THEORY OF CHANGE
PLATFORM WHO WHO WE WE WORK WORK WITH WITH
Within Health Forward’s communities of focus, we prioritize people who experience the greatest injustices in health outcomes, including: • People of color whose health outcomes are shaped by structural racism and other socioeconomic conditions • People in rural areas where systemic barriers hinder optimal health These communities often overlap with people of varied identities who are experiencing economic insecurity, live in marginalized conditions, and have been systematically barred from accessing high quality care that is affordable, equitable, and trauma-informed.
PURPOSE STRATEGIES STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
Support cross-sector efforts to advance racial equity and economic justice throughout the public, nonprofit, philanthropic, and private sectors • Partner with local and state governments to advance racial equity in all policies • Inform and engage with the emerging efforts of strategyaligned local funders
Shape community understanding around racial equity and economic inclusion as a pathway to health equity • Fund implementation of racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging strategies and trainings
Every day we work to support and build inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities characterized by racial equity and economically just systems
IMMEDIATE OUTCOMES STRATEGIC AND INITIATIVE OUTCOMES Increased action on issues of racial equity and economic justice across key sectors in our community • Changed systems, policies, and structures in local and state government that advance racial equity to improve health • Increased advocacy in resources by regional funders in areas promoting racial equity and economic justice
High-quality, equitable community health ecosystem
Increased community knowledge of the connection between race equity, economic inclusion, and health equity
• Build external capacity around narrative change
• Increased narrative change skills and knowledge to advance our purpose strategies with community partners
• Engage stakeholders in behaviors that counter unfavorable narratives
• Increased visibility of narrative frames around racial equity and economic justice across different forms of media • Increased recognition of racial equity and economic justice among stakeholders
Leverage Health Forward’s capital resources to further advance racial equity and economically just systems
INTENDED INTENDED IMPACT IMPACT
Increased financial and social capital targeted at racial equity and economic advancement
• Proactively deploy investment capital into strategies that advance investment managers and platforms that actively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria
• Increased representation within Health Forward’s portfolio of investment firms and strategies that advance diversity, racial equity, inclusion, and economically just systems
• Deploy capital in a way that enhances our grant and policy investments by responding to our partners’ comprehensive needs and leveraging the unique attributes of financial capital
• Integrated use of Health Forward’s grants, policy, and financial resources to enhance and create new opportunities to advance our purpose strategies
Strong community organizations and voices
Equitable and just places that foster health and economic advancement