Health. Equity.
Our shared future.
Caption for screen reader software: Mt. Rainier or Tahoma (təqʷú?bə?) as the Coast Salish People call Washington State’s tallest mountain in the Lushootseed language.
We’re on a mission
At Group Health Foundation, we have an audacious goal: health equity in Washington State. We believe opportunities for health should be available to everyone and are dedicated to partnering with communities across the state to advance their visions for a vibrant, healthy future.
Our mission is rooted in Group Health Cooperative’s legacy of social impact. Founded in 1946 as a radical alternative to traditional medical care, Group Health Cooperative’s vision was bold: create a health system grounded in the principles of social justice and provide affordable, preventive, person-centered health care. Through engaging the voices of its members and exploring innovative approaches, Group Health Cooperative created a better way to promote the health and well-being of the individuals and families it served. That spirit is a cornerstone of Group Health Foundation.
Equity will drive our efforts
At the heart of our work is a commitment to equity, guiding everything we do. We know that factors such as racism, discriminatory policies, and inequitable investments in communities play a role in health. We aim to tackle persistent inequities caused by decades of social and economic injustices—removing barriers to health and building on the strengths and solutions that exist in communities.
Community engagement is a priority
We recognize that we will only be successful in achieving health equity if communities are at the center of this work. We are dedicated to engaging the wisdom and experience of community members in order to understand the issues and develop workable solutions. We believe that working together will enable us to disrupt the status quo so everyone in Washington has the opportunity for good health.
Catalyzing different approaches
We endeavor to address health from every angle. We will reach broadly—beyond the traditional boundaries of health care—to engage other sectors and address the inter-related factors that affect health. We plan to devote resources to research, testing new integrated approaches, and promoting policy change that addresses the root causes of health inequities. We will work flexibly across issues and invest where it is needed most, evaluating our efforts and learning from successes and failures.
Working in partnership
We are eager to co-create solutions with people and partners across the state, including community groups, nonprofits, philanthropy, tribes, academia, business, government, and others. We are inspired by those who are walking this path, and are humbled by the opportunity to tackle complex challenges together. We know that we don’t have all of the answers, and intend to learn from those who are working to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across our state.
Join us on this journey
We invite you to share your ideas and perspectives with us. Please visit our Contact page to tell us your vision for a healthy, vibrant Washington, and sign up to receive updates. Together, we can accelerate positive changes in health and health policy so everyone has a fair and just opportunity to realize their health potential.