The Endowment for Health is a statewide, independent, private, nonprofit foundation created in 1999 as a result of the sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield New Hampshire to Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

As a private foundation, the Endowment for Health functions as a philanthropic organization rather than a public charity. The Endowment does not engage in fundraising, only on rare occasions supports ongoing operating expenses, and primarily uses grantmaking to achieve systemic change that serves to improve the health of the citizens of New Hampshire.

The grantmaking philosophy of the Endowment views “health” in the broad spectrum of the World Health Organization, that is, health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In keeping with this philosophy, the Endowment is as likely to fund a project that helps two organizations to collaboratively develop a model system of oral health services, as it is to fund an action plan to create and promote liveable, walkable communities.

For other information relating to the foundation itself, use the second row of links at the top of this page.