About the Health Foundation We are an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK

Who we are

Our aim is a healthier population, supported by high quality health care that can be equitably accessed. We learn what works to make people’s lives healthier and improve the health care system. From giving grants to those working at the front line to carrying out research and policy analysis, we shine a light on how to make successful change happen.

We make links between the knowledge we gain from working with those delivering health and health care and our research and analysis. Our aspiration is to create a virtuous circle, using what we know works on the ground to inform effective policymaking and vice versa.

We believe good health and health care are key to a flourishing society. Through sharing what we learn, collaborating with others and building people’s skills and knowledge, we aim to make a difference and contribute to a healthier population.

What we do

As the second largest endowed foundation in the UK focusing on health, we spend around £37m a year on improving health and health care.

Our activities expand across five key strategic priorities:

• promoting healthy lives for all
• data analytics for better health
• supporting health care improvement
• making health and care services more sustainable
• improving national health and care policy.

Our strategy

We will build on our achievements of the past decade to bring about better health and health care. We will use insights from our work to inform national policy on health and health care in the UK.

Our five main aims that will guide our work are to:

• promote healthy lives for all
• support data analytics for better health 
• support health care improvement
• make health and care services more sustainable
• improve national health and care policy.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we extended our current strategy until the end of 2022. We are currently developing our strategic plan 2023–2025.

Get involved

Find out what our plans are for 2021 and what opportunities are on offer to get involved with our work this year.

Our values

• We are independent
• We collaborate to make a greater impact
• We are informed by evidence and experience
• We bring a spirit of constructive challenge and an open mind

A Living Wage Employer

The Health Foundation is an accredited living wage employer, which means every member of staff in our organisation earns not just the minimum wage but the real living wage. The living wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually based on the cost of living in the UK. We are also a Living Wage Funder.

Find out more about working for us

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion 

The Health Foundation’s mission is to bring about better health and health care in the UK. 

Building greater equity, diversity and inclusion in society, in the health and care system and in our own organisation are all essential parts of our commitment to building a healthy society.

Read more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion 

Our commitment to environmental sustainability

As a foundation, we believe we have a responsibility to act on climate change, and we are working to embed environmental sustainability across the organisation. This includes leveraging our role as a provider of analysis and research, reviewing how we give grants and invest our endowment, as well as how we manage our workplace and events. 

We are taking a number of steps to reduce our environmental footprint and improve our sustainability.

Read more about our commitment to environmental sustainability