Care Foundation is proud to be continuing the legacy established by Northwest Health System. During the nearly fifty years that the hospitals operated as not-for-profits, the staff and board worked to develop a healthy community and to create regional access to services. We have evolved into a new structure, but we have maintained our commitment to a healthy community.

Evolution is a process of learning and change. We spent the first year of our existence working to implement internal policies, to conduct community needs assessments, to develop grantmaking guidelines, and to train staff. During the next three years, we supported more than 135 agencies throughout northwest Arkansas with grants totaling over $15 million. In 2004, the board decided to focus on education, health, immigration, and nonprofit capacity building, using a request-for-proposal process. This has resulted in larger grants with specific measurable outcomes.

I expect that this foundation will continue to evolve and change the way we interact with the community over the years. I invite you to watch this website and read our other publications in order to stay informed as we struggle to learn the best ways to affect the social and community issues that we face here in northwest Arkansas.