Saint Luke's Foundation, located in Cleveland, OH, is committed to achieving health equity by addressing the social determinants of health for people in the neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke's and throughout Cuyahoga County. Their mission focuses on several key areas: education, financial stability, housing stability, social connections, healthy eating, active living, and building healthy communities. One of the factors that contribute to health inequity is the quality and duration of education, from early childhood through post-secondary education and job training.

Saint Luke's Foundation recognizes the importance of educational attainment in fostering overall health. Financial stability, provided by employment and access to government benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid, allows individuals to access health insurance, healthy food, and safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is also a priority, as it affects health in multiple ways, including adequate housing conditions, affordability, and residential stability.

Promoting social connections and positive relationships is a key determinant of health, as having a supportive community helps individuals live longer and healthier lives. Access to healthy foods and safe places for physical activity is essential for all communities, particularly low-income and communities of color. Saint Luke's Foundation understands that zip codes have a significant impact on health and aims to create healthy environments by ensuring safe, well-maintained housing and neighborhoods with amenities such as sidewalks, playgrounds, parks, trees, and full-service supermarkets.

Since its inception in 1997, Saint Luke's Foundation has made a substantial impact, providing grants and gifts to various organizations, investing over $176 million in the community, and awarding 61% of grants to new, smaller strategy partners in 2022. To learn more about their work and grantmaking, visit their website and discover how you can get involved in supporting their mission for health equity