Versacare Inc.

Versacare Inc. is a self-funded, lay-operated private foundation headquartered in Riverside, California, with a clear and consistent giving philosophy rooted in Seventh-day Adventist mission. Since awarding its first grants in 1990, the foundation has distributed $33.6M+ across 1,734 grants—making it one of the most prolific and longest-running Adventist-affiliated funders in North America. Its stated purpose is to fund programs that 'create loving and just communities,' inspired by the example of Jesus and the SDA heritage.

Understanding the tiered Versafund grant structure is the essential starting point for any applicant. The foundation operates four program tracks: the Catalyst Grant ($2,500–$10,000, year-round, quarterly awards), the Venture Grant ($10,001–$40,000), the Impact Grant ($40,001+), and specialized programs including K-12 grants (up to $10,000) and the new Journalism for Adventist Solutions (JAS) grant ($5,000–$15,000). First-time applicants are explicitly directed toward Catalyst—the foundation's on-ramp for organizations new to Versacare—and the expectation is that successful Catalyst grantees progress to Venture and then Impact over multiple grant cycles. This is a relationship-based funder, not a one-time award mechanism.

Approximately 65–70% of all grants flow to entities directly affiliated with the SDA Church: conferences, SDA schools, hospitals, and denominational programs. However, Versacare does allocate a limited portion of its grantmaking to non-SDA organizations whose missions demonstrably align with Adventist values—particularly in the Inland Empire of Southern California, the foundation's home region. International applicants must fall within North American Division or Inter-American Division territory.

The board includes both lay Adventists and current or former SDA church employees, and compensation levels for leadership (President Tom Macomber at $96,332) reflect a professionally operated, though modestly staffed, foundation. Proposals that emphasize 'innovative ministry ideas' (the foundation's own language), measurable outcomes, financial sustainability, and matched funding commitments will be most competitive.

Versacare's annual giving has been consistent and trending upward over the past decade, with the most recent complete year (FY2023) setting a record at $3.35M in total giving including $2.69M in direct grants paid. Annual giving over the full data range: FY2012 ($1.74M), FY2013 ($1.91M), FY2014 ($2.01M), FY2018 ($2.65M), FY2019 ($3.19M), FY2020 ($2.80M), FY2021 ($3.08M), FY2022 ($450K—an anomalous outlier year), FY2023 ($3.35M). The FY2022 dip likely reflects a transition period rather than a strategic shift, as FY2023 rebounded sharply.

The foundation's asset base grew dramatically: from approximately $20–22M in 2018–2019 to $51.7M in 2020 and $67.5M in 2024, suggesting a significant endowment event or investment windfall around 2020 that has since supported elevated giving levels.

Typical grant size: Median grant is $10,000, with a range of $3,000 to $150,000 per database records. The Versafund tier structure makes grant sizing predictable: Catalyst ($2,500–$10,000), Venture ($10,001–$40,000), Impact ($40,001+). However, major denominational partners—Adventist Health International ($850,000 across 5 grants averaging $170,000), Loma Linda University ($600,000 across 2 grants averaging $300,000), International Children's Care ($500,000 across 5 grants averaging $100,000)—clearly receive multi-cycle, relationship grants well above published tiers.

Program area breakdown (estimated from grantee analysis across 537 total grants, $10.35M total): - Religious/denominational support ~40% (SDA conferences, individual churches, denominational programs) - Education including STEM ~30% (Adventist K-12, universities including Loma Linda, Andrews, La Sierra, Southwestern Adventist) - Healthcare and humanitarian ~15% (AHI hospitals/clinics, food assistance, burial aid, rehabilitation) - Youth and mentorship ~10% (Caught Up, US Dream Academy, youth ministries) - International/mission work ~5% (Irish Mission, Inter-American Division outreach)

Geographic concentration: California leads with 96 grants, followed by Florida (39), Maryland (39), Washington state (30), Tennessee (26), Michigan (25), Georgia (21), Texas (21), Arizona (19), and New York (17).

The following foundations share Versacare's approximate asset scale (~$67M) and are classified under the same NTEE code (Philanthropy & Grantmaking):

Versacare stands meaningfully apart from its asset-size peers. While the other five foundations are private, family-controlled vehicles with no public websites or documented application processes, Versacare operates a fully public, multi-tier grant program with posted deadlines, a dedicated grants page, staff contacts, and transparent eligibility criteria. This makes Versacare considerably more accessible than similarly sized foundations that operate entirely by invitation. Within the SDA-affiliated funder landscape, Versacare is among the most active lay-controlled foundations in North America, with a giving rate (roughly 4–5% of assets annually) consistent with private foundation payout requirements but demonstrating a genuine commitment to active deployment rather than asset preservation.

The most significant recent development is Versacare Foundation's March 2025 announcement of a year-round application process for its K-12 grant program, replacing a single annual deadline with two funding cycles. Schools applying January 1–June 30 receive funding in September; schools applying July 1–December 31 receive funding in March 2026. This structural change reflects a deliberate effort to reduce access barriers for Adventist schools that may have missed prior annual windows. Since 2016, the K-12 program has distributed 926 grants totaling $4,383,000.

In fiscal year 2023, Versacare awarded $3.35M in total giving including $2.69M in direct grants paid—the highest annual giving level in the foundation's documented history. The North American Division of SDA specifically highlighted the milestone in a dedicated announcement, underscoring the foundation's visibility and standing within the Adventist community.

President Tom Macomber has remained in his role across the most recent filing years (FY2021: $91,658; FY2022: $57,667; FY2023: $96,332), with CFO Danette Zurek and Treasurer Ellen H. Brodersen CPA providing financial oversight. Chairman Charles C. Sandefur continues in governance. Leadership stability suggests consistent strategic direction.

The Traditional Versafund Grant ($5,000–$30,000) has been archived and replaced by the three-tier Catalyst/Venture/Impact structure, a meaningful programmatic evolution. The new Journalism for Adventist Solutions (JAS) grant ($5,000–$15,000) represents an entirely new program area. FY2024 total assets reached $67.5M with $4.65M in revenue, positioning the foundation for continued giving at or above recent levels.

Alignment language is non-negotiable. Versacare's own application restrictions state: 'Funding will be considered for innovative ministry ideas, especially in the areas of Christian education, youth ministry, and healthcare.' These three categories—and the word 'innovative'—should appear explicitly in your proposal. The foundation's mission language ('restoring the image of God,' 'loving and just communities') reflects a theological framework; proposals that connect programmatic work to that framework—even briefly—signal cultural fit.

Start small and earn the relationship. The Catalyst Grant ($2,500–$10,000) is explicitly recommended for first-time applicants. Beyond being accessible, it functions as a trust-building exercise: organizations that demonstrate effective use of Catalyst grants are well-positioned to progress to Venture ($10,001–$40,000) and Impact ($40,001+) in subsequent cycles. Do not skip tiers in pursuit of a larger award on a first application.

Call before you apply. The foundation's own instructions say 'call or write for application form'—this is not boilerplate. A pre-application call to Lisa Corrales at (951) 343-5800 or office@versacare.org can clarify eligibility, surface alignment concerns early, and establish a human connection before your paperwork arrives.

Budget presentation is a credibility signal. Versacare's own guidance states that financial statements are reviewed as 'a window into your project planning, strategy, feasibility, and organization sustainability.' Present two or more years of financial statements alongside a detailed project budget. Identify matching funds explicitly—proposals with committed supplementary support are explicitly preferred.

Timing the main cycle: The primary application window is July 1–December 31 for March funding. Submit no later than December 31. Catalyst grants can be submitted year-round; quarterly award cycles mean even a February submission can yield a Q2 decision.

Hard exclusions to avoid: Capital construction, mission trips, debt reduction, salaries (with narrow exceptions), scholarships (with narrow exceptions), technology for non-instructional purposes, and consumables distribution are consistently declined. Removing any of these from a proposal scope—or proactively noting they are excluded from the budget—demonstrates awareness of the funder's guardrails.