early catalyst funders
As a fledgling organization in 1994, CPCA benefitted greatly from a trio of early catalyst funders: the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care, The California Endowment, and the Irvine Foundation. Thanks to the support provided by these funders at the early stages of CPCA’s development, we have been able to grow into the organization we are today and have also been able to support tremendous opportunities for and expansion of California’s community health centers (CHCs).
The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) provided funds not only to designate CPCA as the statewide Primary Care Association but also to support initial discussions and meetings among the existing regional associations and CHC leadership who recognized the need for a strong statewide organization to support. Over the years, BPHC funding to CPCA has increased by nearly 170%, and CPCA is now the largest PCA in the country, supporting more than 150 Federally Qualified Health Center program grantees.
In 1996, The California Endowment (TCE) was created as a private foundation, independently governed and operated, as the result of Blue Cross of California’s conversion to a for-profit entity. TCE provided critical funding of $7.5 million to invest in CPCA’s infrastructure and to seed the CPCA Ventures Loan Fund to support the needs of CHCs. In 1999, TCE partnered with the Tides Foundation to create the Community Clinics Initiative (CCI), now known as the Center for Care Innovations, to provide grants, evidence-based programming, and training for community health centers. TCE has been a constant and crucial source of support, resources, expertise, and leadership for CHCs and CPCA.
The James Irvine Foundation was founded in 1937 to “benefit the people of California” and continues its mission today with programs to expand opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful, and inclusive society. Early funding from the Irvine Foundation provided support to CPCA to develop and launch a comprehensive training program for health centers. Our training offerings have grown exponentially within the past decade, and we now offer more than 120 educational opportunities annually through both web-based and in-person programming.
On the occasion of celebrating our 25th Anniversary, CPCA would like to express our gratitude to these early catalyst funders that invested in a new organization and recognized the value of building a strong statewide association to represent and support California’s CHCs.
The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) provided funds not only to designate CPCA as the statewide Primary Care Association but also to support initial discussions and meetings among the existing regional associations and CHC leadership who recognized the need for a strong statewide organization to support. Over the years, BPHC funding to CPCA has increased by nearly 170%, and CPCA is now the largest PCA in the country, supporting more than 150 Federally Qualified Health Center program grantees.
In 1996, The California Endowment (TCE) was created as a private foundation, independently governed and operated, as the result of Blue Cross of California’s conversion to a for-profit entity. TCE provided critical funding of $7.5 million to invest in CPCA’s infrastructure and to seed the CPCA Ventures Loan Fund to support the needs of CHCs. In 1999, TCE partnered with the Tides Foundation to create the Community Clinics Initiative (CCI), now known as the Center for Care Innovations, to provide grants, evidence-based programming, and training for community health centers. TCE has been a constant and crucial source of support, resources, expertise, and leadership for CHCs and CPCA.
The James Irvine Foundation was founded in 1937 to “benefit the people of California” and continues its mission today with programs to expand opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful, and inclusive society. Early funding from the Irvine Foundation provided support to CPCA to develop and launch a comprehensive training program for health centers. Our training offerings have grown exponentially within the past decade, and we now offer more than 120 educational opportunities annually through both web-based and in-person programming.
On the occasion of celebrating our 25th Anniversary, CPCA would like to express our gratitude to these early catalyst funders that invested in a new organization and recognized the value of building a strong statewide association to represent and support California’s CHCs.