Consumer Health Foundation

Strategic Plan2014-2016

Table of Contents

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1

Theory of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2

Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3

• Grantmaking and Capacity Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

• Strategic Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4

• Strategic Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4

• Mission-Consistent Investing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

• Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

Spending Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6

Logic Model & Theory of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TheConsumerHealthFoundation’sstrategicplanreflectsbothcontinuityandchange.Weremaincommittedtoour core values of consumer voice and engagement, equity and social justice, health care for all, partnerships, innovationandrisktaking,sharedlearningandaccountability.Wewillcontinuetoaddressthelackofaccesstohighqualityaffordablehealthcareaswellasthesocialdeterminantsofhealth.Bysocialdeterminants,wemeanthemanyaspectsofasocietythatenablepeopletothrive—alivingwagejob;affordablehousinginasafeneighborhood;accesstoqualityandaffordablefood,reliabletransportation,educationalopportunitiesandextensivesocialnetworks;andfreedomfromdiscriminationinallofitsforms,bothpersonallyandinstitutionally.

Overthepastfiveyears,CHFhasfocuseditsgrantmakingresourcesonadvocacytocreatesystemschangeinanumberoftheseareaswithinourhealthcareaccessandhealthjusticeportfolios.Webelievethatfundingadvocacyiscriticaltoachievingourmission.Movingforward,wewillmaintaintheseportfolios;however,wewillfocusontwoprogrammaticprioritiesinalignmentwithourupdatedspendingpolicy(seepage6) . These programmatic priorities include:

� Afocusonadvocacyforeconomicjustice(seepage3formoredetail) in order to stem the tide of rising income inequality in our region . One of the most important and enduring relationships, documented in publichealthresearch,isthatbetweenlowincomeandpoorhealth.

� Afocusonadvocacyforhealthreform,duetothechanginghealthpolicylandscape(seepage3formoredetail).Thisportfoliowillnotonlyfocusonhealthreformimplementationbutalsothefactorsthatwillsupport health system reform, such as the cost of care and consumer engagement .

Webelievethatthesetwoprogrammaticfocusareasaffordusthegreatestopportunitytoachievehealthequity,whichwedefineintwoways.Thefirstisagoalorienteddefinition:theabsenceofsystematicdisparitiesinhealth(orinthemajorsocialdeterminantsofhealth)betweensocialgroupswhohavedifferentlevelsofunderlyingsocial advantage and disadvantage1 . The second is a process: the assurance of the conditions for optimal health forallpeople,whichrequiresvaluingallindividualsandpopulationsequally,rectifyinghistoricalinjustices,andaddressingcontemporaryinjusticesbyprovidingresourcesaccordingtoneed2 . In addition, the Foundation has anexplicitcommitmenttoracialequitywhichwedefineinthecontextofhealthasagoalandaprocesswherebypeopleofcolorhaveanequalopportunitytoliveahealthyanddignifiedlife.

CHF’supdatedspendingpolicyisdesignedtobetterassureperpetuity,andtheBoardofTrusteesandstaffoftheFoundationarecommittedtoseekingoutrevenuegenerationopportunitiesasastrategytobringnewandincreasedfundstotheworkandthatofournonprofitpartners.Theseopportunitieswillbebothmission-alignedandcapableofattractinginvestmentsfromnewpartners.

Alongwiththesemoresignificantchanges,wehavemadeclearerourcommitmenttotwoareasofwork:mission-consistent investing and strategic communication to advance racial equity . See page7 for our revised logic model andtheoryofchange,whichhighlightthesechanges.

Wearegratefultothosewhoprovidedinputaswedeliberated,andwelookforwardtoworkingwithyouasweseek to implement this plan and advance health in our region .

1 Braveman,P.&Gruskin,S.(2003).Definingequityinhealth.Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57,254-258.2 Jones,CamaraasquotedinGrantmakersinHealth(2012).Strivingforhealthequity:Opportunitiesasidentifiedbyleadersinthefield.

THEORY OF CHANGE

TheConsumerHealthFoundationenvisionsaregionandanationinwhicheveryonehasanequalopportunitytoliveahealthyanddignifiedlife.By“everyone,”wemeanallpeopleregardlessofrace,ethnicity,immigrationstatus,genderidentity,sexualorientation,disability,age,education,orincome.Ourmissionistoadvocateforhealthandracialequitythroughprogramsandinvestmentsthatadvancethehealthandwell-beingoflow-incomecommunitiesandcommunitiesofcolorintheDistrictofColumbia,partsofsuburbanMaryland,andNorthernVirginia .

Ourprograms–grantmakingandcapacitybuilding,strategiccommunication,strategicpartnerships,andmission-consistentinvesting–arefocusedoncontributingtothefollowingchanges:

Communitymembersareorganizedandeffectiveadvocatesfortheirownhealthandthehealthoftheircommunities .

Regulations,policiesandprogramsareprotectedoradvancedthatleadtomoreeffectiveandequitablelaborlawsandopportunitiesforworkeradvancement.

Healthandotherpublicbenefitprogramshaveadequateandsustainedfundingandareimplementedeffectivelyandequitably.

Emergingandinnovativeapproachestocreatinganequitableeconomyareimplementedandsustained.

Ourtheoryofchangesuggeststhatthesechangeswillleadtopeopleofcolorandpeoplewithlowincomehavingaccesstoqualityandaffordablehealthcareandmoreopportunitiestoincreasetheirincomeandwealththattogetherenhancetheirabilitytolivehealthyanddignifiedlives.

Webelievethatourgranteepartners,othernonprofitorganizationsandfoundationsareessentialpartnersinachieving our vision and mission .

Agraphicdepictingourtheoryofchangecanbefoundonpage7 .

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PROGRAMS

Grantmaking and Capacity Building Webelievethatfundingadvocacyiscriticaltoachievingourmission.Healthinequitiesarecreatedandreproducedbypoliciesandsystems.Advocacyforlocal,state,andregionalpolicychangeandsystemsreformisessentialtoachievethechangeweenvision.

TheFoundationdefines“advocacy”aseffortstocreatelocal,stateandregionalpolicychangeandsystemsreformsthatbenefitlow-incomecommunitiesandcommunitiesofcolorintheMetropolitanWashington,DCregion.Activitiescouldincludecommunityengagementandorganizingamongresidentsinlow-incomeneighborhoods,developmentofpolicyrecommendations,policyimplementationandmonitoring,budgetandpolicyanalysis,coalitionornetworkbuilding,convening,stakeholderengagementandcollectiveproblemsolvingamongdiversegroups, campaigns, media and communication .

TheFoundationwillfocusontwograntmakingareas,namely:

� Ensuringaccesstoqualityhealthcarewithafocusonadvocacyforhealthreform

� Advancinghealthjusticewithafocusonadvocacyforeconomicjustice

Health Care Access: Focus on advocacy for health reform

CHFbelievesthatreformingthehealthcaresystemcontinuestobeanimportantareaofwork.TheAffordableCareActhascreatedopportunitiesforadvocacy,includingMedicaidexpansion,newhealthinsurancecoverageoptions,communitybenefitregulations,andconsumereducation.Ithasalsoopenedupnewfundingopportunities,including support for community health centers and the community transformation grants focused on prevention . WebelievethatCHF’sstrategicdirectionshouldincludeafocusonhealthreformwithinthecontextofthischanginghealthpolicylandscape.Healthreformadvocacywillincludesupportforpoliciesthatpromotehealthequityandhealthcarecoverageandaccessandaddresshealthcareprogramfinancing,sustainability,costofcareandbudgetand revenue .

Health Justice: Focus on advocacy for economic justice

CHFoperatesontheoverwhelmingevidencethathealthandincomeareinterconnected.Therefore,CHF’sstrategicdirectionwillincludeafocusoneconomicjustice.Economicjusticeadvocacy,forus,willincludesupportforpoliciesrelatedtoworkers’rights,suchaslaborlaws,wageandhourlaws,livingwagestandardsandbenefitsaswellasworkforcedevelopmentandcareeradvancementforthosemembersofourcommunitywhoareunemployed and underemployed .

Field Building Approach to Advocacy Grantmaking and Building a System of Advocacy

Wewillprioritizeafieldbuildingapproachtoouradvocacygrantmaking,designedtocreateandsustainagroupoforganizationsthatareabletoengageinpoliticalenvironmentsanddeveloppolicyrecommendationsintheareas

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ofhealthreformandeconomicjustice.This“systemofadvocacy”requiresstrongnetworksoforganizationsthatareusingvariousstrategiesandhavedifferentcapacities.Thesecapacitiesincludetheabilityto:buildastronggrassrootsbaseofsupport,analyzelegalandpolicyissues,developmediaandcommunicationstrategies,buildandsustainstrong,broad-basedanddiversecoalitionsandalliances,andgenerateresourcestoaccomplishthesegoals.CHFwillworkwithgranteepartnersandothernonprofitorganizationstoidentifythegapsinskillsandotherareasthatwillhelpstrengthenthefield(i.e.,thefieldofhealthreformadvocacyandeconomicjusticeadvocacy).Thegoalistohelpbuildthecapacitiesofcommunitiesandthefieldtoeffectchangesatthesystemslevel.

Inpractice,CHFmayconsidertacticssuchasadoptingcollaborativeapproachestofunding,hostingconveningswithadvocatestomapstrategy,andaligninggrantmakingwithotherfundersthatmaybesupportingorganizationsbeyondthosesupportedbyCHF.

Innovations/Special Projects.

Inadditiontoourcoreadvocacyfunding,theFoundationwillfocusitsgrantmakingandcapacitybuildingsupportontwoareas–communitywealthbuildingandracialequity.

Community Wealth Building

Increasingly,wearelearningthatwealthmaybeevenmoreimportantthanincomeinsustaininghealthandwell-beingofindividualsandcommunities.Inadditiontoadvocacyforeconomicjustice,whichseekstocreatechangesinthecurrenteconomicsystem,weareinterestedinseedingemergingandinnovativeapproachestocreatinganequitableeconomy.Thiscouldtaketheformofemployee-ownedcooperativesorothercommunitywealthbuildingapproaches .

Racial Equity

TheFoundationdefines“racialequity”asbothagoalandaprocesswherebypeopleofcolorhaveanequalopportunitytolivehealthyanddignifiedlives.Wewillsupportinitiativesandprogramsthatwilladvanceracialequityinorganizations,coalitionsoralliances.

Strategic CommunicationTheFoundationwillbuildonourcommunicationworktofurtheradvanceoureffortsaroundhealthandracialequity.Ourstrategiccommunicationseekstoraiseawarenessandsupportactiontowardracialequityandwillalsohighlighttheracialequitydimensionsofhealthreformandeconomicjustice.Wewillidentifyopportunitiesinpartnershipwithnonprofitorganizationsandfoundationstoraisetheawarenessoftheimpactofracismoncommunitiesofcolorandorganizeconveningsthatfocusonracialequity.Wewillusedifferentmethodstoaccomplish this goal such as annual meetings, reports and social media .

Strategic PartnershipsTheFoundationbelievesthatstrategicpartnershipsareessentialtoachievingourmission.Partnershipswithfoundationshaveallowedustoaddresssocialdeterminantsofhealthsuchasworkforcedevelopment,foodsystems,andcommunitywealthbuilding.Wewillcontinuetobuildandparticipateinstrategicpartnershipsthatallowustoadvanceourworkonhealthreform,economicjusticeandracialequity.

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Mission-Consistent InvestingFoundationsarelegallyrequiredtospendaminimumof5%oftheirassetsannuallyoncharitableactivities,withanadditional1-2%spentannuallyonnon-charitableoperations.Foundationsarealsoexpectedtoinvesttheirendowedassetsprudently–seekingareasonablereturnatareasonablerisk.Whileattentionisnaturallyfocusedonafoundation’scharitablespending,moreandmorefrequentlyfoundationsareaskingwhetheramorestrategicinvestmentoftheendowmentcanfurtherthefoundation’smission.TheFoundationwillbuilditsexpertiseinmission-consistentinvestinganddomoretoalignitsinvestmentswithitsmissiontoadvancehealthandracialequity in the region .

EvaluationWewilldevelopanevaluationframeworkforallofourprograms—grantmakingandcapacitybuilding,strategiccommunication,strategicpartnerships,andmission-consistentinvesting.TheevaluationframeworkwillhelptheFoundationidentifyprogresstowardachievingtheintendedchangesineachprogramarea.Forthegrantmakingandcapacitybuildingprogram,theFoundationwillcollaboratewithgranteepartnersindevelopingtheevaluationframework.

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SPENDING POLICY

Thecollapseofthefinancialmarketsin2008hadanunprecedentedimpactonournationaleconomy,ourlocalcommunityandtheConsumerHealthFoundation’sassets.CHF’sinvestmentportfoliolostroughly28%ofitsvalue,fallingfrom$42to$28million,apercentagedeclineconsistentwithpeersnationallybasedonstudiesfromtheFoundation Center and the Chronicle of Philanthropy .

TheFoundationmadeanintentionaldecisiononanannualbasis,throughitsbudgetingprocess,toholditsspendingflatinthefiveyears(2009-2013)followingthe2008collapse.CHFwantedtoberesponsivetothecommunityatatimeofuncertaintyandfinancialduress.

However,theslowrecoveryofthemarket,coupledwithanintentionallyaggressivespendingrate(currentlyat12%),hashadanimpactontheFoundation’sendowment.TheCHFBoardofTrusteesadoptedapolicytoreduceCHF’sspendingraterelativetothethree-yearmovingaverageoftheFoundation’sassetsby1%eachyearforfiveconsecutiveyears,startingat11%in2014.Thegoalistomovetoa7%spendratebytheendofafive-yearperiodandalignourprogrammaticresourceswiththesereductions.ThismoreincrementalapproachwillprovidetimefortheFoundationtoexploreandpursuerevenuegenerationstrategiesdesignedtobringnewdollarstosupportourworktoadvancehealthandracialequityintheregion.

Logic Model & Theory of ChangeV

ISIO

N We envision a region and a nation in which everyone has an equal opportunity to live a healthy and dignified life. By “everyone,” we mean all people regardless of race, ethnicity,

immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, education or income.

MIS

SIO

N The mission of the Consumer Health Foundation is to advocate for health and racial equity through programs and investments that advance the health and well-being of

low-income communities and communities of color.

OU

TC

OM

ES

People of color and people with low income have access to quality and affordable health care and more opportunities to increase their income and wealth that together

enhance their ability to live a healthy and dignified life.

INT

EN

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AN

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Community members are organized and effective advocates for their own health and the health of their communities

Regulations, policies and programs are protected or advanced that lead to more effective and equitable labor laws and opportunities for worker advancement

Health and other public benefit programs have adequate and sustained funding and are imple-mented effectively and equitably

Emerging and innovative approaches to creating an equitable economy are implemented and sustained

CH

F IN

VE

ST

ME

NT

S A network of diverse grantee partners with a common vision and coordinated strategy advocating for health and racial equity

Influential communication to increase awareness of and action toward health and racial equity

Emerging and innovative approaches to creating health and racial equity

Investment vehicles and social ventures that are aligned with health and racial equity priorities

PR

OG

RA

MS Grant Making &

Capacity BuildingStrategic Communication

Strategic Partnerships

Mission-Consistent Investing

RE

SO

UR

CE

S

• Mission

• Values

• Strategic Plan & Priorities

• Investment Policy

• Logic Model

• Evaluation Plan

• Staff

• Board

• Advisors

• Consultants

• Grantee Partners

• Investment Advisors

• Money for Grants

• Funding Collaboratives

• Memberships

• Mission-Consistent Investing

• Office Space

• Equipment

• Technology

• Annual Meetings

• Reports

• Convenings

• Survey Research

• Website

• Social Media

• Community Members

• Nonprofit Partners

• Regional Primary Care Coalition

• Foundation Partners

• Public Officials

LOGIC MODEL & THEORY OF CHANGE