Special Grants

Children’s Health Foundation, formerly known as Rest Haven Children’s Health Fund, is offering its 2026 Special Grants to support the health and well-being of at-risk and underserved children. This private foundation is rooted in a mission to enhance children's health and focuses its efforts on programs in San Diego and Imperial Counties, California. For the 2026 grant cycle, the Foundation anticipates distributing a total of $350,000 in one-time grants to nonprofit organizations. These grants are intended to fund new initiatives, expand existing services, or support equipment acquisition that directly benefits the health of children aged 0–17 within the eligible geographic regions. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Charitable Organization Registry and the California Secretary of State. All proposed programs must serve children residing in either San Diego or Imperial Counties. Priority will be given to proposals that address Childhood Obesity or Mental and Behavioral Health, although all qualifying health-related proposals will be considered. While salary costs are allowable under this grant, fringe benefits and various personnel-related expenses (such as taxes or recruiting fees) are not eligible for funding. Additionally, grants cannot be used for general operating support, capital improvements, or brick-and-mortar projects. The Foundation requires that applicants demonstrate program sustainability beyond the one-year funding period. Applications must outline a defined community need, the applicant’s plan to address it, measurable outcomes, and how the initiative will continue after the grant ends. If the proposal involves equipment, two price quotes must be submitted for each item over $1,000 with a useful life of more than 24 months. Even in these cases, program goals and outcome measurement strategies must be included. Applications are submitted exclusively through the Foundation’s online portal. The 2026 application period opens on March 6, 2026, and closes on April 3, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. After submission, all applications undergo committee review and final approval by the Board of Directors. Award notifications are expected on or around June 12, 2026, subject to change. Grantees must sign a Grant Agreement before receiving funds, which are scheduled for disbursement on July 1, 2026. The grant period runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Grantees are required to submit an Interim Report by January 29, 2027, and a Final Report, including a budget expenditure summary, by August 31, 2027. Reports must be submitted through the Foundation’s grant portal and include details such as how the funds were used, goals achieved, and challenges encountered. Receipts are required for individual items exceeding $1,000 in cost and with a useful life over 24 months. The Foundation reserves the right to request additional receipts as needed. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may affect eligibility for future funding. For inquiries, applicants may contact Executive Director Cass Kaminetz at [email protected] or by phone at 858.576.0590. The foundation's physical mailing address is 10531 4S Commons Drive, Suite 166-806, San Diego, CA 92127. This opportunity is non-recurring and is not designed for multi-year funding, though exceptions may be considered. All instructions, tutorials, and the required budget template are available within the online grant system.

Avoid vague terms like “supplies” in your budget. Use specific, descriptive line items as shown in the sample budget.