Role of Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization created in 2003 to channel donor support directly into the communities served by Crossroads Hospice and other end-of-life providers. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Foundation focuses on improving quality of life for the terminally ill, their families, caregivers, and those in grief across the United States.
The Foundation plays a dual role: it develops its own educational and bereavement initiatives, and it provides financial support to external organizations through grants. Its portfolio includes funding for hospice and palliative care awareness projects, community education on end-of-life issues, and grief support services. A flagship initiative is Crossroads Kids, a multi-day camp designed to help grieving children and their families heal together in a structured, therapeutic environment.
Grant programs and financial support
Through its grants program, the Foundation explicitly offers funding to enhance community awareness of hospice and palliative care services. Prospective recipients are typically community organizations, healthcare providers, hospices, and caregivers working on end-of-life issues or grief resolution. Applicants can submit requests via an online application or a mail-in form and are asked to provide a cover letter, an IRS W-9 form, and a follow-up report detailing project outcomes.
According to its FAQs, monetary gifts are directed back into the communities from which they originate, and the Foundation works through local hospices to channel funds to partner organizations. More than 90% of available funds are devoted to mission-related activities, while the Foundation seeks additional grant funding to keep administrative costs low.
Supported audiences and overall impact
The Foundation’s mission is described as dedication to “ultimate life,” meaning a better quality of life for those facing the end of life and their support networks. Its grants and programs target several key groups:
- Terminally ill patients who benefit indirectly through enhanced hospice and palliative services.
- Family members and friends who receive education and grief support.
- Healthcare providers and community organizations that deliver end-of-life and bereavement care.
- Children and families in grief, particularly through specialized Crossroads Kids camps.
Beyond funding, the Foundation develops and distributes free educational resources on grief and bereavement and promotes local grief support groups in multiple states. This combination of direct programming and financial support makes it an important actor in the hospice and end-of-life care funding landscape in the U.S.
History and evolution
The Foundation grew out of donations from grateful families served by Crossroads Hospice starting in 1995. Because Crossroads could not accept funds directly, early contributions were routed to an external foundation. In 2003, Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation was created to ensure that donor dollars stayed in local communities. Over time, its mission expanded from general hospice promotion to include structured end-of-life education, therapeutic workshops, support groups, and specialized programs for grieving children.