Address: P.O. Box 1790 Weslaco, TX 78599
Phone: 956.854.4534
Web: www.communitycare.today
Email: knapp@knappccf.org
Knapp Community Care Foundation (KCCF) is a private foundation investing in the deep south Texas Mid-Valley community. KCCF was created in 2013 when Prime Healthcare Services Foundation acquired the nonprofit hospital Knapp Medical Center. As a health care conversion private foundation, it invests its assets in charitable purposes similar to those of the original nonprofit entity. KCCF is location-based, and grantmaking is for the benefit of Mid-Valley families. Ninety-two percent of the population in the region it serves identify as Hispanic or Latino in this four-county area where median household income and education attainment rates are among the lowest in the nation. Since 2014, KCCF has provided more than $47 million in funding to 42 organizations that improve the health of Mid-Valley families.
KCCF follows four guiding principles: invest in continuous learning for our staff, board, and nonprofit partners; remain nimble in grantmaking in response to the community’s needs; value relationships that promote dialogue, encourage partnership, move toward asset-based solutions where stakeholders have a voice; and foster belonging, challenge ourselves, celebrate success, and learn from one another.
Program Information:
Knapp Community Care Foundation approaches all grantmaking through a social determinants of health lens, seeking alignment with the determinants and the five focus areas: direct health care services, prevention and wellness, health-related education, behavioral health, and nutrition. It invests in direct health care services, and its philosophy is one of investing in “upstream” programs (prevention, wellness, nutrition, and health education) to support sustainable impact in the community.
Financial Information:
Total Assets: $115,000,000 (FY22)
Amount Dedicated to Health-Related Grants: $5,204,003 (FY22)
Special Initiatives and/or Representative Health and Human Services Grants
Mission-Related Impact Investment—KCCF joined forces with its wealth management partner, Northern Trust, to embark on an inaugural mission-related impact investment endeavor. Through strategic collaboration and resource mobilization, Northern Trust has empowered communities alongside its foundation partners leveraging capital into underinvested communities. Following Northern Trust’s investment of $1 million into the Affordable Homes of South Texas, a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), KCCF invested an additional $1 million to help complete the financing needed for a new subdivision of 114 single-family homes for low- to moderate-income families. ($1 million leveraged an additional $1 million)
Screening High-Risk Families for Diabetes to Establish a Genomic Research Center in the Mid-Valley—The three-year project addressed the health screening needs of 1,000 family members living in the Mid-Valley, Texas region to create a Genome Research Center. The goal was to advance scientific understanding of the determinants of risk for diabetes and related disorders, which included obesity, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. KCCF funding for the project leveraged an additional $2.2 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This additional funding aimed to assess the influence of genetic variation on the human lipidome and its correlation with the risk of developing diabetes in a high-risk minority population. The research identified specific genetic pathways to serve as potential drug targets for developing new therapies to combat diabetes and related disorders. The data and samples gathered benefit primary research and provided a valuable resource for PhD students specializing in Human Genetics interested in studying health disparities, specifically within the Mexican American population. ($1,989,727)
Nonprofit Organizational Capacity-Building Projects—KCCF took a bold step by developing an exclusive capacity-building grants initiative tailored for nonprofit partners. Select organizations were invited to engage in an in-depth, holistic assessment identifying strengths and areas for enhancement. To date, $521,898 has been awarded to implement organizational development plans, assisting these organizations to fortify their effectiveness and operational efficiency. Its partners are now better equipped to serve the communities most in need, impacting the lives they touch. ($246,498 – 2019 and $210,700 – 2022)
Nonprofit Leadership for Excellence—KCCF partnered with a neighboring foundation to create and sponsor a nine-month program to build capacity in all areas of nonprofit leadership. The first cohort of 12 nonprofit senior executives was selected in 2022 to complete the program in 2023. Due to the program’s coaching, networking, and relationship building experiences, five participants came together to write a collaborative grant, leveraging capacity and resources. The second cohort was named in August 2023. ($64,000)
Knapp Community Care Foundation and GIH
Cristina Trejo-Vasquez attended the Grantmakers in Health conference in Minneapolis just two weeks before stepping into her new role as the CEO of Knapp Community Care Foundation. She was greeted with open arms by perfect strangers who swiftly transformed into valued colleagues. Their enthusiasm in offering unwavering support and invaluable guidance during her new journey’s beginning stages was heartwarming and inspiring. Trejo-Vasquez said she cannot overstate her gratitude towards GIH for creating such an inclusive and nurturing environment where she found ample space for personal and professional growth. The conference provided a platform for fostering meaningful connections and a true sense of belonging. Reflecting on that time, she recognizes its profound impact on her career.
Role of Philanthropy in Meeting Pressing Needs
“Philanthropy is the catalyst that holds the key to unlocking the boundless potential of communities, setting in motion a powerful ripple effect of positive change that elevates the quality of life, enhances health outcomes, and fosters lasting prosperity. Investing in crucial areas such as educational opportunities, equitable health care access, and economic empowerment initiatives can bridge gaps and pave the way for a future where prosperity knows no boundaries. Through strategic philanthropic endeavors, we have the transformative ability to uplift entire communities. By fostering a culture of giving and collaboration, philanthropy becomes a driving force behind building a society where compassion, empathy, and collective action reign.”
–Cristina Trejo-Vasquez, Chief Executive Officer