On behalf of our interim board of directors, it is my pleasure to introduce Philanthropy Northwest's network to Group Health Community Foundation. GHCF’s formation as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization is one component of the proposed acquisition of Group Health Cooperative by Kaiser Permanente. If the acquisition is approved by Washington state regulators and completed, Kaiser Permanente will provide approximately $1.8 billion to fund this new health foundation.
[The Group Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as part of Group Health Cooperative, will become a subsidiary of GHCF. Its donor-driven funds will remain distinct from GHCF and will continue to support initiatives related to immunizations, health care innovation and patient care.]
GHCF will have a remarkable opportunity to reimagine the ways we can advance health and well-being. Working in partnership with individuals and communities across Washington state, our intention is to accelerate positive changes in health, reduce health disparities and advance community aspirations for a vibrant, healthy future. Learning will be an essential part of our fabric. We will support and build on what is working today, learn from others and share what we discover.
Informed by evidence, partners and communities, we will be able to test creative and bold solutions. We will be able to accelerate efforts to reduce health disparities and foster equity by addressing social determinants of health. We will seek to build tailored and scalable approaches with communities impacted by health inequity.
We intend to move forward gradually, ensuring that the resources with which we have been entrusted are well managed. Our first year or two will be spent listening to the needs and ideas of community members, researchers, health professionals and prospective partners. After a thorough and open process of determining community investment priorities and strategies, we will launch our grantmaking efforts.
Our interim board of directors is currently conducting the search for future board members to guide the foundation. We anticipate that the search for GHCF’s permanent CEO will commence in the first or second quarter of 2017.
If you are interested in sharing your perspectives with us (and we hope that you are!), or would like to receive periodic updates from GHCF, please visit the Connect with Us page on our website.
We look forward to deepening our connections within the Philanthropy Northwest network in the coming years.
Group Health Community Foundation is a new member of Philanthropy Northwest and a client of The Giving Practice, our national consulting team. Cory Sbarbaro is its acting executive director.
