OVERVIEW: The Gary and Mary West Foundation supports organizations focused on improving the health and overall well-being of the U.S.’s aging population.
IP TAKE: According to the West Health website, the United States is “in the midst of one of the biggest demographic shifts in U.S. history as baby boomers turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day.” Consequently, this foundation supports efforts to improve the health and well-being of the country’s growing aging population. This is a transparent funder that makes its limited funding interests plain, and it is accessible and willing to hear from groups in the field.
However, it doesn’t accept unsolicited requests for funding, so you’ll have to work to get in the Wests’ radar. Fortunately, the scope and number of West Health organizations means there are more opportunities to network here than in other similar funders. Take a straightforward approach to networking and connect with previous grantees and mingle at events where officers might be present. Note that your organization will need to be established and able to share success stories. An active media presence wouldn’t hurt, either.
Don’t be misled by the foundation’s large giving totals. Its latest filing reports nearly $50 million in grants, but $48 million went to the affiliated West Health Institute and Policy Center. For outside organizations, awards are typically far smaller.
Additionally, for any grant seekers diving into this funder’s tax records, please note that current filings are under Gary and Mary West Charitable Trust, doing business publicly as the Gary and Mary West Foundation
PROFILE: Established in 2006, the Gary and Mary West Foundation was created by Gary and Mary West, who made their billions from the sale of their “tech-driven communications companies.” The couple created WATS Telemarketing in their garage in 1978 and West TeleServices in 1986. The Wests’ West Health website describes the couple as “visionaries and philanthropists who have committed their entire fortune to improving aging and lowering the cost of healthcare in America.” The Gary and Mary West Foundation is one of only a handful of nonprofit foundations in the U.S. dedicated to aging. It seeks to “lower healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life, and independence.” Grants support aging in place and improving elder care at emergency departments.
Grants for Public Health and Aging
The Gary and Mary West Foundation devotes all of its grantmaking and collaboration work to helping seniors remain healthy and age with dignity. It has donated more than $600 million for aging initiatives through more than 750 grants and collaborations. Currently, the foundation oversees a handful of initiatives:
- Geriatric Emergency Care, a strategic initiative built through Foundation grants, Institute research and outside collaborations, works to “ensure older adults receive emergency care tailored to their specific needs” by promoting the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) among emergency departments. West established the Gary and Mary West Senior Emergency Care Unit at UC San Diego Health in 2016.
- The foundation’s largest grants go to support affiliate organizations, including Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center and Gary and Mary West Health Institute.
- Many San Diego-based community aging organizations appear in the latest 990s. Recent grantees include Serving Seniors, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Interfaith Community Services, Challenge Center, San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, Meals-On-Wheels Greater San Diego and Habitat for Humanity International.
Other Opportunities
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) aims to provide “comprehensive and coordinated medical and social services” so seniors can age in place and stay in their own homes and communities. West Health’s current goals include improving Gary and Mary West PACE, helping existing PACE programs grow and supporting the wider PACE 2.0 goal of expanding participation nationally.
- Since 2006, the Foundation has committed more than $250 million through 650 grants to programs and research focused on aging and reducing healthcare costs through Models of Care, a strategy encompassing geriatric emergency care, home- and community-based care, PACE and other delivery models intended to improve outcomes and lower costs.
- The West Foundation co-founded Civica RX, the first nonprofit generic drug company in the U.S.
Important Grant Details:
Grants typically range from $10,000 to $250,000. The foundation has made the occasional grant in the millions; however, most of these large donations have supported the Gary and Mary West Health Institute. In a recent year, this funder gave about $45.9 million in total grants.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
- It self-selects grantees “based on their potential to advance successful aging in America.”
- Direct general questions to foundation staff at (858) 369-3160 or via the contact form on the foundation website.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
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