Equity and Innovation Grant Application
Background
The Equity and Innovation Grants (EIG), formerly Hearts Grants, embodies impactful philanthropy through dynamic partnerships. Since 2004, this program has blossomed into a “high leverage” force. By fortifying partnerships between ZSFG and the SFGHF, it has not only distributed over $13.5 million, but also catalyzed trailblazing initiatives at ZSFG that improve the health and well-being of all San Franciscans.
In its growth, this grant program has become a pivotal nexus, fostering collaboration that extends far beyond its initial scope. The flexible funding and support provided over the years continue to evolve, addressing the diverse needs of patients and providers at ZSFG.
2025 Priorities
The EIG priorities invest in the people and projects at the center of ZSFG’s foundational tenets of bringing innovation and compassion to all who walk through its doors. With a deeper understanding of the patients and each other, the Foundation, alongside subject matter experts at ZSFG, fosters new ways of tackling the city’s toughest health challenges.
Care for All: Equity and Inclusion
Nurturing cross-sector community partnerships in order to strengthen the community’s safety net and supporting the hospital with integration of social determinants of health into its clinical care. Aim to apply the lens of equity to purposefully address those most impacted by structural inequities and meet them where they are.
Prior grantee examples include:
- A Latino grief support equity initiative created new grief and loss support services for the hospital’s Spanish-speaking community. This first-of-its kind program developed and expanded spiritual care services for Spanish-speaking patients through targeted outreach, group support, and 1:1 counseling.
- The team-based social medicine group expanded holistic care to patients with complex social and medical needs throughout ZSFG.
Transforming Health Care: Innovation and Leadership
Investing in the hospital’s efforts to test, innovate, and incubate new and transformative models of care with an emphasis on whole-person care, team-based approaches, and continuous quality improvements in care.
Prior grantee examples include:
- A mental health program decreased the number of return ZSFG clients and maximized clients’ success in the community by engaging them through vocational training, coping skills, and transitional mental health groups.
- Coordination of quality care created a comprehensive plan with quality, financial, and productivity outcome measures, saving years of costly trial-by-error program development.
Grantmaking Goals:
Promote Health Equity: Ensure that all members of the community have access to high-quality healthcare services and resources, regardless of their socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, or other demographic factors.
Foster Innovation: Support innovative approaches and projects that address public health challenges and contribute to improving healthcare outcomes and delivery systems.
Build Community Partnerships: Strengthen partnerships within ZSFG, and between departments for multidisciplinary solutions and implement effective solutions.
HOW TO APPLY:
2025 Grant Request For Proposals (RFP) Instructions
Application Window: May 15, 2025 – June 30, 2025
Application Deadline: 11:59pm on June 30, 2025
All 2025 Equity & Innovation Grants (EIG) proposals are to be submitted directly to San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) through the link below and not through the UCSF Contract and Grants Office or other hospital departments. Applicants are required to seek approval of their proposed project with a ZSFG Executive and UCSF Service Chief* by June 16, 2025.
A new requirement for all ZSFG and DPH grants is the applicant’s completion of a Proposal Notification Form (PNF). The PNF facilitates review and risk assessment of all grant proposals by Executive leadership and initiates the grant Accept and Expend (A&E) process with DPH’s A&E Unit.
The linked PNF template is pre-filled for EIG applicant ease of use. Please answer all highlighted questions. Do not fill in the “Review by/Risk Score/Explanations” sections, which are for Executive/Operational review. Accurate completion of the matrix and checkboxes in Question #18 is essential to help categorize any proposed grant spending and identify potential obstacles to successful grant completion.
If you are unsure of how to respond or complete any of the PNF sections, please have the DPH Sponsor contact james.glik@sfdph.org (and copy grants@sfghf.org) for assistance and attach your draft PNF. Reference “2025 EIG PNF” in the subject line.
The PNF needs to be completed by your DPH sponsor and submitted with the application in Word format. Please do not attach it as a PDF.
The EIG program will consider a range of support strategies, such as general support for new or existing initiatives, training and capacity building. Two Equity & Innovation Grants will be awarded in the amount of $100,000 each over a grant period of two (2) years. Please plan accordingly and anticipate the project start date for March 1, 2026, and ending on February 28, 2028.
The EIG program will not consider requests for new personnel/salaries, new professional services / contracts, or basic scientific and/or clinical research.
Completed applications that comply with the EIG guidelines will be submitted for review by hospital and Foundation leadership. Failure to adhere to these guidelines could result in a declined application.
* A UCSF Chief is not required to approve the proposal if it is focused exclusively on DPH-operated services.
Application Process:
- Complete the Proposal Notification Form (PNF) and leave in a Word document format.
- Complete the Budget Form and leave in an Excel document format.
- Gain approval from your ZSFG Executive and UCSF Chief by June 16th.
- Complete the Application and upload PNF and Budget attachments to application.
Grant Period
March 1, 2026 – February 29, 2028
Application Window
May 15, 2025 – June 30, 2025
Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025 by 11:59pm
For more guidance about how to respond to the application questions, participate in the Applicant Webinar on May 23 and/or Office Hours on June 5.
Applicant Informational Webinar
Friday, May 23, 12pm-1pm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6442397948
Meeting ID: 644 239 7948
Applicant Open “Office Hours”
Thursday, June 5, 3pm-5pm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6442397948
Meeting ID: 644 239 7948
After participating in the webinar and/or office hours, potential applicants can email questions directly to grants@sfghf.org with “EIG 2025” in the subject line.
Important Dates:
- May 15, 2025 – Online application open
- May 23, 2025 – Informational webinar – Assistance in applying for an Equity & Innovation Grant via Zoom (optional)
- June 5, 2025 – Q&A office hours – Application assistance via Zoom (optional)
- June 30, 2025 – Application deadline
- September 3, 2025 – Applicants notified of grant awards
- October 2025 – Equity & Innovation Grants award reception
- November 2025 – New grantee orientation
- March 1, 2026 – Grant period begins
- February 28, 2028 – Grant period ends
- March 31, 2028 – Grant recipients submit final evaluation reports
* All dates subject to change
Restrictions:
The EIG program will not consider requests for:
- New personnel / salaries
- New professional services / contracts
- Basic scientific and/or clinical research
Additional restrictions may be in effect and shared in the informational webinar. Please join the webinar for more details. Questions can also be sent to grants@sfghf.org in advance of submission to clarify any restrictions.
Grant Selection Criteria:
- Aligns with ZSFG True North
- Alignment with Goals and Objectives: Projects must directly promote health equity, foster innovation, and build community partnerships as outlined in the fund’s priorities.
- Impact on Health Equity: Preference will be given to initiatives that demonstrate a clear commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and resources for all members of the community, particularly those in underserved areas.
- Innovation Impact: Assess the potential impact of the proposed innovation on patient care, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall healthcare outcomes. Consider whether the innovation addresses a critical need or challenge within the hospital setting.
- Feasibility and Sustainability: Evaluate the feasibility of implementing the innovation within the hospital’s infrastructure, resources, and regulatory requirements. Consider the scalability and long-term sustainability of the innovation beyond the grant period.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Assess how much the proposed innovation promotes collaboration within the hospital community, including interdisciplinary teams, external stakeholders, and community organizations.
- Patient Centered: Consider the extent to which the innovation prioritizes patient-centered care, including patient satisfaction, engagement, safety, and health outcomes.
- Innovation and Creativity: Evaluate the level of innovation and creativity demonstrated in the proposal, including the uniqueness of the approach, and novel solutions to existing healthcare challenges. Innovation defined as introducing new ideas, methods, technologies, or approaches to improve patient care, enhance operational efficiency, and address healthcare challenges
- Evidence-Based Practice: Assess the extent to which the proposed innovation is grounded in evidence-based practice, scientific research, and best practices in healthcare delivery.
- Scalability and Replicability: Consider the potential for scaling the innovation to other departments or healthcare settings within the hospital, as well as its replicability in other healthcare institutions.
- Resource Utilization: Assess the efficient use of resources, including budgetary considerations, resource allocation, and cost-effectiveness of the proposed innovation.
- Risk Management and Mitigation: Identify potential risks associated with the implementation of the innovation and evaluate the strategies proposed to mitigate these risks effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to this document for the most up-to-date answers to frequently asked questions.
FAQs
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