Vital Strategies is a New York-based global public health organization that was launched in 1996 to address health challenges in low- and middle-income regions. Formed by merging World Lung Foundation and Union North America, it leverages communication, epidemiology, research, and advocacy. The organization partners with the Bloomberg Family Foundation on programs related to tobacco control, road safety, maternal health, obesity prevention, and data systems strengthening. Additionally, it conducts a clinical trial for shorter multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatments, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Vital Strategies collaborates with governments to promote evidence-based policies and improve health outcomes worldwide. ¹

Vital Strategies Action Fund is the sister lobbying and advocacy organization to Vital Strategies. ²

Programs

Vital Strategies operates programs focused on public health, including tobacco control, opioid overdose prevention, and data for health initiatives. In 2023, its tobacco control efforts, part of a Bloomberg Family Foundation initiative, was conducted in 10 priority countries. The Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, active in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New Jersey, and New Mexico, supported naloxone distribution, harm reduction, and policy changes, including a hospital Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) grant evaluation in Michigan and new harm reduction rules in New Jersey. The Data for Health Program advanced civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) in 25 countries, and supported policy changes through data impact projects in Cameroon, Mumbai, and Sri Lanka. The Global Grants Program funded 22 projects costing $2.9 million, while the Cancer Registry Program established technical groups and trained registrars in Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. Other initiatives addressed road safety, obesity prevention, and alcohol policy reform. ³

Vital Strategies’ Gender Equity Program, part of the Data for Health initiative, works to address perceived gender disparities in public health by integrating “gender equity” into civil registration, vital statistics, and data systems. It supports governments in collecting and analyzing sex-disaggregated data to inform policies on issues like maternal health and gender-based violence. ⁴

Financials

In 2023, Vital Strategies reported revenues of $69,535,230, primarily from contributions totaling $68,649,189 or 98.7 percent of the total. Expenses reached $110,225,088, resulting in a net income of -$40,689,858. Other salaries and wages accounted for $23,060,812 or 20.9 percent of expenses, while executive compensation was $2,060,665. Total assets were $96,073,073, total liabilities at $28,229,489, and net assets at $67,843,584. ⁵

In 2023, the Bloomberg Family Foundation gave four separate grants to Vital Strategies, including $22,371,000 to “combat the opioid crisis in the U.S.,” $2,885 to “support the data for health in collaboration with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” $1,341,000 to “support data for health,” and $7,440,000 to “support effective policies on healthy eating.” ⁶

People

As of 2025, Jose Luis Castro was serving as the president and chief executive officer of Vital Strategies. Previously, he was executive director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union). He was also director general of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Earlier roles include executive director at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and positions at the World Health Organization (WHO), such as director of program management. He held leadership roles at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and worked as a medical doctor in various international health organizations. ⁷

1. Vital Strategies. “Vital Strategies Officially Launches in New York.” Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.vitalstrategies.org/vital-strategies-officially-launches-in-new-york/. 
2. Vital Strategies Action Fund. “Home.” Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.vitalactionfund.org. 
3. Vital Strategies. “Programs.” Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/. 
4. Vital Strategies. “Gender Equity.” Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.vitalstrategies.org/gender-equity/. 
5. Vital Strategies Inc. Form 990 for Fiscal Year Ending Dec. 2023. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223419667. 
6. Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2023. Part 14. 
7. LinkedIn. “Jose Luis Castro.” Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-luis-castro/?originalSubdomain=ch.