New York State Health Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The New York State Health Foundation is rooted in the insurance industry and fully devoted to the healthcare of New York residents. Its main grantmaking initiatives are building health communities and empowering health care consumers. It also supports veterans’ health, and reserves funds for special projects.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible funder with a strong interest in nutrition, exercise, healthcare consumer protection and veterans causes. It has also been on the forefront of COVID-19 funding in New York.
PROFILE: The New York State Health Foundation was established when Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield became a for-profit corporation. In 2002, a New York state statute allocated five percent of its market value to create the philanthropy. This is a state-wide funder that aims to “improve the health of all New Yorkers.” It’s main grantmaking initiatives are building healthy communities and empowering health care consumers. It also funds veterans’ health and special projects.
The NYSHF’s healthy communities program works to improve general health of New York residents by increasing access to healthy food and outdoor spaces for exercise and recreation. In New York City, the program prioritizes the Lower East Side, East Harlem and Brownsville. It also operates in Clinton County and Syracuse.
The health care consumers program promotes the transparency of information surrounding healthcare options and costs. It also aims to engage patients and healthcare consumers in decision making processes surrounding care, policies and quality control.
The foundation’s veterans’ health program works to expand the choices that veterans have when it comes to providers, recognizing that many veterans prefer community-based care to the Veterans Affairs system. The program also works in the areas of policy, advocacy toward improved health and mental health services for veterans and their families.
This funder also maintains a special projects fund for grantmaking in response to immediate and pressing healthcare needs in the state of New York. Recent funding from this line has gone to COVID-19 response efforts, including a Community Service Society program to help residents enroll in healthcare during the pandemic and a grant to Public Health Solutions for its program to ensure continuity of health and nutrition services for residents during the pandemic.
This funder between 400 and 500 grants each year, totaling over $85 million to organizations in the state of New York. Grants range from a few thousand to about $500,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. Past New York City grantees include the City of New York, the New York City Veterans Alliance Foundation and Uptown Grand Central Corporation, which works in the area of food justice. A database of past grants is available a the foundation’s website.
This funder posts RFPs on its website. Applications guidelines vary by program, and the site is updated frequently. The foundation also encourages prospective grantees to reach out to program staff to discuss ideas and opportunities.
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