About Us
Since the Northern Virginia Health Foundation’s inception in 2005, we have held to a clear mission: to improve the health and health care of residents of Northern Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the health needs of the uninsured.
We focus our investments and partnerships on strengthening the region’s health safety net and addressing the conditions that shape residents’ health outcomes in order to build a healthier, stronger Northern Virginia.
Over the past two decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $24 million in grants to organizations that:
Increase access to primary care, mental health, oral/dental health, and/or specialty care for low-income uninsured or underinsured residents of Northern Virginia
Respond to emerging community needs
Address the social determinants of health
The Foundation at a Glance
Vision
To build the capacity of the Northern
Virginia community to be and stay
healthy.
Mission
To improve the health of Northern
Virginians, with an emphasis on the
health and health care of low-income,
uninsured, or underinsured persons.
Values
Several important values will guide the
Foundation’s work:
- Stewardship
- Health Equity
- Systems-Level Change
- Organizational Effectiveness
- Information-Driven Decision Making
Board Members and Staff
Our History
-
2005By order of the Alexandria Circuit Court as part of the resolution of litigation following the closure of Jefferson Memorial Hospital, the Northern Virginia Health Foundation is established to improve health and health care for the region, especially for residents who are uninsured or face barriers to care.
-
2007From Herndon to Bailey’s Crossroads to Arlington County, NVHF issues its first round of grants, helping clinics and health organizations expand hours, add services, and reach more residents in need.
-
2008As the Great Recession strains local communities, NVHF strategically further refines its grantmaking to focus on strengthening Northern Virginia’s health care safety net, ensuring access remains steady for those who need it most.
-
2010NVHF awards its $5 millionth dollar of grant funds since its inception in 2005. The Foundation also unveils the Northern Virginia Health and Wellness Directory, a key resource designed to help residents, providers, and community leaders better understand the services available across the region.
-
2011NVHF releases the region’s first comprehensive survey data on adult oral health needs, helping to shape conversations and inform local strategies around equitable care.
-
2013NVHF convenes the first-ever Northern Virginia Health Summit and releases “How Healthy Is Northern Virginia?,” a comprehensive look at health and well-being across the region.
-
2015NVHF begins funding upstream interventions, efforts that focus on systems change and addressing social factors that affect health.
-
2016-2023In partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Society and Health, NVHF releases a groundbreaking series of reports revealing Northern Virginia’s “Islands of Disadvantage” and equipping leaders with data to drive change.
-
2024NVHF expands its grantmaking to strengthen social connectedness and capacity building, recognizing that resilient relationships and strong organizations are key to lasting community health.
-
2025As NVHF marks 20 years of impact, the Foundation launches its first multi-year grants: a $2.6 million investment, its largest to date, supporting seven safety-net partners dedicated to improving health care across Northern Virginia.
-
2026NVHF launches a new strategic framework, reflective of a renewed commitment to health equity, amplifying community voice, and responding to a critical moment for the region.
Message from the CEO
Welcome to Northern Virginia Health Foundation's website.
Northern Virginia is a vibrant and diverse region, rich with resources, expertise, and people committed to making our communities stronger. Yet we also know that where someone lives, the resources available to them, and the systems and policies that shape their daily lives can have a profound impact on their health.
At Northern Virginia Health Foundation, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life. Achieving that vision requires more than any one organization, program, or grant. It requires strong organizations, trusted partnerships, useful information, community insight, and a willingness to address the systems and conditions that contribute to inequities in health.
That understanding shapes how we approach our role as a funder and partner. We invest in access to health care while also looking upstream at the policies, systems, and conditions that influence health. We support organizations that are essential to the strength of our region. We invest in data and knowledge that can help our partners better understand needs and opportunities. And we use our position to bring people together, build connections, and help move promising ideas toward action.
Our work is guided by four strategic pillars:
Access to Care
Knowledge for Impact
Systems-Level Change
Strengthening the Field
Across each, we are committed to understanding disparities and inequities, learning from the experiences of people and organizations closest to the issues, and considering where the Foundation can make a meaningful contribution.
We also recognize that philanthropy is most effective when it listens, learns, and works alongside others. We don’t expect to have all the answers, but we do expect to ask thoughtful questions, share what we learn, build meaningful relationships, and use the resources entrusted to us responsibly and strategically.
As you explore our website, I hope you’ll learn not only about what we fund, but also about what we’re learning, the partners helping to strengthen Northern Virginia, and the opportunities we see to advance health across our region.
There is much work ahead, and we are grateful to do it in partnership with so many others who care deeply about Northern Virginia and the people who call it home.