American Heart Association logoThe Social Impact Funds

Social Impact Fund

The American Heart Association is investing in local entrepreneurs and organizations that are breaking down the social and economic barriers to health equity.
AHA Social Impact Funds Social Enterprise: Forty Acres Fresh Market

Breaking Down Barriers to Change

The American Heart Association understands that policies and institutions are at the root of inequities across all wellness indicators—whether by race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation or ability. We strive to remove systemic barriers that impact access to affordable housing, quality K-12 education, nutritious food and health care, and decarceration that will allow us all to have optimal, healthier lives.

The Social Impact Fund and
The Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund

Systemic and structural barriers, such as structural racism, don’t affect people the same way. At the heart of our impact investments, we understand that prevention and intervention strategies should not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, they should directly address the needs and concerns of those who are most affected.

We invest in evidence-based, local solutions to shift the inequitable health paradigm, respecting local agencies to tackle social determinants of health challenges that ultimately lead to measurable positive health outcomes.

 

a light grey U.S. map with red dots indicating cities of the AHA Social Impact Funds' regional dispersion of investments to date

 

Hawaii Social Enterprises

Utah Social Enterprises

Washington, D.C. Social Enterprises
Is your business or organization in need of additional funding?    Check out our funding opportunities

Social Impact Funds Supporters

The Social Impact Funds are currently funded by philanthropic donors—individual philanthropists and family and corporate foundations. We are able to launch impact funds in a market with the backing of lead donors or a group of donors who are passionate about systemic, community-led health and economic solutions in their communities.

Supporters of the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds help scale the impact of local social entrepreneurs who are working to solve health disparities that present the greatest challenges in their communities.

 
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Community-Led Transformation

The Social Impact Funds channel funding to organizations that are using their lived experience to tackle the social drivers of health. Our portfolio companies leverage evidence-based science and clinical expertise to ensure equitable health and well-being for people of all ages, races, genders, geographies and more.
West Virginia Women Work (WVWW) is a statewide nonprofit that supports and advocates for education, employment and economic equity for all women. For over 20 years the organization has strived to help women in West Virginia earn a living wage through a comprehensive program of recruitment, training, referrals, placements, networking, advocacy, retention activities and public workshops.
Strong Children Wellness is an integrated health care network that embeds tech-enabled physical health, mental health and social care services within trusted community-based organizations to provide comprehensive care for psychosocially and medically complex children and families in under-resourced communities.
Latino Behavioral Health Services works to minimize disparities for Hispanics-Latinos accessing behavioral health services. The peer-run organization educates, empowers and eases access to mental health resources and services with competent responsiveness to cultural, socio-economic and linguistics characteristics.

NYSE and New York Life Investment Management align to support health equity

The New York Stock Exchange hosted American Heart Association and New York Life Investment Management leaders during the closing bell on Feb. 18. The event spotlighted NYLIM’s support of the AHA’s Social Impact Fund, which helps reduce social and economic barriers to health equity by investing in local social entrepreneurs and organizations.
NYLIM’s Financial Wellness Tips
virtual closing of the bell on Feb. 18, New York Stock Exchange President Stacey Cunningham joined Yie-Hsin Hung, CEO of New York Life Investment Management, and Dr. Regina Benjamin
female teacher working with student
female teacher working with student

Interested in learning more about the Social Impact Fund?

We’d love to hear from you.
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