Sequoia Healthcare District

What Sequoia Healthcare District does

Sequoia Healthcare District (SHD) is a public special district — the first healthcare district formed in California (1946) — governed under the state's Health Care/Hospital Districts Principal Enabling Act. It is funded by 1.3% of property tax collected by San Mateo County on properties within its boundaries and is overseen by an elected Board of Directors. After divesting Sequoia Hospital to Catholic Healthcare West (now Dignity Health) in 1996–2007, SHD redirected its tax receipts toward community health grants, school-based programs, and direct resident services. It currently serves approximately 250,000 residents across central and southern San Mateo County, including Atherton, Belmont, Redwood City, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and portions of Menlo Park, Foster City, and San Mateo.

The District operates a portfolio of community health programs rather than commercial products. Its core offerings include (1) a Grants Program that funds local non-profits (Caring Community Grants, School-Based Grants, and Major Funding Initiatives), (2) the Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI), which delivers student wellness programming in partnership with 8 local school districts serving 30,000+ K-12 students with annual funding exceeding $4 million, and (3) Sequoia Strong/Smart/Safe, a set of branded resident-facing programs connecting residents to fitness resources, health education (Sequoia Smart), and disaster preparedness (Sequoia Safe). Notable major capital investments include a ~$6 million contribution to the $6.5 million Ravenswood Family Health Network Dental Clinic (opened February 2026). The District runs a lean operation of 18 employees and does not sell products or charge fees; it is essentially a tax-funded grantmaking and program-coordination entity.

Revenue is governed by property tax allocations rather than commercial sales, so the business model is closer to a public-benefit funding authority than a company. SHD does not disclose specific revenue figures, but visible annual grant outflows (~$3.8M community grants in FY2021-22, $4M+ HSI, $1.1M to Samaritan House, $1M to Ravenswood) plus major initiatives suggest disbursements in the high single-digit to low double-digit millions annually. Operating technology is standard government infrastructure built on the Streamline platform, with no proprietary AI or technology stack disclosed.

Name

Sequoia Healthcare District

Legal name

Sequoia Healthcare District

Website

https://seqhd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sequoia Healthcare District is a public California special district, funded by 1.3% of local property tax, that grants funds and runs community health programs for approximately 250,000 residents across central and southern San Mateo County, including the Healthy Schools Initiative across 8 school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Healthcare District Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Student Health Services (School Nursing, Health Office) (EDAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Public healthcare district
• Community health grants
• School health programs
• Wellness resource directory
• Disaster preparedness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Carlos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: The district receives a portion (1.3%) of annual property tax from San Mateo County, specifically from residential and commercial properties located within District boundaries. There are approximately 250,000 residents in this area.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sequoia Healthcare District is a public healthcare district that funds and delivers community health programs for the residents of central and southern San Mateo County. Its core offerings include a Grants Program (community, school-based, and major funding initiatives) that pays local non-profits to deliver health services, the Healthy Schools Initiative partnering with 8 school districts to serve 30,000+ K-12 students, and direct resident programs (Sequoia Strong™, Sequoia Smart, Sequoia Safe) that connect residents to wellness, educational, and disaster-preparedness resources.

Product overview

Sequoia Healthcare District operates as a public healthcare district offering a portfolio of community health programs and grant funding. The core offerings include a Grants Program funding local non-profits, the Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) providing K-12 student wellness programs across 8 school districts, and Sequoia Strong™ — a free online resource directory (launched 2018, expanded from the original '70 Strong' 2016 program) that connects residents of all ages to local health activities and services. Supporting programs include Sequoia Smart (educational resources), Sequoia Safe (disaster preparedness), Major Funding Initiatives for infrastructure projects, and Community/School-Based Grants. The District's programs collectively serve approximately 60,000-65,000 residents annually across central and southern San Mateo County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sequoia Strong: Free online personal directory to healthy living for all ages including Children, Teens, Adults, and Adults 50+. Formerly known as 70 Strong (launched 2016), rebranded and expanded in 2018 to serve all ages.
• Sequoia Smart
• Sequoia Safe

Products and services

• Grants Program Funding program that provides grants to local non-profits delivering health-related services in central and southern San Mateo County, supporting community health initiatives and safety-net services.
• Caring Community Grants Sub-program of the Grants Program funding local non-profits providing health-related community services throughout southern San Mateo County.
• School-Based Grants Sub-program of the Grants Program providing funding to school districts and educational institutions for health and wellness programs.
• Major Funding Initiatives Large-scale funding programs supporting significant community health infrastructure projects, such as the $6.5 million Ravenswood Family Health Network Dental Clinic.
• Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) Student health and wellness program delivered in partnership with 8 school districts within the District's catchment area, serving K-12 students with prevention, mental health, and health education resources.
• Sequoia Strong™ Free online resource directory connecting District residents of all ages (Children, Teens, Adults, and Adults 50+) to local health and wellness activities and services.
• Sequoia Smart Program connecting residents to educational resources and health literacy content within the District.
• Sequoia Safe Program connecting residents to disaster preparedness resources and emergency planning information within the District.
• Wellness Team School health support program providing wellness coordination and resources within the Healthy Schools Initiative.
• Nursing Scholarship Scholarship program supporting the development of school nursing staff within the District's educational institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000 residents benefit annually from district grants and programs (approximately 1 in 4.5 residents)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ravenswood Family Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Sequoia Healthcare District invested nearly $6 million in the $6.5 million Ravenswood Family Health Network Dental Clinic, which also provided the lease for the facility. This partnership represents a major milestone in strengthening the local healthcare safety net and improving access to comprehensive dental services for un/underinsured individuals.
• Second Harvest of Silicon ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Awarded supplemental grant of $850,000 to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for enhanced delivery infrastructure, in addition to $700,000 already awarded for food purchases in fiscal year 2026 to address rising food demand.
• Peninsula Volunteers Inc. (Meals on Wheels)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sequoia Healthcare District and Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital allocated $115,000 emergency grant for Peninsula Volunteers Meals on Wheels program to facilitate delivery of nutritious meals to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• Dignity Health Sequoia HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer parent organization (operated Sequoia Hospital 1950-1996). Currently maintains profit-sharing (EBIDA) arrangement expiring 2046. Collaborates on community health initiatives including holiday food grants. Hospital is now operated by Catholic Healthcare West (now Dignity Health).
• 8 School Districts (Redwood City, Sequoia Union, San Carlos, Belmont/Redwood Shores, Menlo Park, Las Lomitas, Portola Valley, Woodside)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy Schools Initiative (HSI) partnership with 8 school districts encompassing all school districts in the region including public charter schools. HSI provides health and wellness programs to K-12 students with annual funding exceeding $4 million.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew collaboration offering Hands-only CPR and Be Ready emergency preparedness classes to the public.
• Samaritan House Free Medical CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHD is the largest funder of Samaritan House Free Medical Clinic with an average annual investment of $1.1 million. Clinic opened in 2001 with initial SHD grant.
• Peninsula Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 70 Strong (now Sequoia Strong) senior resource program launched in 2016.
• Redwood City Parks & RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch PE+, a comprehensive physical education program in Redwood City schools in 2012.
• San Mateo County HealthminorOthersCounty health department partnership for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and testing coordination.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Washington Township Healthcare District: California healthcare district serving Fremont, Newark, Union City, and Hayward. Closely comparable public healthcare district with statutory authority under the same state enabling act, operating a hospital and community health programs in a defined Bay Area service area.
• Beach Cities Health District: Public healthcare district serving Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. Directly comparable as another California healthcare district funded by property tax that delivers community health programs, school wellness, and senior services within a defined geographic boundary.
• Eden Township Healthcare District: California healthcare district serving southern Alameda County. Direct peer with the same legal structure under the Health Care Districts Enabling Act, providing grants and operating community health programs funded through property tax revenue.
• Desert Healthcare District: Public healthcare district in Coachella Valley funded by property tax. Operates as a grantmaking district providing funding to local nonprofits for community health, similar to Sequoia's grant distribution model across a defined geographic footprint.

Others

• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: Major food bank serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Important grantee/partner of SHD (received $850K supplemental and $700K in FY26) and comparable as a key nonprofit partner in the district's food security program serving 11,500 residents.
• Ravenswood Family Health Network: Federally qualified health center serving East Palo Alto and southern San Mateo County. Anchor grantee of SHD ($1M annual since 2002, $6M for new dental clinic), serving the same low-income population that SHD funds.

Regional players

• San Mateo County Health: County health department that serves as a broader public health authority overlapping Sequoia's district boundaries. Operates public health programs and coordinates with SHD on vaccine distribution and emergency response, making it a regional peer with overlapping mandate.

Emerging players

• Healthier Kids Foundation: Bay Area nonprofit focused on children's health and wellness including mental health services in schools. Comparable as a recipient of community health funding and provider of school-based health programs that overlap with SHD's Healthy Schools Initiative focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shealthdistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/shealthdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sequoia-healthcare-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sequoia Healthcare District