Research Explores the Philanthropic Decisions of Large Manufacturing Companies and Their Investments in Community Health
This study snapshot outlines findings from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded research examining manufacturing companies’ philanthropic giving and the impact on health improvement.
Large employers are an important partner in the promotion of community health, and while public health interventions are often not the direct goal of corporate philanthropic initiatives many focus their philanthropic giving on the social determinants of health in their local communities. This study found that corporations could strengthen their relationships with local public health leaders in order to effectively leverage their unique relationship with the community.
This study snapshot outlines research by Megan McHugh, Ph.D. and colleagues at Northwestern University who explored how 13 of the largest manufacturing companies in the United States approach community health investments. The study also addresses how corporations and local public health leaders can collaborate to measure the impact of investments and ensure that community health initiatives are effective and benefit the community.
The full report is available here.
This project is funded as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s solicitation “Engaging Businesses for Health,” which is managed by AcademyHealth.