1. Why is Lancaster General Health establishing a healthcare foundation?

Lancaster General Health is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare for its patients and the community. In today’s changing world and challenging economy, there is an increasing need to find new resources to support this commitment. Lancaster General Health is establishing the Lancaster General Health Foundation to combine and focus its philanthropic efforts to support this work. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting excellence in patient care across the LG health system by providing additional funding resources to promote research, new and expanded services, innovative clinical and out-patient care, and educational opportunities for medical staff.

2. What are the purpose and mission of the Foundation?

The Foundation’s mission is to support excellence in patient care and services throughout the Lancaster General Health system. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide internal grants and funds to provide quality patient care, keep pace with medical advancements and technologies, and continue to meet the need for new and specialized services.

The Foundation will also advance the culture of philanthropy among LG Board members, physicians, staff, and volunteers. It will provide a new visibility and an elevated focus on the philanthropy that has been so important to the development of quality care throughout the Lancaster General Health system. The generosity of the community, including corporations, philanthropies and individuals have made an extraordinary difference in the availability of healthcare services and the development of specialized care throughout LG. The Foundation will enhance and consolidate these efforts and provide an annual report to the community on these donations and the impacts they produce.

3. How will the Foundation Board operate?

The Foundation is an independent 501 (c) (3) and will function that way. There are eight members that serve on both the Foundation Board and either the Lancaster General Health or the LGH boards. Additionally, each Lancaster General Health affiliate will have Board representation. This provides an opportunity for each organization to set priorities and identify common interests and issues. Given that the purpose of the Foundation is to support quality patient care throughout the LG health system, this communication and coordination will be invaluable.

4. What are the anticipated funding goals for the Foundation?

The Foundation is expected to have an asset base that will generate an anticipated $500,000 or more for grant funding the first year. All fundraising activity across the LG health system and its affiliates will be directed through the Foundation. Goals will be established and approved by the Foundation Board of Directors and will be presented at the first formal Board meeting scheduled in July 2006. Fundraising goals will focus on increasing the asset base of the Foundation as well as specific goals for affiliates, defined initiatives, campaigns, and programs within the LG health system.

5. What will the Foundation fund?

The Foundation will help fund a range of projects and initiatives within the LG health system that promote the Foundation’s mission. Examples could include new opportunities for practice-based research, support for capital campaigns for new and expanded LG and affiliate facilities, development of specialized services, new healthcare initiatives, or scholarship programs for LG clinical staff. The Foundation’s Board of Directors will be responsible to set its priorities annually to fulfill its mission and purpose.

6. Who gives to a foundation like this?

Anyone interested in supporting quality health and patient care can – and hopefully will – contribute to the Foundation and its work. These will include individuals, foundations and corporations. Gifts can be made in many different ways. They can be designated for specific purposes stipulated by the donor; or they can be given as undesignated contributions to support the priorities approved by the Foundation’s Board. All contributions will be tracked as required by state and federal law. The Foundation will be audited annually and will publish an annual report detailing its activities, revenues and expenditures.

7. Will the Lancaster General Health system and its affiliates solicit funding independent of the Healthcare Foundation?

The Foundation will act as the centralized collection point for all funding requests for Lancaster General Health and its affiliates. Designated gifts received for specific initiatives, programs or projects will be strictly honored and donor intent will always be fulfilled. Undesignated gifts may be added to the Foundation asset base to earn income for grants within the LG health system.

8. Lancaster General Health has its own foundation, why does it need to continue to solicit funding from Lancaster County donors?

The Foundation’s purpose is to secure and provide funding to support quality healthcare services provided by LG and its various affiliates. The Foundation does not have a large, existing endowment and will need to raise funds from a variety of sources to begin to build reserves and revenues to support annual grants. The organization of this work through this new Foundation helps to consolidate LG fund-raising efforts and events that have developed over the years. Given the budget challenges that healthcare demands present today, the Foundation will need to raise funds to fulfill its mission and purpose.