The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $10 million in multiyear funding to support important projects that foster economic mobility in Washington, DC. The grants will support 40 DC-serving nonprofit organizations – the largest funding cohort supported by the fund since its launch in 2022.
Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health disparities in the District.
Since 2022, the Fund has distributed more than $51.3 million with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.
“We believe that achieving health equity requires more than improving individual health outcomes and expanding access to services,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We must disrupt the societal factors shaped by centuries of laws, public policies, and practices that have worked together to produce the disparate outcomes we see today.”
“Building an equitable and prosperous Washington, DC means tackling health inequities at their core and creating strong pathways to opportunity so that everyone has a fair shot at leading their healthiest lives,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Our city grows stronger when we partner with organizations that address both immediate needs and long-term growth, and together, we’re ensuring more of our residents have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive for generations to come.”
“The Health Equity Fund's investment in economic mobility and wealth-building initiatives reflects a strategic approach to advance not only health outcomes but also financial stability and opportunity for our residents. This work aligns with DISB’s mission to protect and empower our most vulnerable communities, ensuring they have access to the resources needed for long-term success,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).
A committee composed of Community Foundation staff, community members, and representatives of local foundations and think tanks reviewed proposals from eligible applicants. The 40 selected grant recipients include diverse organizations and projects, including:
DC Public Education Fund - DCPS and DCPEF are proposing an “Earn While You Learn Model” at DCPS’s Opportunity Academies. This program will support DCPS students who choose to transition to a career after graduation by providing a combination of coaching, skill-building and certification, and direct-to-student cash payments.
birdSEED – birdSEED will give no-strings attached grants to first time BIPOC homebuyers in Washington, DC.
My Sister’s Place – Continued funding to provide 30 families with $500/month of guaranteed cash assistance through the RISE Trust program. The program also provides voluntary financial education and workforce development. Clients in the program are individuals and families recovering from domestic violence from underserved communities in DC.
SpeakOut, Inc - SpeakOut’s Project Amplify is a community-driven workforce development training program that meets the unmet needs of Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in the workplace.
WomenPalante - Women Palante empowers 25 Latina mothers per cohort, aiming to launch at least 10 new local businesses per year.
“Our work at CareFirst has shown that forging intentional pathways to economic mobility is a key driver of improving the social drivers of health, and this fund intends to do just that, creating a thriving and more inclusive economy in the District,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. “We are committed to doing this important work in partnership with the community organizations that meet individuals where they are so we can connect them to the resources and care they deserve.”
This latest funding cohort included several returning partners from the inaugural grant round in 2022. Returning partners were asked to share impact from the previous round as part of their application process. A complete list of grant recipients is listed below.
About the Health Equity Fund
The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.
For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!
2024 Health Equity Fund Partners (* = Returning Partner)
Asylum Seeker Assistance Project*
Ayuda, Inc.
Beloved Community Incubator, Inc*
birdSEED
Building Futures
Calvary Women Services, Inc*
Capital Youth Empowerment Program*
Council for Court Excellence*
DC Affordable Law Firm*
DC Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
DC Central Kitchen Inc*
DC Jobs with Justice
DC KinCare Alliance
DC Public Education Fund
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc
Fair Chance
First Shift Justice Project*
Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop*
Generation Hope*
Healthy Baby Project, Inc*
Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS)*
Many Languages One Voice
Mi Casa My House Inc.
My Sister’s Place*
Network for Developing Conscious Communities
Open City Advocates
Organizing Neighborhood Equity*
Rebuilding Together Alexandria
Rising for Justice*
ROC-DC
RUMA Collective
Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation
Social Justice Public Charter School, Inc
SpeakOut, Inc
The Platform of Hope
The School Justice Project Inc
The Young Women’s Project*
Tzedek DC, Inc*
WomenPalante
Yachad, Incorporated*