Governance and Operations

“Over the past decade, Rx has evolved both what we fund and how we fund. We began by asking what a small national health foundation could do to support health advocacy, and that question led us to move resources toward building capacity for community organizing, civic engagement, and the connective tissue that makes it possible for communities to build power for long-term change.”

“Over the past several years, we have come to recognize that many of the issues our funded partners work tirelessly to address—poor health outcomes, educational disparities, and family instability—are inextricably linked to economic hardship. Even in a state often perceived as prosperous, significant pockets of child poverty persist, particularly in rural communities and among families with limited access to opportunity. This reality prompted us to take a deeper look at the systemic conditions shaping children’s lives and to reconsider how our philanthropy could be most effective.”

“While routine screenings save countless lives, many cancers do not have recommended screening tools. And accessing the tools that do exist can be difficult for people living in many communities across the U.S. These realities are why we do what we do, and why the Foundation’s current Impact Grants cycle focuses on tackling some of these urgent gaps in cancer prevention and early detection.”

“This is a challenging time for those of us who are focused on health equity. There is much that we can do as philanthropy to help our communities withstand the current challenges. As new Medicaid requirements take effect, for example, philanthropy can play a wide range of roles, including serving as a thought partner for state agencies implementing changes, connecting community members with state agencies to provide feedback, and ensuring that residents understand the changes and have the support to navigate them.”

“The greatest health challenges we face today are rooted in deep inequities—not only in access to care, but in opportunity, agency, and voice. Our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment highlights our research upon which we build our impact work. At St. David’s Foundation, we are committed to removing barriers, investing in community-led solutions, and working alongside our partners to build a Central Texas where everyone can thrive.”

“We are deepening our trust-based grantmaking, further aligning our strategy with the learnings and relationships built over years of partnership with community and grantees. Our approach reflects a growing focus on multi-year funding that helps to provide organizations with stability and flexibility to address the root causes of health inequities, strengthen resilient local networks, and advance community-driven solutions that promote health for all. The current public health, economic, and social challenges faced by our partners and the communities they serve highlight the urgency of acting now, while we remain steadfast in our long-term vision of equitable health and well-being for future generations”