2024 marked a significant transition in the evolution of the New Hampshire Children’s Health Foundation. After more than 20 years of project-based responsive grantmaking, we expanded to consider awards for general operating support. Grants may now be made to organizations that demonstrate a commitment and ability to sustain or advance an area that we consider a priority for funding, with the goal of moving further along the continuum of complete Trust-Based Philanthropy.
Continuing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we established a task force of Board and staff members to evaluate our current Foundation policies, practices, and procedures, with the goal of fostering a more equitable approach to our work. Through these discussions, we have engaged in meaningful conversations that have raised important questions, prompting us to reflect deeply on how power differentials and disparities show up in philanthropy.
The Foundation also invested greatly this year in developing its Children’s Health Dashboard. The purpose of the Dashboard is to identify, measure, and monitor the top conditions and factors that drive children’s health in New Hampshire. The Dashboard has already highlighted the factors beyond traditional healthcare and public health – like neighborhood safety or socioeconomic status – affect children’s health and well-being.