Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

What Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health does

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is a nonprofit private foundation established in 2001 by Blue Cross of Idaho and headquartered in Meridian, Idaho. Operating as the largest health foundation in the state, it runs a portfolio of grant, technical-assistance, and learning-collaborative programs organized under three focus areas — Community, Education, and Healthcare — and reaches all 44 Idaho counties. Its mission is to address root causes of community health (early childhood, healthcare workforce, youth behavioral health, housing, walkability, food systems) rather than to fund direct medical care.

The foundation's product set comprises approximately twelve program lines, including the Community Health Academy (a five-month mayoral learning collaborative with $20,000 grants per city), the Mayor's Walking Challenge, Community Transformation Grants, The Community Project (outdoor public-space grants), Steps for Schools (legislator walking challenge funding public schools), Early Education grants, Health Professions CTE programs, Community Schools support, the Healthy Minds Partnership, Scholarships, and the Employee Community Fund. There is no proprietary technology underlying these programs; the foundation's operational "platform" is its relationships with cities, school districts, state agencies, and partner organizations such as the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools, the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, FSG, and the Idaho Healthcare Workforce Shortage Collaborative, which the foundation convenes.

As a grantmaking entity, the foundation does not earn revenue from fees or pricing. Funding sources consist of ongoing support from parent Blue Cross of Idaho, major philanthropic gifts (notably a $6 million donation from MacKenzie Scott in 2022), and employee contributions through the Employee Community Fund. Reported outcomes include 65 schools operating as community schools serving approximately 16,000 students, 27 schools with foundation-supported health-professions CTE programs, $400,000 distributed through Steps for Schools since 2015, and 121 mayors participating in the Mayor's Walking Challenge. Leadership transitioned in April 2025 when Courtney Frost was promoted to Executive Director.

Name

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

Legal name

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Inc.

Website

https://bcidahofoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is a nonprofit private foundation, established in 2001 by Blue Cross of Idaho, that provides grants, learning collaboratives, and technical assistance to Idaho cities, school districts, and nonprofits to address root causes of community health across all 44 Idaho counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)

Keywords

• Community health grants
• Health philanthropy
• Grantmaking foundation
• Community health programs
• Public health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment and Corporate Contributions: The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is a nonprofit private foundation established by Blue Cross of Idaho in 2001. It receives ongoing support from its parent organization, Blue Cross of Idaho. Additional funding has come from major donors such as philanthropist MacKenzie Scott ($6 million grant in 2022).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is a nonprofit private foundation that awards grants, technical assistance, and learning-collaborative programming to Idaho municipalities, school districts, and nonprofit organizations to address root causes of community health. Programs span three focus areas (Community, Education, and Healthcare) and include Community Health Academy, Mayor's Walking Challenge, Community Transformation Grants, The Community Project, Steps for Schools, Early Education grants, Health Professions CTE grants, and the Community Health Champion Award. The foundation does not charge for its programs and is funded by an endowment from Blue Cross of Idaho and major philanthropic gifts.

Product overview

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is a nonprofit private foundation established in 2001 that operates as a grant-making organization rather than a traditional product company. The foundation's offerings consist of multiple grant programs and initiatives organized around three focus areas: Community, Education, and Healthcare. Key programs include the Community Health Academy (a learning collaborative for city leaders), Mayor's Walking Challenge, Community Transformation Grant, The Community Project, Steps for Schools, Early Education Programs, Health Professions CTE Programs, Healthy Minds Partnership, Community Schools, and Scholarships. Each program provides funding, technical assistance, or both to Idaho communities and organizations working to address root causes of health issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Health Academy: A learning collaborative program for mayors and city staff to explore how they can improve the health of their communities.
• The Community Project
• Mayor's Walking Challenge
• Steps for Schools
• Community Health Champion Award
• Community Transformation Grant
• Early Education Program

Products and services

• Community Health Academy A five-month learning collaborative for Idaho mayors and city staff that provides expert-led education, peer collaboration, and a $20,000 grant per participating city upon completion to support community health improvement.
• Mayor's Walking Challenge An annual physical activity challenge for Idaho mayors that encourages walking and promotes community health leadership by example.
• Community Transformation Grant A multi-year partnership program in which the foundation works alongside community residents to define and achieve health goals through survey data, events, youth engagement, and community-driven projects.
• The Community Project A grant program that unites community leaders and residents to define, design, and create outdoor public spaces that bring people together, paired with technical assistance for community engagement.
• Steps for Schools An annual walking challenge for Idaho legislators and constitutional officers who walk to earn funds for public schools, including the Stroll with Students event. The program has provided close to $400,000 to Idaho schools since 2015.
• Community Health Champion Award

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 schools across Idaho operate as community schools serving approximately 16,000 students
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Idaho Coalition for Community Schools (ICCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The foundation is a member of ICCS and supports community schools across Idaho, with 65 schools now operating as community schools through this partnership.
• Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnered to deliver learning series for school administrators on early education best practices, supporting 23+ school districts with early education grants.
• FSGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Nonprofit social impact consulting firm that has facilitated learning collaboratives and provided best practices guidance for Community Health Academy.
• Blue Cross of IdahocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Parent organization that established the foundation and provides ongoing financial and operational support. The foundation is an extension of Blue Cross of Idaho's commitment to community health.
• New Venture AdvisorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy consulting firm specializing in food system planning that has presented sessions on food systems in Community Health Academy.
• Mark FentonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent consultant working at the nexus of transportation, land use, and public health. Has worked with the foundation for over five years on healthy community design.
• National experts (various)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal and national subject matter experts who present on topics including childcare, housing, food systems, civility, and community design in learning collaboratives.
• Beth OppenheimermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director of Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children who led sessions on early childhood education and childcare in Community Health Academy.
• Boise Bicycle ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that grew from partnership with the foundation through Blue Cruise charity bike ride sponsorship; now provides bikes and safety lessons to children.
• J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioned a report on social determinants of health in Idaho communities.
• Nimiipuu Community Development FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative Community Development Financial Institution that received housing needs assessment grant for Nez Perce Reservation.
• Kelley Packer / Association of Idaho CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director of Association of Idaho Cities who led civility sessions; AIC partners on events including Community Health Champion Award presentation.
• Idaho Healthcare Workforce Shortage CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership group the foundation convenes, bringing together healthcare employers, post-secondary institutions, professional associations, and state agencies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation: Idaho's largest private family foundation, focused on education and community vitality. Direct regional comparable as another large Idaho private foundation operating in overlapping education and community health domains (they co-commissioned research with the subject foundation).
• Idaho Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation managing charitable funds across Idaho. Comparable as a major Idaho-based grantmaking entity, though broader in scope beyond health.
• St. Luke's Health Foundation (Idaho): Idaho-based health system foundation supporting St. Luke's Health System. Comparable as another state-focused health foundation addressing workforce, access, and community health in Idaho.

Emerging players

• Health Forward Foundation: Kansas City-area health foundation supporting mental health, healthy communities, and equity work. Comparable as a regional health foundation pursuing community-driven grantmaking and learning collaborative models.
• Colorado Health Foundation: Large state health foundation funding behavioral health, health coverage, and community health across Colorado. Comparable on focus areas and state-level grantmaking model, though larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation: State-level Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated health foundation that funds community health, behavioral health, and healthcare workforce programs in Michigan. Most direct peer given shared BCBS parent structure and similar grantmaking focus on community health.
• Cambia Health Foundation: Pacific Northwest health foundation backing palliative care, behavioral health, and rural health initiatives. Compares on parent-company-backed nonprofit structure and similar community health grantmaking scope.
• Blue Shield of California Foundation: California-based health foundation focused on domestic violence, health, and community resilience. Comparable as a Blue-affiliated state/regional health foundation pursuing place-based grantmaking.
• Empire Health Foundation: Washington-state health foundation focused on rural health, behavioral health, and community transformation. Comparable due to regional focus, rural emphasis, and similar grantmaking structure to a single-state population.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation: North Carolina-focused health foundation established by Blue Cross NC, investing in early childhood, community health, and equitable access to care. Direct comparable due to state-level BCBS parent structure and identical focus areas (community, education, health).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-cross-of-idaho-foundation-for-health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health