Address: 500 W. Main St. 2nd Floor
Phone: 502.580.3950
Web: www.humanafoundation.org
Email: mhill1@humana.com
In 1981, the Humana Foundation was established as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky, to support the Louisville community and beyond and provide a steady benefit for nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. For more than 40 years, the foundation has carried the founders’ goals forward, working to advance health equity and supporting people in underserved communities to achieve their best health.
The Humana Foundation’s work is centered on health equity—advancing equitable access and outcomes for diverse communities by eliminating the social and structural barriers to good health and health care through evidence-based interventions and solutions. The foundation takes a listening approach to understand the needs and improve outcomes for individuals and communities by hearing and learning from people and organizations on the ground.
The foundation supports individuals and communities facing challenges affecting their health and quality of life, with a focus on underserved and diverse populations of seniors, school-age children, and Veterans in Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The foundation considers certain other grants, regardless of geography, under the Humana Foundation Research Fund and the Humana Foundation Health Equity Innovation Fund.
This video offers a deeper look into the Humana Foundation’s history and legacy:
Program Information:
The Humana Foundation’s grantmaking areas include:
- Creating healthy emotional connections: a mental health grantmaking/partnership strategy with emphasis on senior companionship, loneliness, and promoting equity in mental health services.
- Shaping a healthier approach to nutrition: a nutrition grantmaking/partnership strategy with an emphasis on enabling access in diverse and underserved senior populations, leading educational efforts around nutrition, and serving as a steward of good health in the communities we serve.
Financial Information:
Total Assets: $417 million (FY23)
Amount Dedicated to Health-Related Grants: $11.5 million (FY23)
Special Initiatives and/or Representative Health and Human Services Grants
Mental health support for Louisville, Kentucky—To bolster mental health resources in its hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, following the aftermath of Spring 2023 mass shooting in downtown Louisville. The donation supports victims and families, but also others in the community struggling from ongoing hardship and trauma that the city has endured in recent years. ($1,000,000)
Be There Louisville Campaign—On World Mental Health Day, the Humana Foundation and several partners called on Louisville youth ages 13-24 to “be there” for their peers by earning a certificate in mental health support. Young people visited BeThereLouisville.org to take a free, 2-hour, self-paced course created by Jack.org and the Born This Way Foundation, which teaches participants to safely support loved ones struggling with their mental health. (included in $1,000,000 commitment to Louisville)
Face the Fight Coalition—The Humana Foundation joined a coalition of corporations, foundations, nonprofits, and veteran-focused organizations to launch Face the Fight™ to raise awareness and support for veteran suicide prevention. Established by USAA and The USAA Foundation, with the Humana Foundation and Reach Resilience, an Endeavors Foundation, as founding partners, the mission of the initiative is to break the stigma of seeking help, increase the conversation about the problem, and complement the efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and many others to stop veteran suicide. (3-year, $6,000,000)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America—The Humana Foundation’s investment will initiative and elevate mental health programs at chapters in its focused geographies, including mental health first aid training for mentors and related coursework for youth. ($4,900,000)
Humana Foundation Research Fund for Partnerships with Universities—High-impact investments for translational and academic research. Partnerships will advance testing and evidence-based programming in nutrition and emotional health. ($1,000,000)
Humana Foundation and GIH
The Humana Foundation is excited to be a part of GIH because of shared values. Together, GIH Funding Partners foster community-centered collaborations and data-driven practices. The Humana Foundation also strives for excellence in its work and health equity is at the center of the work. Most importantly, the foundation approaches the people it serves with a posture of respect and are prepared to listen first.
The Role of Philanthropy in Meeting Pressing Needs
“To advance health equity and help support the needs of the seniors, school-age children, and Veterans we serve, our approach is to operate philanthropy more like a business – embedding it with metrics, driving for collaboration, and informing all decisions with data and research. These are essential elements in moving the needle for people living in underserved communities, especially those who are most vulnerable to trauma and systemic barriers.”
–Marvin Hill, Director of Communications, Humana Foundation