Hospital Fundraising Drives

Food as Medicine is integral to whole health, and data are showing what communities far and wide have always known. This second-year impact report from Elevance Health Foundation’s partnership with Feeding America highlights what happens when healthcare and hunger relief intersect: better chronic disease management, healthier eating habits, and prioritization of dignity.   Participants are eating more fruits and vegetables, managing chronic conditions more effectively, and seeing real health improvements. More than 100,000 patients screened for food insecurity were referred to nutritious food resources, and over 20,000 neighbors were connected to SNAP benefits. This is a step to ensure neighbors have access to the food and support they need to thrive. Check out some key activities and learnings found in the full report below. #FoodasMedicine #CommunityHealth https://lnkd.in/e4dDvcaV

For a number of years this has been bothering me, so I feel compelled to address it. In today's challenging funding environment, early-stage biotech companies with promising therapeutic assets often struggle to secure the capital needed to advance their programs. Simultaneously, many patient foundations, despite their commitment to discovering new treatments for their communities, continue to restrict grant funding to ONLY academic or medical institutions. I think that this policy is really short sighted and not faithful to the commitment that foundations make to their donors. This policy overlooks the critical reality that translating scientific discoveries into approved treatments requires not only groundbreaking research, but also the practical expertise and experience to navigate the complex drug discovery and development process. Companies experienced in preclinical and clinical development play an essential role in this journey and can provide foundations with both therapeutic advancements and potential returns on their investments. Foundations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) have recognized this gap and pioneered a venture philanthropy model. By investing in biotech firms, CFF helped develop transformative therapies like Kalydeco, significantly improving the lives of many with cystic fibrosis. This strategy not only accelerated drug development but also generated substantial returns, enabling further investment in research. Similarly, the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF) and CureCMT were founded on the principle of funding translational research, actively collaborating with biotech companies to advance treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. By embracing partnerships with experienced industry professionals, foundations can more effectively fulfill their missions. Such collaborations enhance the likelihood of bringing treatments to patients and offer the potential for financial returns that can be reinvested into further research. In these tumultuous times of limited access to capital, it's crucial for patient foundations to align their funding strategies with their stated goals. Supporting programs and professionals with a track record in therapeutic development is not just logical, it's essential for delivering on promises to the communities they serve. If you are a patient foundation focused on developing therapies for your members, consider investing in early-stage companies that may help your patient population and return a multiple of the investment you make in them. Drug discovery and development is expensive, and there are limited avenues for companies to access the capital needed to advance therapies these days. Everyone has their own perspective, and this is mine after many years working in drug discovery and having encountered many walls to industry from patient foundations. #PatientAdvocacy #DrugDevelopment #VenturePhilanthropy #CureCMT #CFF #InnovationInHealthcare

Most nine-figure gifts to children's hospitals fund a building at one institution. Tom Golisano gave $403 million in 2025 across twelve. In October, he announced $253 million to create the Golisano Children's Alliance, a network of ten pediatric hospitals across the eastern United States. Connecticut Children's, Penn State Health, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Vermont, and WVU Medicine each received between $25 million and $50 million. By December, he added another $100 million, bringing in Arkansas Children's and Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia. Each hospital operates independently, but they share research, training, and best practices through the alliance. Golisano is building the network to eventually reach forty hospitals. The first alliance symposium is scheduled for May 2026. I have seen plenty of major gifts that name a wing. Golisano is funding how pediatric hospitals learn from each other, and that structure will keep working long after the check clears. For more on how philanthropists are reshaping children's health, subscribe to Cause & Capital: https://lnkd.in/gBTgQa4x

As the Chair of the IFPMA Council, I spend a lot of time thinking about global public health and how it can be improved. Urgent global health challenges – such as aging populations, the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change, and the ever present threat of pandemics – require coordinated efforts from the global community.     The pharmaceutical industry is not only at the forefront of global health innovation, but is working in partnership to ensure that life-saving medicines and vaccines reach those that need them. Data from @IFPMA’s #AlwaysInnovating report highlights 260 examples of such partnerships, as detailed on the “Global Health Progress” website.    By partnering with governments, multilateral organizations, and local NGOs, these initiatives help to strengthen healthcare systems, advance sustainable financing, provide equipment and resources, support training and education for healthcare professionals, and raise disease awareness.    To learn more about how these initiatives are closing gaps in access check out @IFPMA’s #AlwaysInnovating report: https://ifpma.info/4aGvy7c #IFPMA

Why CSR Investments in Last-Mile Healthcare Delivery Matter: One of the most fulfilling experiences of my career was leading CSR healthcare initiatives across 15–16 Aspirational Districts, following discussions at NITI Aayog. Visiting these projects and interacting with patients, ASHA workers, healthcare professionals, and beneficiaries reinforced one simple truth—access to healthcare continues to be one of India's biggest development challenges. While India has made significant progress in expanding its healthcare workforce, the distribution of doctors and healthcare professionals remains highly uneven. Rural, tribal, and remote regions continue to face shortages of medical personnel, diagnostics, and specialist care. For many families, healthcare is often determined by geography rather than need. This is where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can make a transformative difference. By supporting Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) staffed with doctors, nurses, paramedics, and equipped with diagnostics and essential medicines, companies can bring quality healthcare to the doorstep of communities living in the most underserved areas. These initiatives complement the public health system by providing preventive care, maternal and child health services, screening for non-communicable diseases, health awareness, and timely referrals. I witnessed firsthand how these interventions changed lives. The smiles of patients who received care close to home, often for the very first time, remain among the most rewarding memories of my professional journey. It is time for more corporates to adopt Aspirational Districts and invest their CSR resources in strengthening last-mile healthcare delivery. Such partnerships not only improve health outcomes but also contribute to building healthier, more productive, and more resilient communities. Together, we can ensure that quality healthcare reaches every village and every citizen—no matter how remote. #CSR #Healthcare #LastMileHealthcare #RuralHealthcare #PublicHealth #AspirationalDistricts #MobileMedicalUnits #SmileOnWheels #SmileFoundation #MSDIndia #HealthEquity #CorporateResponsibility #HealthcareForAll

As conflict escalates across the Middle East, refugees are being displaced. The question isn't whether the humanitarian system will be overwhelmed. It will. The question I’m asking is whether or not the tech infrastructure is ready. The partnership between HERA Digital Health and Okta stopped me in my tracks. HERA has secured the medical records and healthcare access for nearly 500K people displaced from their homes. Implementing Auth0, their WhatsApp-based authentication works on older phones in low-connectivity environments. This protects sensitive health data from bot attacks without creating barriers for the people who need care most. Built by a technical team of two. Half a million lives touched. This is a living proof point for how The Philanthropic Reset whitepaper shows up in practice: 📌 Philanthropy must treat tech as a core program cost, not overhead to be minimized. HERA prioritized the right infrastructure and funding to make space for the work, rather than hiring a 20-person engineering org. And it works. 📌 True partnership doesn’t stop at the check. Okta didn’t just provide funding. They also donated Auth0 tech and hands-on technical services to HERA, blending money with product and expertise. 📌 The highest-leverage investments usually happen at mid-stage, where many nonprofits tend to stall. HERA is past proof of concept, but not yet fully scaled. But the Okta Identity Lab positions HERA to evolve in this middle stretch, an example of a funder getting this right. The nonprofits that will respond to these crises are already operating today. But they’re under-resourced, waiting for the right funder – the right partner – to support their work. The Philanthropic Reset in the comments. The case study linked below: https://lnkd.in/gYetcYRV

Women are redefining what philanthropy looks like in health care. In my recent conversation with @Modern Healthcare, I shared why I believe we're moving beyond transactional giving to a new era of philanthropy rooted in partnership, purpose and measurable impact. At City of Hope, we see this shift every day. Our donors aren't simply funding programs. They are helping accelerate innovation, advance research and reimagine what's possible for patients and families facing cancer. One inspiring example is Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group, and her family's vision for the Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology. Together, we've partnered to build a national model that blends Eastern and Western approaches to cancer care, supports research to strengthen the evidence base for integrative therapies and helps educate the next generation of physicians. It's a powerful example of how philanthropy can catalyze meaningful change in patient care. I'm grateful to Modern Healthcare, as well, for creating space for this important conversation about the evolving role of philanthropy and the incredible women helping shape the future of health care. To learn more, check out: https://bit.ly/4w2GTIk #Philanthropy #HealthcareLeadership #WomenInHealthcare #CancerCare #IntegrativeOncology #HealthcareInnovation

📄 New partnerships paper in Global Health Action I’m pleased to share our recent paper on the 'First Mile program', a long-term North–South partnership focused on health system strengthening in Mbarara, Uganda. Written with great colleagues and friends about our shared experience. Peter Olds, Celestino Obua, Annet Kembabazi , Stephen Asiimwe and many others The paper reflects on more than 7 years of collaboration with colleagues at Mass General Hospital, Mbarara University of Science & Technology and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, working across clinical care, education, and research in response to locally identified priorities. 📌 What we describe The First Mile program supported a range of activities, including: - Clinical capacity building across multiple departments - Education and workforce development - Research mentorship and institutional support - Community-engaged approaches to care Across these areas, the emphasis was on long-term partnership, continuity, and local leadership. 🌱 What we learned Our experience highlights how sustained collaboration can contribute to expanded services, training opportunities, and research capacity — while also underscoring the time, trust, and adaptability required for health system strengthening work. 📣 Why this matters As interest grows in equitable global health partnerships, we hope that this case study offers practical insights into what long-term, institution-to-institution collaboration can make possible — and what it demands. 🔗 First Mile program: North–South partnership experience with health system strengthening in Mbarara, Uganda https://lnkd.in/gcQBXFJ3

Saw this unique & innovative approach to the transfer of wealth in the U.S. last week. The Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) based in San Diego is definitely challenging some thinking around philanthropic giving by transferring $7.5 million - roughly 10% of its endowment - to the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF). This innovative move shifts power from traditional oversight to local control, allowing the community to manage these funds in perpetuity. It could also be an option for sunsetting foundations in the future too. AHF has been investing in IVWF since 2017, and this $7.5 million contribution takes their collaboration to the next level. IVWF will now manage the funds to address pressing needs in Imperial Valley, a region facing extreme poverty, food insecurity, and poor air quality. By entrusting IVWF with this financial responsibility, AHF ensures the community has the autonomy to allocate resources where they’re most needed. This approach can be particularly impactful for First Nations communities in Australia, where access to philanthropy is an issue and community-controlled capital remains scarce. Moves like AHF’s could be the blueprint to help seed new Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations (ACCOs) and new Community Foundations and seems an effective way of addressing local needs and ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.