The Health Trust is a health care conversion foundation that provides grants to left-of-center organizations, offers services to groups seen as victims, and lobbies for left-of-center health care policies. ¹

The Health Trust was founded with the proceeds from the sale of a nonprofit hospital system. ² The board of trustees and leadership team for the Trust include representatives of left-of-center groups, such as the Sobrato Foundation, MapLight, and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Trust also funds other left-of-center nonprofits and coalitions, such as Joint Venture Silicon Valley. ³

Founding and Governance

The Health Trust was founded when a for-profit corporation purchased a nonprofit San Jose hospital system in 1996. The proceeds were converted into a trust fund to promote health and access to health care. ⁴

The Health Trust is directed by a board of trustees that includes representatives from groups such as the Sobrato Foundation and MapLight. ⁵ The CEO of the Trust, Michele Lew, previously worked for State Senator Joseph Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. ⁶

Grants

The Trust operates through three functions: grants, direct services, and lobbying. All three activities fall under the mantle of health, but include a wide range of organizations, actions, and policies. ⁷

The Health Trust’s grants are officially directed towards health-related issues, such as providing food, medical services, and affordable housing. These grants include funding for sexually transmitted infection tests for both adults and children, particularly infections common to LGBT individuals such as HIV, and partnering with various aligned organizations. ⁸

Other grants, called “Emerging Opportunity Grants,” are directed towards achieving left-of-center equity goals, such as increased diversity and wealth redistribution. ⁹ The third category of grants, community grants, are the smallest of the three and focused locally, but with no specified kinds of organizations. ¹⁰

Grantee organizations include left-of-center foundations, activist groups, and coalitions, such as Joint Venture Silicon Valley. ¹¹

Activities

the Health Trust provides a range of services. The Trust claims to provide general chronic disease services, but only provides HIV/AIDS treatment. ¹² However, the Trust does provide a range of community food services, such as delivering meals and groceries and operating a food bank. ¹³ The Trust also provides housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS. ¹⁴

In addition, the Trust lobbies state and local government for left-of-center policy positions regarding government-provided healthcare and housing and increased welfare spending. ¹⁵

1. “Our Focus.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/our-focus/
2.  “Our Mission & Values.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/mission-values/
3. “Our Partners.” Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://jointventure.org/our-investors/partners
4. “Our Mission & Values.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/mission-values/
5. “Board of Trustees.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/board/
6. “Leadership Team.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/leadership/
7. “Our Focus.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/our-focus/
8. “Health Partnership Grants.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/funder/health-partnership-grants/
9. “Emerging Opportunity Grants.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/funder/emerging-opportunity-grants/
10. “Community Grants.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/funder/community-grants/
11. “Our Partners.” Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://jointventure.org/our-investors/partners
12. “Chronic Disease Services.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/provider/chronic-disease/
13. “Food and Nutrition Services.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/provider/food/
14. “Housing Services.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/provider/housing/
15. “Advocate.” The Health Trust. Accessed June 28, 2023. https://healthtrust.org/advocate/