Partnerships
We believe in the power of philanthropic partnerships to improve health in our communities.
Northwest Health Foundation is a trusted partner for philanthropic organizations and donors interested in making a long-term impact. We leverage 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) resources, deep relationships with community, and more than twenty years of foundation experience in Oregon and Southwest Washington to address the social determinants of health.
In order to improve health, we need to treat the sickness, not the symptoms. This means addressing the social determinants of health: increasing the amount of quality affordable housing, investing in economic opportunity, working with education systems to decrease disparities, supporting parents to advocate for their children, defeating discrimination and more.
Want to learn more about addressing the social determinants of health? We recommend this Health Affairs article.
“These factors affect our health long before the health care system ever gets involved.”
You can count on us to take calculated risks that adhere to our guiding principles and commitment to equity and deliver a strong return on investment for our partners and the health of our communities. We also provide stellar financial performance, management and reporting.
Services and Financials
Northwest Health Foundation is an experienced partner in helping donors and organizations support community to improve health. We're a sound financial steward and conduct and post our financial audits annually. Read more about our services and financials here.
Contact Us
Contact us to learn more about our work and have a conversation about what partnership with NWHF might look like for you. Email our Director of Programs Jen Matheson at jen@northwesthealth.org to set up a phone call or in-person meeting.
Current partnerships & funds
Advancing Disability Justice
Advancing Disability Justice is a partnership between Northwest Health Foundation and The Collins Foundation. Our goals for Advancing Disability Justice include supporting disabled leaders of color in Oregon and Southwest Washington, building disability justice understanding and support in racial justice organizations, and advancing Northwest Health Foundation’s long-term goal to build civic engagement capacity and leadership toward a reflective democracy.
Justice Reinvestment Equity Program
The Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP) is an opportunity to address the historic underinvestment in culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive providers that serve the communities most harmed and least helped by Oregon’s criminal justice system. It is an opportunity to uplift organizations historically overlooked by traditional funding streams and to promote a new vision for community safety that invests in social supports and healing over prisons and punishment. JREP was established by Senate Bill 1510 during Oregon’s 2022 legislative session through the advocacy of the Transforming Justice Coalition. The program directs State funds to Northwest Health Foundation Fund II, our 501(c)(3) organization.
Other Managed Funds
We host a number of other funds in alignment with our values, including the Jennifer Baker Fund, the Greenlick Endowed Scientist Chair at Kaiser Medical Research, and the CareOregon Community Fund.
Past partnerships & funds
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.
Convergence Partnership
A local implementation of the national Convergence Partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and the Northwest Health Foundation to invest in Oregon's food system.
Kaiser Permanente Community Fund
The Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at Northwest Health Foundation provided support for projects and programs addressing the social, economic and environmental factors that impact community health. This was a 15-year partnership with Kaiser Permanente Northwest that awarded over $30 million to 140 organizations and accelerated 129 system changes.
Neighborhood Health Clinic Fund
Support for community health clinics.
Oregon Active Schools
Nike, Kaiser Permanente and Northwest Health Foundation worked together with the national Let’s Move! Active Schools partnership to inspire a lifelong love of movement and bring the many benefits of physical activity to every child in Oregon.
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.
Primary Care Home Demonstration
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.
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 were made available to help boys and girls find the power of their minds and voice: their truth, their knowledge and their authority.