Northwest Health Foundation is a trusted resource for other philanthropic organizations, nonprofit health conversions and donors interested in developing a health philanthropy program. We currently service large philanthropic programs, such as the donor-advised Kaiser Permanente Community Fund and a nationwide partnership with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (“Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future”), along with other smaller funds.
For example, Northwest Health Foundation is experienced in each of the following:
- Establishing advised funds that are pre-determined by the donor to exist in perpetuity or to be paid out entirely within a set period of time.
- Designing, in conjunction with fund advisors, a grantmaking program which creates the community impact that you seek.
- Commissioning community-based research for other funds interested in better understanding the needs and concerns of their specific communities, such as conducting an assessment of the nursing shortage in a specific region
- Setting up fund terms to restrict funding to a certain scope of health related activities.
- Convening groups of donors interested in forming partnerships around a specific region, focus area, or demographic group.
- Arranging for professional focus groups or public polling to determine community priorities.
- Working with fund advisors to improve philanthropy-related skills and developing programs around leadership development.
Donor-Advised Funds
Northwest Health Foundation’s donor advised fund services are designed to work according to the donor’s specifications. The core elements of our services include providing support to the fund advisory committee and management and reporting of assets. Fund advisory committee support can include the full-service process of solicitation, recommendation, and distribution of grants, or any combination thereof.
Donor-Restricted Funds
Donor-restricted funds accommodate donors who wish to contribute to a specific health subject without necessarily being involved in the ongoing direction of those funds. It is common for multiple donors to make contributions to one donor-restricted fund to pool their resources on one area of focus.
Examples of NWHF’s donor-restricted funds include our Neighborhood Health Clinic Fund and the Alliance for Physical Activity and Nutrition, which was managed on behalf of a coalition of organizations wishing to direct funds in this area.
Funding Partnerships
Northwest Health Foundation currently partners with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to administer a national program helping local foundations address the national nursing shortage. Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future uses the NWHF Nursing Initiative as a model and leverages the expertise gained in this program. Funding for grants and funding for administrative costs are provided to NWHF by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Fiscal Agency Services
Occasionally a group doing health-related work will need an organization to act as a fiscal agent during their early formation and before they receive their own 501 c (3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service. Northwest Health Foundation provides accounting and administrative services to these organizations even if they do not require grantmaking assistance.
Northwest Health Foundation’s fiscal agency relationships include Oregon Simulation Alliance, Oregon Healthcare Workforce Institute and Jefferson Regional Healthcare Alliance.
We are prepared to receive, on a donor partner’s behalf, gifts and contributions in various forms, such as stock, real estate, and testamentary trusts.
Other Services
Evaluation is an essential part of documenting effective grantmaking. We can organize project evaluation, program evaluation or the evaluation of a cluster of grant activities.
Financial stewardship at Northwest Health Foundation receives the highest attention to detail. Our Finance Committee and Vice President for Finance are thorough in developing the investment policies for the endowment, directing the work of financial consultants and identifying appropriate investment strategies within our approved asset allocation. Finance committee and NWHF staff directly interact with each selected manager, and require monthly reviews of performance and quarterly full performance reviews. Financial audits are conducted annually and are posted publicly on our website at all times.
Communications and public relations services are also available for our partner organizations. These services can include communications planning and strategy, public relations, graphic design and production, and crisis communications.
Northwest Health Foundation has established scholarship funds and can manage the selection criteria and support the advisors in the review of applications for such scholarship programs.
In addition, fund advisers may want to provide special assistance for speakers at major meetings, or facilitator support for workshops that the fund advisors believe is important. NWHF can assist and oversee all of these direct community funding services without going through a full grants process.
While we can assist in identifying opportunities for donor development, fundraising is not a service provided by Northwest Health Foundation.
More information on existing partnerships
Kaiser Permanente Community Fund
– Northwest Health Foundation provides support for projects and programs addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact community health.
Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future (PIN)
– A collaborative initiative between the Northwest Health Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to address nursing issues at the local level through funding partnerships with community and regional foundations.
Voices: Loud and Clear
- A fund dedicated to helping children, particularly girls, find their voice through training in public speaking. Through school services and outreach, Loud and Clear residencies will be made available to help boys and girls find the power of their minds and voice: their truth, their knowledge and their authority.
Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity and Nutrition
– Five organizations concerned about the obesity epidemic—Kaiser Permanente Northwest, CareOregon, PacificSource Charitable Foundation, Providence Health & Services, and the Northwest Health Foundation – created this alliance in 2006 to support community coalitions working to prevent obesity and promote healthy lifestyles.
Jennifer Baker Fund
– Support for youth suicide prevention.
Neighborhood Health Clinic Fund
– Support for community health clinics. This fund has been closed for a number of years, but will be available for its first funding cycle in the Fall of 2009. (Approximately $150,000 will be available for funding—these funds will augment our existing efforts in the area of Health Care Access and Reform.)
Northwest Health Foundation has also managed a process for the Oregon Department of Human Services with direct funding by the Oregon State Legislature, for the funding of two demonstration sites for the primary care home model community collaborative.