Provide leadership, advocacy and resources to eliminate barriers and promote quality health for uninsured and underserved in our service area.
Healthy People in Healthy Communities
The Foundation is committed to exercise its fiscal, fiduciary and programmatic responsibilities to ensure funds are granted to serve the public interest.
Funds are prioritized for programs and activities that make demonstrable improvements in health and health care for medically indigent and underserved communities and populations.
The Foundation will advance the public health interest of uninsured and underserved individuals who live in its service area. The Foundation supports and participates in activities that inform relevant public debate and policy development, foster healthy behaviors and environments, and promote more effective systems of care for the target population.
The Foundation is committed to work with organizations and communities to build lasting partnerships that will strengthen a community's ability to improve the quality and quantity of health care.
The Foundation is committed to promoting diversity and cultural competency in programming, personnel and employment practices, and governance. Grant consideration will be given to all organizations that select directors, employ and manage staff and provide services regardless of (their) race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
The Foundation is committed to the highest ethical standards in governance, administration, and grantmaking. The HCF ethics policy requires Board members and staff with a financial or institutional interest in any applicant organization to disclose that interest, and remove themselves from any discussions about the applicant. Board members cannot vote on any matter for which they have such a conflict. The Foundation strives for openness and fairness in its practices by observing the Missouri Open Meetings Law, seeking guidance on grant decisions from external and disinterested experts, and providing easy access to information about its work.
The Foundation views diversity as a fundamental element of social justice and integral to its mission. HCF uses the term, diversity, broadly to encompass both differences in the attributes of individuals (such as race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, and socioeconomic status) and of organizations such as size, years of operation and location within the Foundation’s service area. Diverse voices and viewpoints deepen our understanding of differences in health outcomes and health care delivery, and strengthen our ability to fashion just solutions. As a result, the Foundation is committed to expanding cultural competence, promoting awareness, acceptance and respect for health related beliefs, practices, traditions, language, religions, literacy levels of individuals and the cultural groups to which they belong.
The Foundation is committed to assessment as a core element of its work and the work of grantees. Appropriate assessment and evaluation demonstrate the need for activities/programs, indicate the effectiveness and efficiency of funded interventions, and foster accountability for the impact of Foundation funding on individuals and communities.