Hellman Foundation Announces Strategic Investment to Scale Food-based Interventions and Nutrition Services in San Francisco Health Clinics

The $20 million five-year initiative aims to improve health outcomes for San Francisco’s most vulnerable communities.

[SAN FRANCISCO, CA — November 9, 2023] The Hellman Foundation is proud to announce its first strategic investment as it begins to spend all funding and close its doors by the end of 2034. The $20 million five-year initiative will fund the Food for Health Collective San Francisco, a partnership of six San Francisco-based organizations. The initiative will scale prior Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative investments that improve nutrition equity for vulnerable communities in the Bay Area and advocate for statewide policy in California. Food for Health Collective San Francisco’s work commenced in July 2023.

Food for Health Collective San Francisco will implement a three-pronged strategy to: 1) Expand clinic infrastructure for food interventions at up to 30 San Francisco community health clinics; 2) Advocate for policy that secures food and nutrition services as a mandated benefit covered by Medi-cal; and 3) Build capacity for and increase coordination between local clinics and nonprofits.

“Access to medically supportive food and nutrition services is integral for the health of communities, especially those who are underserved and have greater risks of chronic health disparities,” said Dr. Tricia Gibbs, Board Member of the Hellman Foundation. “This investment is the result of nearly three years of partnership and collaboration between the Hellman Foundation and our long-time community partners, who are unrelenting in their work to improve health equity in San Francisco.”

According to Pedro Arista, Senior Director of the Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative, it is an opportune time for philanthropy and the public sector to invest deeply in food security. “San Francisco has a strong ecosystem of clinics and nonprofits that are well positioned to scale food-based interventions,” Arista said. “Through California’s multiyear initiative, CalAIM, we have an opportunity for food and nutrition services to be reimbursed by Medi-Cal, the state’s health care safety net. Empowering clinics to tackle nutrition security is a game-changer for their work towards health equity.”

The following community partners participated in the development of Food for Health Collective San Francisco and will collaborate on implementation, reflecting the Hellman Foundation’s commitment to building equity and opportunity by investing in community-led initiatives through cross-sector collaboration:

·       Food As Medicine Collaborative

·       SF Community Clinic Consortium

·       UCSF Food Equity and Justice Program

·       Vouchers 4 Veggies – EatSF

·       Project Open Hand

·       San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) – Food and Agriculture Team

“Meeting leaders from programs across San Francisco has taught me that incredible people are working on food security,” said Dr. Gina Moreno-John, MD, MPH, Director of the UCSF Food Equity and Justice Program. “This investment will ensure that more of our patients suffering from food insecurity will have fresh and culturally appropriate food to eat. Healthy food helps reduce risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other chronic diseases. Most importantly, it will allow our patients to lead longer and healthier lives.”

According to Hellman Foundation Executive Director, Annie Ulevitch, “The Hellman Foundation believes that intensive strategic investments in the next decade are the most effective way we can advance sustainable change on pressing community needs. Funding initiatives like Food for Health Collective San Francisco are central to our spend-down plan.” Strategic investments from the Hellman Foundation addressing other issues are still in development.