Communities Leading the Way to
a Healthier California
Imagine a California where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy and live well.
That vision remains out of reach for many people because barriers connected to race, money, and power shape access to health care, economic opportunity, healthy environments, and community voice in public policy decisions—all of which affect health and wellness.
That’s why Building the Power to Be Well invests in communities taking action together for what they need to be well. Research consistently shows that people of color experience the worst health outcomes, so we center their leadership to ensure all Californians can thrive. Community priorities guide our work across three areas: Inclusive Health Care, Healthier Economies, and Thriving Democracy.
We’ll use every resource we have—from grants and investments to partnerships and our public voice—to build on the work communities are already leading.
Together, we can create lasting health and opportunity for all Californians.
OUR PRIORITIES
Inclusive Health Care
Centering the leadership of women of color in creating health care rooted in community, culture, and lived experience.
Healthier Economies
Investing in communities to lead and create economies that expand opportunity, protect the environment, and improve health.
Thriving Democracy
Expanding year-round civic engagement and supporting communities to speak out about the decisions that shape health and wellness.
How Community Power Builds Wellness
As we developed Building the Power to Be Well — a framework that will focus our work across three new pillars: Inclusive Healthcare, Healthier Economies, and Thriving Democracy – we began with a vision: for every resident of California to enjoy good health and experience wellness. Read this blog from CEO Richard Tate to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new strategy?
Building the Power to Be Well is our new strategic framework for improving health and wellness for all Californians.
It reflects what we’ve learned over decades: health is shaped not only by access to care, but by race, money, and power. These forces shape who has a voice, who makes decisions, and whose needs are prioritized.
This strategy will strengthen the ability of communities most impacted by health injustice to address these barriers to health by taking action together so we can all be well.
Why focus on race, money, and power?
At Cal Wellness, our goal is a California where everyone can be healthy and live well. That vision remains out of reach for many people because barriers connected to race, money, and power shape access to health care, economic opportunity, healthy environments, and community voice in public policy decisions — all of which affect health and wellness.
Research consistently shows that social factors — the conditions into which people are born, work, and live — account for half or more of people’s health outcomes — and that people of color experience the worst health outcomes. So through Building the Power to Be Well, we’re focusing on closing gaps in outcomes for people of color so that all Californians can thrive.
What are the priority areas for the strategy?
Building the Power to Be Well will focus on three areas where race, money, and power shape health and where communities can take action together to create change.
Inclusive Health Care
Centering the leadership of women of color in creating health care rooted in community, culture, and lived experience.
Healthier Economies
Investing in communities to lead and create economies that expand opportunity, protect the environment, and improve health.
Thriving Democracy
Expanding year-round civic engagement and supporting communities to speak out about the decisions that shape health and wellness.
When will the new strategy be implemented?
Grantmaking for Building the Power to Be Well will begin in early 2027, though some initial program-related investments are already underway. In 2026, our grantmaking has focused on the urgent needs of health access and democracy, as described in this blog post by Alex Johnson, Cal Wellness’ chief strategy officer.
How can I seek funding or investment?
We are not accepting unsolicited letters of inquiry (LOIs) for grants at this time. We are still determining the best approach for grantmaking under Building the Power to Be Well and expect to share more information at the beginning of 2027. As work on the new strategy and the priority areas of Inclusive Health Care, Healthier Environments, and Thriving Democracy gets underway, we understand there may be questions, which you may share at [email protected].
For inquiries about the endowment (mission-related investments) and program-related investments aligned with the new strategy, please email [email protected].
We’ll post updates about our strategy and opportunities to engage with us on this website and on our social media channels as they become available. We appreciate your questions, feedback, and ideas — they help improve our thinking and motivate us to take action!
How much funding are you devoting to your strategy?
In the years leading up to Building the Power to Be Well and the first year of our strategy, we’ve deepened our commitment to community organizations across California. From 2025 to 2027, Cal Wellness will invest $170 million — an average annual payout rate of 8%, well above the 5% minimum required of foundations. And we are putting our $1 billion endowment to work as well to support health and wellness for all. Every dollar we give or manage is intended to move our mission.
What do we mean when we say we’re using every tool we have for the strategy?
Grantmaking is the basic function of foundations. It’s important, but it’s only part of what foundations can do to support communities. At Cal Wellness we have committed 100% of our endowment to mission-aligned investing. The teams working on each of our priority areas include grantmakers, communications and government relations staff, and investment professionals collaborating with and learning from partners along the way. We multiply our impact by putting all these resources to advancing our mission.
What will stay the same?
Our mission and our values remain constant. We believe health is a human right, and we are committed to protecting and improving the health and wellness of all Californians.
We are a statewide health foundation and will continue to provide multi-year, general operating support grants to our partners and invest in the communities most impacted by inequity.
We also remain committed to using all of our resources—including grants, investments, our voice, and our influence—to expand wellness for all Californians.
How can I stay updated?
We will be sharing more about Building the Power to Be Well in the coming months and invite you to follow us on social media and sign up for our email newsletter to stay up to date. We look forward to seeing many of you at community events and conferences across California and to continuing the conversations and partnerships that move health justice forward.