Another valuable lesson he learned during his time at RWJF was that for philanthropy to be effective it cannot simply be a funder; it must also be a partner. “Collaboration between funders, grantees, researchers, and experts with community experience creates a valuable feedback loop between what the research shows, what is happening on the ground, and the strategic planning underway to make real change.”
Partnerships between philanthropy, practitioners, policymakers, and others are needed today as public health enters a new era. Where infectious diseases once drove public health priorities, today it is community conditions like unsafe or affordable housing, lack of decent-paying jobs and quality education, and decades of residential segregation that contribute to health disparities.
“We’re not going to improve population health by pushing more pills and procedures,” Brian said. “We need better policies and partnerships if everyone is going to have an opportunity to achieve their optimal health.” Recognizing that the “means to improved health in our nation may come from a legislature rather than a laboratory,” the de Beaumont Foundation created CityHealth, an initiative that promotes a set of nine policies—such as paid sick leave, early pre-K, and complete streets—that are critical to healthy communities. “We knew the importance of policy and wanted to help promote effective, bipartisan laws that we thought every city should have,” said Brian, “but we were relatively unknown and didn’t know how the ratings would be received.”
It was the kind of daring, bold—and strategic—plan Brian had seen at RWJF 20 years earlier. “Just one year after the initial ratings were released, we can say that we’ve contributed to 15 policy changes in the cities we monitor.”
Building on the partnership theme, Kaiser Permanente recently joined with the de Beaumont Foundation as a national partner in CityHealth. “Kaiser Permanente covers more than 12 million lives,” Brian said, “and they’ve become a partner in CityHealth. That’s a drop-the-mic moment. It shows increasing recognition that healthcare alone can’t make us healthy. That other community-based strategies are needed.”
He looks forward to continuing to build healthier communities, and through them healthier people. And, he credits his time at RWJF for helping him set his sights on that goal: “I don’t think I’d be doing any of this without that year at RWJF. Watching and listening to experts make change with thoughtful and targeted strategy—that was invaluable. It’s been a great arc.”
Brian hopes others can have a similar experience that he had 20 years ago at RWJF. Inspired by his own experience, the de Beaumont Foundation partnered with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) to create a one-year fellowship for graduating public health students who want to use philanthropy to make lasting change. He hopes that other health philanthropies will consider joining de Beaumont in this partnership to expand early career opportunities in philanthropy.
I’m sure many of my foundation colleagues—past and present—share my pride in success stories like Brian’s. In one short but pivotal year, he gained the skills and inspiration he needed to help bring about real and lasting change in our nation’s communities. Who will be the next future public health leader whose skills and passion are nurtured here in Princeton? Stay tuned!
How do the 40 largest cities in the U.S. fare when it comes to policies that can make lasting impacts in people’s quality of life? Find out through CityHealth's assessment.
