Yes, We Can

Yes, We Can

The McKenna Foundation, established in February 2008, was born from the sale of the McKenna Health System to Christus Santa Rosa. What was true then remains true today– the McKenna Foundation exists for the community and by the community.

Over the past 16 years, the McKenna Foundation has invested more than $30 million in projects and programs that enhance the health and well-being of our neighbors. Our grant-making initiatives and program plans are guided by an ongoing dialogue with the community, extensive discussions, gathering data, researching, and building consensus. Discover insights with the McKenna Foundation’s community needs survey data 2018 vs. 2024.

In 2025, our work was grounded in being informed by the community, resulting in a grantmaking approach that looked different than in years past. Our time, attention, and funding focused on areas where gaps existed due to underdeveloped social infrastructure. We prioritized needs in which nonprofits were too often forced to say, “No, we can’t help you.” Through our investments, we worked to shift the community’s response from “no, we can’t” to “yes, we can.” We look forward to sharing more about the 2026 grantmaking process in the coming months.