SPRING 2019
F
Equity: How It’s Changing Philanthropy
ourteen years ago, I found myself embarking on a new career path
into philanthropy. Healthcare Georgia Foundation was still a new
organization, creating an identity for itself in an environment at the
time where philanthropic support for healthcare was scarce. My wide-
eyed optimism allowed me to learn all that I could about philanthropy.
Health Disparities, the Social Determinants of Health were topics being
discussed, and, in some circles, even quietly debated and challenged.
It was a time when the health nonprofit sector and public health were using
every opportunity to educate and inform the public and community
stakeholders about alarming health disparities across Georgia. Atlanta was
(and still is) the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the state ranked
42 nd nationally in health outcomes, according to the United Health
Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Report (2006). Health equity became
the focus of discussions on how to improve health outcomes in Georgia.
22% of
Georgia’s
children live
in poverty
LISA MEDELLIN, MSW
is Director of
Programs at
Healthcare Georgia
Foundation
14% of births by African
American women are low birth
weight regardless of
economic status or education
Source: 2019 County Health Rankings
Healthcare Georgia Foundation welcomed the opportunity to elevate one of its core priorities since
its inception - Addressing Health Disparities . The Foundation was one of a few funders in Georgia
willing to champion this area within its grantmaking strategies. For example, the prevailing
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ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL
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