Created in 1997 as a separate component of St. Luke's Episcopal Health System (SLEHS), St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities (SLEHC) is a grant-making (non-operating) public charity with 501(c)(3) status.

SLEHC provides the Houston community and communities within the 57-county Episcopal Diocese of Texas with a much-needed resource: a charity devoted exclusively to assessing and enhancing community health, not just for ill-care, but for lifelong health and well being. To date, SLEHC has awarded over $46 million to selected, non-profit service organizations throughout the Diocese.

As a result of its first five years of work, SLEHC was named the recipient of the 1999 National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Foundation Award by the National Society of Fundraising Executives, Greater Houston Chapter, Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Recognition from the Texas Department of Health and the Spirit of Collaboration Award from the Greater Houston Children's Collaborative.