Frequently Asked Questions

The Social Impact Funds comprise an impact-focused venture program that supports organizations tackling social drivers of health so that more people have the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives. We fill a critical gap in the financial ecosystem — through a program of investments, loans and grants — for traditionally overlooked and underfunded for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Through purposeful funding, we catalyze solutions that overcome barriers to health care, food security and economic empowerment.

For 100 years, the American Heart Association has worked relentlessly for a world of longer, healthier lives. Improving health equity is one of the many ways the Association is advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.

More than 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. live with some form of cardiovascular disease and 80% of cardiovascular and brain health conditions are influenced by social drivers of health — the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions can have a very real, negative affect on health for historically marginalized groups, those who suffer from violence or bias, people living in poverty and other populations.

Entrepreneurs who have the lived experience and community understanding to create viable solutions often face barriers to capital, further exacerbating negative health impacts.

The Social Impact Funds were created to address the confluence of health, social and capital inequities to drive positive impact for people in communities across the country.

Social drivers of health are the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. People who lack the most basic needs — healthy food, clean air and drinking water, quality education, safe spaces to learn, play and pray, well-paying jobs and housing — face health disparities, which often lead to poorer health outcomes and shorter lives. Sustainable solutions to these negative effects are vital to improving individual and community health.

The Social Impact Funds provide grants, loans and equity-linked investments. We direct the type and size of funding based on community needs, program deliverables, reach and issue-specific measures. On average, funding ranges by type are:

• Grants: up to $250,000
• Loans: up to $500,000
• Equity Investments: up to $500,000

Entrepreneurs and organizations addressing social drivers of health in under-resourced communities are eligible to apply. We support both for-profit and nonprofit organizations whose programs align with the Association’s mission and the Social Impact Funds focus areas.

The primary differences that distinguish the Social Impact Funds are:

• Focus on social drivers of health and impact compared with a singular focus on financial returns
• Commitment to support organizations that are often challenged to find the capital needed to achieve growth and sustainability.
  • We finance organizations working to address health care access and quality, food security or economic empowerment, particularly among under-resourced populations.
  • We prioritize supporting founders who have lived experience within the communities they serve and with the challenges they are seeking to solve.
• Range of funding types — grants, loans and equity investments — enables us to support both for-profit and nonprofit entities.
• Support provided at the earliest stages to help organizations build the infrastructure and experience to enable scale and sustainability on their road to impact.

Our approach is intended to create a more equitable system of startup financing so the organizations we fund can build for the long term.

The Association’s Impact Investment Team manages the Social Impact Funds. The team members have decades-long collective experience in social impact investing, venture and debt financing, philanthropic grantmaking, program evaluation and health equity. We collaborate with community leaders to source, vet and originate funding that responds to community need. We maximize the viability and reach of innovation through efficient and equitable allocation, active program monitoring and transparent reporting and collaboration.

We ask for a few short paragraphs about the health challenge, how the applicant is addressing it, the expected impact/outcomes and the program/project budget. There are no required documents, but there is a space for applicants to upload supporting materials (e.g., investor pitch decks, impact reports, etc.). Be sure to tell us why you think your organization fits with our commitment to health equity.

Every prospective applicant undergoes a thorough financial, operational and impact evaluation so that we can determine the viability of large-scale impact as a result of our funding.

Selections are based on the strength of four factors:

1. Demonstrated ability to drive change in under-resourced communities.
2. Strength and quality of team, program design and operational plan.
3. A meaningful and trusted connection to the target community.
4. Potential to scale and achieve sustainability for maximum health impact.

We pair each funded organization with a Social Impact Funds portfolio manager. Together, they develop key performance indicators that are customized to the business model and reflect the goals and objectives of our agreement. Quarterly check-ins are used to review progress to goals and provide feedback and advice.

Capacity building is integral to our approach. As an example, the Association’s internal measurement and metrics team offers training to the organizations we fund and helps them apply impact evaluation tools that not only track progress but elevate their outcomes to spur growth. We also connect our portfolio companies to the Association’s vast data resources and network of experts as additional supports in navigating challenges and accelerating impact.