Grants
Building healthier communities together
Sentara partners with organizations working to address social drivers of health and improve well-being across our communities.
Our 2026 Sentara Cares grant cycle is accepting applications from June 8 to July 3, 2026.
If you’re an organization that is improving health outcomes in your community, we want to hear from you!
Sentara provides competitive grants to eligible organizations working to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities through programs aligned with Sentara’s funding priorities.
Sentara Cares is excited to announce the opening of our 2026 grant cycle, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and partners working to improve health outcomes in their community. The grant application portal will be open June 8 – July 3, 2026. All interested organizations are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility criteria and application guidelines before submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Funding announcements are anticipated in early Fall 2026.
2026 funding priorities
To be considered, organizations must address at least one of the following priority areas listed below or identified in Sentara’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessments.
Access to care
Organizations that improve access to healthcare services, including chronic disease prevention and management, through safety-net providers such as free and charitable clinics, local health departments, community health centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alike organizations*, and Rural Health Clinics.
Priority consideration will be given to organizations that:
- Increase access to primary care, screenings, and medications, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
- Reduce the impact of chronic disease through expanded prevention and management efforts, enhanced education, increased resource availability, and the promotion of evidence-based care practices.
* An FQHC Look-Alike organization is a community-based healthcare provider that meets all requirements to qualify as an FQHC but does not receive direct federal funding under the Section 330 Health Center Program.
Behavioral health
Organizations that expand clinical and peer recovery capacity to increase access to behavioral health services. Priority consideration will be given to organizations supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health crises and substance use disorders.
Food access
Programs that increase equitable access to nutritious and culturally relevant food, including:
- Expanding food access points and reducing transportation barriers through new or enhanced pantries, mobile distributions, pop-up sites, co-located services, and community partnerships.
- Integrating culturally responsive food preparation and nutrition education that reflects the traditions, languages, and preferences of the populations served.
Microgrants
Microgrants, defined as funding requests of $15,000 or less, support strategic and collaborative efforts that address social drivers of health, including but not limited to transportation, housing, education, workforce and skills training, and social support. These grants aim to improve access to health services and resources for community members.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
We evaluate all grant applications based on our eligibility and selection criteria. Review the information below to ensure your application is a good fit and all criteria are met.
If you have any questions, please email SentaraCares@Sentara.com.
- Organizations that are tax-exempt pursuant to 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and filed a 990 Form for two or more years with gross receipts of more than $50,000 annually.
- Public/government agencies
- Organization or program must meet identified health and human service needs in Sentara’s Virginia and Eastern North Carolina service areas.
- Supported services may not be excluded based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other affiliation.
- The organization or program must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Requested funding must support a program or project that strategically aligns with Sentara’s funding priorities.
- Requested funding may not support a program that has received Sentara funding for the same purpose in the same calendar year.
Microgrants Eligibility
Some funding requests may be considered for a Sentara Microgrant. If your application qualifies for a Microgrant, Sentara may offer a funding amount different than what was requested based on the Microgrant eligibility. Sentara reserves the right to select eligible partners at its sole discretion.
If you have any questions, please email SentaraCares@Sentara.com.
- Organizations that are tax-exempt pursuant to 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that have not or are not required to file a 990 Form.
- Tax-exempt organizations that file a 990EZ Form with gross receipts of $50,000 or less.
- Organization or program must meet identified health and human service needs in Sentara’s Virginia and Eastern North Carolina service areas.
- Funding request must be for $15,000 or less.
- Must illustrate how the program addresses identified community needs or extends vital community outreach.
- Contain clear and measurable outcome objectives.
- Meet the needs of underserved populations or traditionally marginalized communities.
- Demonstrate how community partners and stakeholders will be engaged.
- Leverage matching funding, in-kind support, or other programmatic resources.
- Contain plans for sustainability (if the initiative is projected to continue beyond the grant funding period).
Grant FAQ
Grant funding can be used to support:
- Capital expenses
- Equipment costs
- Direct program service
- Limited external consulting (if necessary)
- Non-direct administrative expenses (not to exceed 15% of the total funding request)
Sentara operates one annual grant cycle. Organizations selected for funding will receive detailed information regarding grant timelines, launch expectations, and payment processes at the time of award notification.
Long-standing and continued partnerships are vital to meeting our mission. That said, there are some caveats. For example:
- Only one application (grant or sponsorship) per organization will be considered each calendar year. Therefore, if you have an open Sentara grant, you are not eligible to apply for additional funding.
If you have questions not covered on this site, we encourage you to direct inquiries to SentaraCares@Sentara.com
Our grant portal allows for modifications through a save and resume feature until the application is submitted. We strongly encourage applicants to preview their applications and perform a formal and thorough review before submitting.
Allowances for modifications may be made if Sentara has questions for your organization as we review your proposal. In that event, Sentara will contact you to facilitate a discussion and ensure alignment with our mission.
Seeking Sponsorship?
Learn more about our criteria for sponsorship and apply today!
Explore Our Sponsorship Guide