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United Hospital Fund
The United Hospital Fund was founded in 1879, making it one of the oldest health-focused foundations in the US. It was established to address the systemic...
United Hospital Fund
The United Hospital Fund was founded in 1879, making it one of the oldest health-focused foundations in the US. It was established to address the systemic health care needs of New York City's rapidly growing population. Today, Oxiris Barbot, the first woman to lead the institution, runs the organization from its offices at 1411 Broadway. J. Barclay Collins II, the former general counsel of Hess Corporation, chairs the board. UHF deploys capital across a spectrum that blends venture-stage investments with direct system-improvement grants. While an endowment-based foundation, its strategy spans early-stage seed funding through late-stage and special-situations deals. The portfolio retains a venture generalist posture within health care, backing digital health and service delivery models alongside traditional research and demonstration projects. Partners and collaborators have included the Commonwealth Fund on policy initiatives, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for health-equity grants, and Boston Consulting Group on adolescent behavioral health research. The endowment portfolio is estimated at $117 million (Altss estimate). UHF operates solely from its New York City headquarters. Its network extends into professional circles such as the Council on Foreign Relations. Board member Anna Fagin, a partner at Town Hall Ventures, reinforces the organization's link to the venture health care ecosystem. The fund has maintained its focus on the New York region while influencing national health policy debates through research and analysis. The fund's architecture as an independent, grant-making entity with an active venture portfolio differentiates it from most health foundations, which typically distribute grants from an externally managed, market-neutral endowment. Its structure allows the organization to not only fund research and advocacy but also place direct equity bets aligned with its mission of building a more equitable care system for New Yorkers. Succession and governance aside, the blended model itself is the structural differentiator.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1879
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
1411 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, United States
Principals
Oxiris Barbot, MD
President / CEO
J. Barclay Collins II
Board Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does the United Hospital Fund combine its endowment investments with its grantmaking mission?
UHF operates a proprietary venture portfolio alongside its traditional grant-funded programs. This means the endowment directly invests in health care companies, from early-stage startups to later-stage and special-situations deals, while simultaneously awarding grants for policy research and community health initiatives. The investment returns help fund the organization's operations and programmatic work, creating a cycle where market-rate returns support non-market initiatives.
What is the relationship between United Hospital Fund and the New York hospital system?
Despite its name, UHF is not a hospital operator or a fundraising arm for a specific hospital. It is an independent, nonprofit foundation that works across the entire New York health care landscape. The organization was founded in 1879 to address systemic issues affecting many hospitals, and today it focuses on policy analysis, quality improvement, and health-equity programs that influence the broader delivery system rather than running facilities.
Who makes investment decisions at United Hospital Fund?
President and CEO Oxiris Barbot, MD, leads the organization and oversees its strategic direction, including the deployment of the endowment. The board, chaired by J. Barclay Collins II, provides governance and oversight. The board also includes members with direct venture experience, such as Anna Fagin from Town Hall Ventures, which likely informs the institution's direct investment activity, though specific investment committee structures are not publicly detailed.
Does the United Hospital Fund take outside capital or act as a multi-family office?
No. UHF is an independent, single-purpose foundation funded entirely by its own endowment. It does not manage money for external families or donors as a multi-family office or an outsourced CIO. Its capital is deployed solely to advance its mission of improving health care in New York, either through grants, operating programs, or its own investment portfolio.
What kind of venture investments has United Hospital Fund made?
UHF's investment posture covers early-stage, seed, startup, late-stage, and mezzanine health care companies, primarily focused on digital health and health care services. The organization does not publicly disclose its individual portfolio company names. Its strategy is captured as venture generalist within the health sector, meaning it can invest across a range of technologies and delivery models that potentially improve care quality and access in its target region.
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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