & Management program focuses on diabetes, mental health, and emotional well-being. The Health Leadership program makes grants “To support leadership development for executives, boards of directors, and nonprofit organizations. Leverage resources through partnerships, invest in strategic initiatives and catalytic projects, and respond to immediate needs for the benefit of the region’s health.”

In the U.S., grantmaking is generally restricted to El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in West Texas and Doña Ana, Luna, and Otero Counties in Southern New Mexico. Most of the foundation’s money comes from investment income, as investments are managed to provide a perpetual source of support for the foundation's programs. The foundation does award multi-year grants, but they are evaluated on an annual basis.

Important Grant Details

At the end of a recent year, the foundation reported over $6 million in total giving. That year, the foundation awarded about 90 grants between $1,600 and $455,000. Grants tend to be in the $20,000 to $150,000 range, but may be getting larger in the years ahead. The biggest restrictions with this funder include no unsolicited grant applications, no brick or mortar funding, and no direct payment for acute care.

The staff also maintains a current news section, so grant seekers can read about recent happenings here. Proposal deadlines vary, but are typically awarded 60 to 90 days from the grant opportunity announcement. Grant workshops are also provided for prospective grantees, which grant seekers can learn more about by contacting the staff at (915) 544-7636 or health@pdnhf.org.

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