Every three years, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley conducts an assessment to identify the greatest health needs affecting its community. Then the nonprofit organization develops strategies to tackle those needs and improve the health and well-being of community members. In May 2025, the nonprofit released its latest Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), which encompasses the communities of Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon. The 2025 CHNA highlights economic stability as a critical driver of community health. The report calls for collaborative solutions to address disparities in income, employment, and opportunity—factors that directly impact health and well-being for Tri-Valley residents.

In a major response to the report, i-GATE, the Tri-Valley’s leading innovation hub, has launched the i-GATE Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Grant Fund in partnership with Three Valleys Community Foundation (3VCF). i-GATE Innovation Hub is a non-profit organization focused on increasing economic prosperity through entrepreneurship in the Tri-Valley. i-GATE provides startup incubation resources through Daybreaks Labs and connects the regional innovation ecosystem through the Startup Tri-Valley initiative. 3VCF serves as a philanthropic anchor dedicated to enhancing the Tri-Valley region and beyond through inclusive leadership, thoughtful funding, informed local giving, and collaborative action. 3VCF partners with local donors to support impactful organizations and projects that address the most pressing needs of our community.

The i-GATE Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Grant Fund is designed to strengthen economic security and health outcomes for the Tri-Valley region, directly addressing priorities identified in the most recent CHNA. The new fund, which is hosted and managed by 3VCF, provides funding for competitive, merit-based grants to startups at the Pre-seed, Seed, and Series A stages. By supporting companies in Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Frontier Tech, and Women’s Health, the program aims to create new jobs, attract investment, and build a resilient local economy.

As officials explain, 3VCF fiscally manages the grant funds, while i-GATE administers the program, ensuring efficiency and regulatory compliance. Grants will be awarded through a public call for proposals that will be reviewed by a committee of investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs selected by the i-GATE chief executive in consultation with 3VCF officials. Funding may be used to offset facility infrastructure upgrades or expansion costs and to hire local interns, supporting startups that contribute to regional innovation and economic growth.

“By partnering with Three Valleys Community Foundation, we’re creating a powerful engine for economic development and innovation in the Tri-Valley,” according to Yolanda Fintschenko, PhD, Executive Director of i-GATE. “This fund is a direct response to our region’s health assessment, helping promising startups scale, create jobs, and strengthen our community’s economic security.” The benefits of the new fund include linking i-GATE, an established startup ecosystem creator, to 3VCF, an important local philanthropic community foundation. Efficient fund management through streamlined processes will enable a focus on program execution and startup support, officials say. The program will foster local innovation and support the growth of science-based startups in the Tri-Valley. A unique twist to the fund is that it offers donors a direct role in economic development, which is different from traditional philanthropy models. To be eligible for a grant, a startup must be located in the Tri-Valley and its purpose must align with i-GATE’s mission to support science-based entrepreneurship.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with i-GATE on this initiative,” notes Kelly Bowers, Ed.D., CEO/President of Three Valleys Community Foundation. “Our shared commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs and fostering innovation will help build a vibrant, resilient economy for the Tri-Valley. Together, we are investing in the future of our community.”

For more information about i-Gate Innovation Hub, please visit www.igatehub.org.

For more information about Three Valleys Community Foundation, please visit www.3vcf.org.

To donate to the i-GATE Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Grant Fund, please visit ​​www.threevcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1531.

To view the 2025 Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley Community Health Needs Assessment, please visit www.stanfordhealthcare.org/content/dam/valleycare/community-benefits/2025-Community-Health-Needs-Assessment-(CHNA).pdf.