Tuesday, October 13, 2026
WENATCHEE — Confluence Health and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group have awarded $505,474 in grants to 75 nonprofit organizations across North Central Washington as part of their 2026 Community Health Partnership Fund program.
The grants, announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, will support programs addressing health and wellness and social factors affecting health in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties.
The 2026 funding cycle drew nearly $1.8 million in requests, more than three times the amount awarded.
The Community Health Partnership Fund is jointly financed by Confluence Health and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group and administered by the Confluence Health Foundation. The program distributes approximately $500,000 annually to qualifying nonprofit organizations serving the four-county region.
Three organizations received the largest individual awards of $20,000 each: NCW Tech Alliance, North Central Washington Peer Connection and Small Miracles.
NCW Tech Alliance will use its funding to continue the Confluence Access Navigator Network, a program designed to improve access to digital health services across four rural counties.
The project supports community-based digital navigators, updated bilingual resources and assistance with Medicaid enrollment and verification. It also includes a virtual learning series focused on rural medicine for young people.
The program aims to help residents navigate digital health services, including MyChart and telehealth platforms.
North Central Washington Peer Connection received $20,000 for its Bridges to Stability program, which provides peer support and connects participants with housing, education, employment and recovery resources.
The organization also provides meals, showers, laundry facilities, community groups and emergency financial assistance to address immediate needs and support participants seeking greater stability.
Small Miracles received $20,000 to support food assistance programs for students, including summer lunches, after-school snacks and open pantries in local school districts.
The funding will help stock essential food supplies, respond to requests from additional schools and provide food assistance during the school year and summer months.
“Every year, these grants highlight the incredible work being done across North Central Washington to improve the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Dr. Andrew Jones, CEO of Confluence Health. “We are proud to support organizations that are creating meaningful change, strengthening local resources, and making a lasting difference for the people they serve.”
The grant program focuses on two categories: health and wellness and the social determinants of health, which include factors such as housing, food security, education and access to services.
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving at least one of the four counties. Organizations may submit one proposal during each annual funding cycle.
The Community Health Partnership Fund was previously administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. The Confluence Health Foundation assumed direct administration of the program May 1, 2025.
Suzanne Carté-Cocroft, chief philanthropy officer for Confluence Health, said the grants support programs addressing both direct health needs and broader community conditions.
“Healthy communities grow stronger when local partners come together with compassion, purpose, and a shared commitment to helping residents thrive,” Carté-Cocroft said. “The Confluence Health and Wenatchee Valley Medical Group Community Health Partnership Fund allows us to invest in programs that advance health and wellness while addressing the broader social factors that shape wellbeing for residents of our region.”
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen, president of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, also acknowledged the work of the organizations receiving funding.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this program is seeing the creativity, dedication, and passion these organizations bring to improving life in our region. We look forward to seeing how this year’s grants will support projects that strengthen health and wellbeing and create a positive impact for years to come.”
The 75 awards will support projects throughout the four-county region. The announcement identified the three largest grant recipients but did not provide a complete list of funded organizations or individual award amounts for the remaining 72 recipients.
Additional information about the Community Health Partnership Fund is available through Confluence Health's community support program.
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