The Specialty Care Access grant from the Patterson Family Foundation is designed to improve access to critical specialty medical services in rural communities. This funding opportunity supports initiatives aimed at bringing specialized healthcare—such as maternal care, oncology, chronic disease management, dental services, and mental or behavioral health—closer to underserved populations in rural areas. The Foundation seeks to remove geographic and systemic barriers by enabling innovative, place-based solutions that make these services more accessible to residents in isolated counties.

The grant awards range from $100,000 to $500,000 and are available to projects that directly address gaps in specialty care delivery. While the Foundation is open to a wide range of creative strategies, certain expenditures are not eligible. These include costs associated with electronic medical records (EMR) systems, staff payroll or benefits, insurance, and facility expenses such as rent, utilities, or general maintenance.

Applicants must operate in Kansas or western Missouri counties with populations under 50,000, aligning with the Foundation’s rural philanthropic mission. The grant follows a two-round annual cycle. Round 1 launches on April 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM CST, with Letters of Intent (LOIs) due April 18, and full applications due May 9. Round 2 LOIs are due July 3, with full applications due July 25, 2025. Funding decisions will be communicated in August and October, respectively.

All applicants are required to register through the Foundation’s Grants Portal prior to LOI submission. Registration must be completed by April 18 for Round 1 and July 3 for Round 2, both by 12:00 PM CST. After eligibility is verified, applicants gain access to the LOI form. Organizations with an existing portal account may log in directly to begin the application process.

To support applicants, Office Hours are offered from 1 – 3 PM, and time slots can be reserved by emailing Sasha Winterowd at sasha.winterowd@pffkc.org with a name, email, preferred session date, and three discussion questions. General questions can be directed to info@pffkc.org.

The Foundation emphasizes a rigorous and transparent review process. Participation in the application cycle does not imply a funding commitment. Final award decisions are confirmed only in writing via formal award letters, after which public announcements may be made with appropriate guidance. Receiving a grant does not imply a commitment to future funding.