The Kaiser Permanente Community Fund (KPCF) has awarded more than $2.5 million in grant funds to 20 organizations that improve health in Oregon and southwest Washington. Awarded annually, these grants address the “upstream” or underlying factors that impact community health.

Within the context of health care reform and improved health, the fund currently focuses on three specific social determinants of health: healthy beginnings and early childhood development, educational attainment and economic opportunity. These focus areas were selected for their ability to build on community momentum and their potential for long-term impact.