Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 8-12-2021.
With a strict focus on the New England region of the U.S., Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is a not-for-profit health services company with philanthropic interests. The company’s health benefit plans, programs, and services reach over 3 million customers, and it’s had a foundation since 1980.
But interestingly, the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation (HPHCF) merged with Tufts Health Plan in 2021 to become one organization called Point32Health. There are still two separate entities, but they operate together as one to support the local nonprofit community. Here’s a look at what this funder has supported recently and where it stands today.
HPHCF in Recent Years
HPHCF is based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, just west of Boston. This means that many grants have gone out to local groups in this region, but the funder has maintained a broader geographic focus. HPHCF’s funding area extended throughout Massachusetts and into Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire as well. In a past year, the funder committed over $2.3 million to more than 900 organizations in over 300 communities to further its mission of building healthy communities.
Its main focuses over the last few years were providing access to fresh and healthy food and reducing health disparities that affect diverse populations. For example, the Harvard Pilgrim Healthy Food Fund was a grant and leadership initiative to make fresh, healthy, and local food more accessible and affordable for low- and mid-income families. HPHCF’s health equity program was all about ensuring that people in the region have access to quality health care.
HPHCF has been particularly interested in transgender health care in Greater Boston. This is an emerging issue that not a whole lot of health funders have shifted towards just yet. The foundation hosted its first Health Equity Roundtable discussion in Boston in March 2016 to explore issues of access to care and gender-affirming care for the local transgender community. Discussions with community members who identify themselves as “trans” or “gender queer,” medical professionals, and community outreach staff reveal that there is a lack of consistency among insurers regarding coverage, that out-of-pocket expenses disproportionately affect trans people, and that most health care professionals lack basic knowledge about trans health issues. Furthermore, trans people consistently report being treated poorly and even in a hostile manner by healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was praised by participants for providing easily accessible insurance information and having a dedicated care manager to serve as a point of contact for people seeking transgender health care. Through this roundtable program, the foundation awarded a $8,000 grant to PFLAG Hartford to address transgender health issues in Connecticut as well.
Another interesting aspect of HPHCF’s past funding was its mini grants program. We’ve reported on mini grants in the past as a strategic way to make foundation money more accessible, widespread, or locally focused. However, these mini grants are a bit different. At HPHCF, employees got to award $500 grants that were completely funded by the foundation to charities of their choice. This employee engagement-style mini grant program was part of the funder’s strategy since 2002 and contributed over $5.7 million to local groups like food pantries, fundraising events, schools, and youth organizations.
Overall, Massachusetts groups have come out on top in terms of securing grants from this foundation, with $818,000 of the 2017 total going to Massachusetts organizations, for example. These local grants were all between $5,000 and $113,773, with that top grant going towards statewide healthy aging grants for things like community gardens and cooking classes for the elderly. Boston grantees include the Boys & Girls Club in Boston for a farm-to-family program and City Year for service activities at Joseph Lee K-8 School and other community organizations.
The Future of Point32 Health
With a better of understanding of HPHCF is coming from, it’s time to turn our attention to the new partnership between this organization and Tufts Health Plan. Major interests of Point32Health are better access to the health system for everyone, innovations for improving health care and making the health care experience simpler and more seamless. Point32Health takes a 360-degree view of health and healthcare to help local people live better lives. Communities across New England can expect to receive this funder’s future support. Visit the Point32Health website for the most up-to-date information on upcoming grant opportunities.
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