Policies & Procedures

The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit that has served Monterey and Santa Cruz counties since 2000. Free health education is the foundation of everything we do — the policies below explain how our programs, our directory, our one paid membership and our board oversight all work in service of that mission.

Governance

MBHA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors — James B. Colip (Executive Director), Tisa Mendoza, Celestine Mcmahan-Woneis, PhD, and Blake M. Campbell, Sr. — and emphasizes transparency by sharing its policies and procedures with the public.

Health Education Programs

Health education is free, always. MBHA hosts complimentary workshops, trainings and classes monthly at the Monterey public library — open to everyone, no registration or membership required. Presenters may submit an application to sponsor or advertise a class or event through the Alliance. The article library, video library and Healthcare Quick Guides are free to the public and never require a membership.

All of this content is educational and informational only — it is not medical advice and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. MBHA strongly recommends visitors seek their own trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. See the full Disclaimer for detail.

Practitioner Directory Listing

Practitioners across all holistic, complementary and alternative disciplines are welcome to apply for the directory. A Practitioner Partner listing costs $25 per year, a flat fee with no commission or per-lead charges, and every application is reviewed by MBHA staff before it is published. MBHA does not endorse any particular product or practice, and is not responsible for the quality, outcome or pricing of services provided by listed, third-party practitioners or clinics.

Major Claim Support Membership & Donations

Major Claim Support is MBHA’s one paid program: an annual membership donation that funds our free health education mission plus hands-on help — insurance navigation, medical bill review, appeals and fundraising — for members facing a major medical event. See Membership Plans & Donations for current tiers and donation amounts.

• Refunds & renewal: a membership charge is refundable in full within 14 days, as long as no billable service (document-prep hours) has yet been used. After 14 days, or once those services begin, that charge is non-refundable and membership stays active for the period already paid for; there are no partial refunds for cancelling mid-period. Membership renews automatically each month or year, matching the billing option chosen at signup, until cancelled — cancel anytime and no further charge will be made.
• Donation amounts subject to change: membership donation amounts and service pricing may change without prior notice, typically driven by factors such as inflation, workforce and staffing costs, partner and vendor service fees, grant or philanthropic funding fluctuations, and regulatory or compliance costs.
• Tax-deductibility: because paid membership includes services in return (navigation support, the Quick Guides library, resource access), only the portion of a donation that exceeds the fair market value of those services may be tax-deductible. Consult your tax preparer for your specific situation.
• Member funds: MBHA never holds or routes member funds directly. Fundraising Support connects members to grant and fundraising opportunities for medical issues insurance doesn’t cover; any excess raised beyond a member’s need goes into MBHA’s member health restoration fund. A service fee of 10% of net funds actually received via a grant or fundraising campaign with MBHA’s documented involvement is billed separately, along with document preparation (appeals, bill organizing, hardship letters) at $20/hour, billed in 15-minute increments after the first hour.
• No guarantee of results: while MBHA strives to assist members effectively, there is no guarantee of specific outcomes regarding medical bill reductions or claim approvals, and services are subject to availability and may vary by geographic location and provider policies.

The Monthly Wellness Program

Every MBHA member also receives the Monthly Wellness Program at no extra cost. Its content is educational and motivational only, not healthcare — the coach does not diagnose or treat, and no personal health data is collected through this benefit. Members with clinical needs are encouraged to seek appropriate care.

Charitable Giving & “Hearts to Hands”

Beyond paid membership, community members can support MBHA’s free programs by volunteering, presenting a class, joining the directory, or giving through the “Hearts to Hands” charitable program — reach out via the contact form to get involved.

Related

• Disclaimer — the educational nature of our resources
• Board Members — who governs the organization
• Mission Statement — the vision and values we work to
• Membership Plans & Donations — current tiers and donation amounts