What We Fund

Blue Shield of California Foundation strives to improve the lives of Californians, particularly underserved populations, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable for all Californians, and by ending domestic violence.

As one of California’s largest health philanthropies, the Foundation aims to meet the immediate needs of organizations on the frontlines of health care and domestic violence, while serving as a catalyst for change, promoting new solutions, and bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders.

Specifically, we’re focused on:

Ensuring that California can successfully implement national health reform to expand coverage to the uninsured
Ensuring that California’s safety net optimizes the opportunities created by national health reform to expand access for the state’s underserved and/or uninsured
Building a strong, coordinated network of domestic violence service providers in California

Unsolicited requests for support are welcome for several program objectives, as indicated below. Click on "Accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs)" for more information about each open opportunity. Organizations must meet certain requirements outlined in the Foundation's eligibility guidelines.

Health Care and Coverage

Strengthening the Safety Net

Spurring innovation that leads to improved coordination and integration among California community clinics and other safety net providers

Under the opportunities created by the national health care reform law, California’s safety net providers can reinvent themselves to leverage the opportunities and thrive in the face of a struggling economy and a changing healthcare system. We welcome unsolicited Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects that spur innovation in the safety net and lead to improved coordination and integration among providers.

Learn how to apply

2012 Community Clinic Core Support Initiative

Clinic Leadership Institute

Expanding Coverage

Providing technical assistance to state and local policymakers regarding expansion of the Medi-Cal program for low-income Californians

Educating California policymakers and business community about coverage opportunities available when health reform is implemented

Supporting innovative approaches to expand access to care for uninsured Californians left out of health reform

Because national health reform won’t translate into health care access for all, we support efforts to expand care to uninsured Californians who will be left out of health reform. We welcome unsolicited Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects that support innovative approaches to expand access through, advocacy, convenings, and other efforts.

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Supporting policy efforts around Medi-Cal enrollment modernization

Medi-Cal enrollment modernization will play a key role in expanding coverage to Californians under the national health reform law. We welcome unsolicited Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects that support policy efforts around Medi-Cal enrollment modernization.

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Unfinished Business of Health Reform

Supporting efforts to develop policy solutions and new financing and access models directed at populations left out of health reform

Supporting innovative solutions to help bend the cost curve as health reform is implemented in California

Equally important to covering the uninsured is making sure that the cost of coverage is affordable. We welcome unsolicited Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects that support innovative approaches to bending the healthcare cost curve and help Californians get better value for their healthcare spending.

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Blue Shield Against Violence

Building a Stronger Field

Collaboration, coordination, and building linkages among domestic violence organizations, other agencies and new partners

Critical to ending domestic violence in California is a strong, coordinated network of domestic violence service providers. We welcome unsolicited Letter of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects that improve collaboration and coordination between domestic violence organizations or with other agencies, in order to help build a stronger domestic violence field that is more sustainable, innovative, and collaborative.

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Increasing efficiency across the network of California domestic violence organizations

Critical to ending domestic violence in California is a strong, coordinated network of domestic violence service providers. We welcome unsolicited Letter of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects aimed at increasing the efficiency across the network of California DV organizations, in order to help build a stronger domestic violence field that is more sustainable, innovative, and collaborative.

Learn how to apply

Strong Field Project

2010 − 2012 BSAV Core Support Initiative

Spurring Innovation

Testing new solutions for reaching high-need populations and sharing what works

Advancing the Policy Dialogue

Advancing and influencing the domestic violence policy dialogue