In 2025, The Health Foundation embarked on the development of a new five-year strategic plan to guide its next chapter following its 25th anniversary milestone. In order to gather candid feedback from a broad group of stakeholders, The Health Foundation engaged consultants from The Philanthropic Initiative to conduct interviews and focus groups with key internal and external stakeholders and a survey of current and former grantees and applicants. This extensive and anonymous feedback was an essential component of the strategic planning process and led to the refinement of effective grantmaking strategies that have been integral to The Health Foundation’s success. It also led to the exploration of new opportunities to deepen impact by leveraging philanthropic tools including advocacy, convening, investing, and thought leadership. The board of directors reaffirmed its longstanding mission statement and adopted an ambitious new vision statement to guide its work for the next five years and beyond.
The Health Foundation’s goals for the next five years have been organized into four broad categories of strategies, described in further detail in the 2026-2030 strategic framework.
2026-2030 Strategic Framework
Vision: We envision a Central Massachusetts region where communities achieve their full potential for health and well-being, ultimately becoming a national model of excellence
Mission: To improve the health of those who live or work in Central Massachusetts, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations and unmet needs
Goals
Promote Effective & Equitable Policies & Systems
Strengthen Community-Based Organizations
Empower Local Communities
Steward Assets
Strategies
- Support Synergy Initiative grants as primary vehicle to test, evaluate, and sustain strategies
- Advocate for policy and systems change aligned with goals of current and select past Synergy Initiative projects
- Partner with other organizations and campaigns on foundational policy issues (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP)
- Enable organizations to expand capacity through Activation Fund grants (and other grants)
- Expand types of supports offered to smaller, grassroots organizations
- Bolster cross-sector collaboration between organizations to improve health
- Build advocacy capabilities by supporting cross-sector coalitions and convenings, especially in rural communities
- Listen to those with lived experience and lift up voices of those most impacted by policy decisions
- Deepen The Health Foundation’s community engagement
- Invest internally to ensure organizational stability and alignment with current & future needs
- Consider strategic partnerships to efficiently and effectively expand impact
- Leverage assets (including The Health Foundation Fund) to maximize long-term social and local impact, including by facilitating state, federal, and other private investments in the region
This strategic framework is the product of a comprehensive strategic planning process conducted by The Health Foundation Board of Directors and staff in 2025. The Philanthropic Initiative provided support gathering extensive stakeholder feedback to inform the plan.