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New York State Health Foundation
The New York State Health Foundation was created in 2006 as a private, statewide entity dedicated to improving the health of New Yorkers, with an explicit...
New York State Health Foundation
The New York State Health Foundation was created in 2006 as a private, statewide entity dedicated to improving the health of New Yorkers, with an explicit focus on marginalized populations. Its formation established a permanent philanthropic vehicle meant to address systemic health gaps through grants, policy research, and the scaling of effective community programs. The Foundation structures its capital deployment primarily as grantmaking, targeting three core pillars: Healthy Food, Healthy Lives; Primary Care; and Veterans' Health. It focuses its geographic footprint entirely within New York State. The Foundation partners with other health-focused grantmakers to amplify its impact, with frequent co-investors including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the United Hospital Fund on health policy and systems research initiatives. David Sandman serves as President and CEO, a role he assumed in 2016 after previously working with Manatt Health Solutions. Nick Smirensky, former Chief Investment Officer, now serves on the board of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System. The Foundation maintains its headquarters at 1385 Broadway in Manhattan and participates actively in field-building networks such as Philanthropy New York and Grantmakers In Health. The Foundation operates with a structural posture distinct from university endowments or traditional asset managers, functioning as a direct grantmaking institution rather than a returns-optimizing portfolio. Its balance sheet holds the operating entity plus a physical gold ETF, suggesting a capital-preservation approach to its endowment while the bulk of its financial activity flows through its programmatic grant cycles.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2006
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
1385 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10018, United States
Principals
David Sandman
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment and grantmaking decisions at the New York State Health Foundation?
David Sandman has served as President and CEO since 2016, overseeing the Foundation's grantmaking programs and strategic direction. He previously worked at Manatt Health Solutions. Nick Smirensky is the former Chief Investment Officer, indicating a separation between programmatic grantmaking and the stewardship of the Foundation's financial assets.
How does the New York State Health Foundation deploy its capital?
The Foundation primarily deploys capital through a structured grantmaking model rather than traditional institutional investing. Its funding is directed into three program areas: Healthy Food, Healthy Lives; Primary Care; and Veterans' Health. Grants are made to community organizations and policy initiatives working to improve health outcomes for all New Yorkers.
What is the New York State Health Foundation's relationship with other major health grantmakers?
The Foundation frequently collaborates with other prominent health-focused entities. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the United Hospital Fund are cited as regular partners in health policy research and impact investing initiatives. The Foundation also maintains active memberships in Philanthropy New York and Grantmakers In Health.
Does the New York State Health Foundation manage a traditional investment portfolio?
The Foundation's primary function is direct grantmaking, but it does hold some financial assets. Its known holdings include a physical gold ETF, which alongside its commercial headquarters at 1385 Broadway in Manhattan, suggests a capital-preservation strategy for its endowment corpus rather than a high-return-seeking, diversified portfolio.
Is the New York State Health Foundation a single-family office or an endowment?
The Foundation is a private, independent foundation, not a family office. It was established in 2006 with a specific charitable mission to improve the health of New Yorkers. Unlike a family office, it does not serve a single family's wealth management needs, and unlike a university endowment, it does not exist to support a specific operating institution's budget.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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