Healthy Lakewood Foundation
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Grantmaking Approach

In 2025, HLF created a revised overall grantmaking approach and strategy for implementation beginning with 2026 grantmaking.

HLF’s grantmaking is primarily designed to support Lakewood residents and advances health equity in Lakewood by supporting organizations and initiatives that address barriers to health and well-being, particularly for priority populations: low-income families, children/youth, racial and ethnic minorities (including refugees and immigrants), older adults, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ identifying residents, and uninsured/underinsured residents.

While the general health of our community can always be improved, these populations face multiple barriers to achieving and maintaining positive health outcomes. 

We understand health broadly, recognizing that while access to healthcare is essential, the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and connect with others also profoundly affects our health. HLF’s priority health equity focus areas include: 

  • Basic needs and stability: Housing stability and affordability, food security and access, safety, and access to essential services
  • Mental health services: Mental health counseling, prevention programs, crisis support, and trauma-informed care
  • Education: Education access, early childhood, and school readiness
  • Community connection: Social connection, community engagement, and health-promoting community programs and spaces

HLF has established three distinct grant programs to support a spectrum of approaches to address the needs of Lakewood residents and improve overall health outcomes and opportunities in Lakewood:

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Funding Priorities

The HLF Board recognizes that responsible stewardship requires an initial investment of time and resources to ensure our grantmaking process and priorities are effective, efficient, and equitable.
With the help of local experts, we are engaged in intentional educational sessions covering philanthropy, grant-making, social determinants of health, and other important topics specific to the Lakewood community.

Over the coming months, we will apply this learning to inform decisions about funding priorities.

Grantmaking Cycle

The HLF Board continues to develop priorities and organizational guidelines in alignment with our mission, vision, and values that will inform our effective, efficient, and equitable grant-making strategy.

Community Partnership Grants

Community Partnership Grants provide sustained, flexible support to core Lakewood organizations serving priority populations through multi-year general operating grants.

Funding range: $7,500 - $50,000 annually

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Responsive Funding

Responsive Funding enables response to emerging community needs, time-sensitive opportunities, and crises. Requests may include discretionary or small grants, sponsorship requests, and emergency community funding.

Funding range: $1,000 - $15,000

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Strategic Investments

Strategic Investments support initiatives requiring deeper partnership and strategic alignment, including capacity building, systems change, and learning initiatives. This Track is invitation only.

Funding amounts vary based on request.

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Trust-Based Grantmaking Principles

What is Trust Based Philanthropy and why is HLF making it a priority?

 

Healthy Lakewood Foundation is working toward creating a trust-based relationship with partners and grantees by embracing trust-based philanthropy tenants of grantmaking. These include: 

 

  • Offering flexible funding, preferring general operating support for Lakewood-based organizations, with project or program funding as needed
  • Multi-year commitments to reduce administrative burden
  • Streamlined applications focused on organizational capacity and mission alignment
  • Flexible reporting that prioritizes learning over compliance
  • Shared power in decision-making processes

To learn more about trust-based philanthropy, visit https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/what-is-tbp.