Sustainability

Foundations generally invest in systemic change.  In order to achieve this lofty goal, projects must be sustained long after the foundation’s involvement has ended.

Some of the Endowment’s work is centered around quick response to a crisis or emerging need in the state’s health care system.  But most of our focus centers around long-term initiatives.

Both the foundation and its grantees face a dilemma when we invest in a project which inevitably must come to an end and Endowment dollars are focused elsewhere.  This is why it is critically important to start a conversation about sustainability at the beginning of the project – as early as in the proposal phase.

Your Work Plan has a required sustainability outcome.  Additionally, within each Progress Report, grantees are asked to discuss progress on sustainability.  Endowment Program Directors will engage in a sustainability conversation with you at the start of your project as well as throughout its duration.

It is also crucial that a qualitative evaluation of your project be shared with other key stakeholders and potential funders to show the ongoing value of your work.  The Endowment for Health can often be of assistance in connecting you to other funders for the long-term sustainability of your work.

Additionally, we offer ongoing technical assistance to help you identify a sustainability strategy and to implement it successfully – from creating a long-term business plan to exploring policy changes that support sustainability – and everything in between.