About Highmark Health
The Highmark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private, charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities served by Highmark, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Foundation fulfills its mission by awarding high-impact grants to charitable organizations that implement evidence-based programs aimed at improving community health and by identifying and addressing prevailing community health care needs.
Focus Areas
Chronic disease (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, obesity)Family health (maternal health, adolescent health, mental health)Service delivery systems (access to care, community health centers, free clinics)School health and healthy school environmentsOral health and dental accessWorkforce development in healthSocial determinants of health / SDOH initiatives
Who They Fund
nonprofit organizations (unspecified program area)
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health’s largest recent grant was $5,555,000 to Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh for general support, a clear signal that the foundation uses large operating-style awards alongside smaller, program-specific grants. As a public charity with $18,487,880 in annual grants and $676,663,759 in assets, it gives at a regional scale and directs most of its support to organizations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and western New York. The recent grant list shows a strong emphasis on health systems and community health organizations, including Erie County Medical Center Corporation in Buffalo and Buffalo Center for Health Equity. The foundation also funds education- and community-based intermediaries such as The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Community College of Allegheny County, suggesting a mix of direct health investment and broader capacity-building around health access and related needs. Its stated mission centers on improving health, well-being, and quality of life for communities served by Highmark and its affiliates, with evidence-based programs as the preferred vehicle for funding.
What Highmark Health Funds
In health-system and community health work, Highmark Health has backed large general-support grants such as $2,000,000 to Erie County Medical Center Corporation in Buffalo and $1,000,000 to Buffalo Center for Health Equity in Buffalo. The foundation also funds local institutions that sit between health care and community support, including $250,000 to Buffalo Urban League Inc and $200,000 to Western New York Independent Living Inc. School health is another defined lane: the School Grants Program supports evidence-based strategies for healthier school environments, and the program framework includes bullying prevention, child injury prevention, healthy eating, physical activity, and social-emotional wellness. Workforce-related health support appears in the school-nursing awards program, which recognizes school nurses and provides funds for professional development or school resources.
How Highmark Health Gives
Highmark Health’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $70,789 at the 75th percentile, with a wide spread that includes very large awards alongside smaller program grants. The foundation appears to use both recurring and one-time support: The Pittsburgh Foundation received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Ayco Charitable Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well. It is a public charity, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Traditional grantmaking is listed as accepting unsolicited proposals, while several school and restricted fund programs do not.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.6M
Total Assets
$676.7M
Total Revenue
$602.6M
Total Expenses
$588.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $71K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$71K
Geographic Reach
Regional13 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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