Our Story

Built on a Belief That Communities Can Thrive

For nearly three decades, the Projects Humana Foundation has partnered with nonprofits, community leaders, and changemakers to build a more equitable world — one grant at a time.

Our History

The Projects Humana Foundation was established in 1996 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., with a founding commitment to improve health outcomes and expand opportunity for people in the communities where Humana operates.

Over the past 28 years, we have awarded more than $180 million in grants to over 1,200 nonprofit organizations across the United States. Our grantmaking has evolved alongside the communities we serve — expanding from health-focused initiatives into education, economic empowerment, and environmental resilience.

Today, the Foundation operates as an independent philanthropic entity, guided by a volunteer board of directors and a dedicated professional staff. We remain committed to the principle that lasting change requires long-term investment, rigorous evaluation, and deep community partnership.

1996

Foundation established with an initial endowment of $10 million

2003

Expanded grantmaking beyond health to include education and workforce development

2010

Launched the Capacity Building Awards to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure

2018

Crossed $100 million in cumulative grants awarded

2022

Introduced the Climate Resilience Fund, our newest grantmaking program

2024

Surpassed $180 million in total grants to 1,200+ organizations

Mission & Values

"To invest in the health, education, and economic well-being of the communities we serve — with rigor, transparency, and a deep respect for the people doing the work."

Equity

We prioritize communities and populations that have been historically underinvested. Equity is not a program — it is the lens through which every decision is made.

Transparency

We publish our financials, grant data, and impact reports annually. We believe accountability to the public is inseparable from our mission.

Partnership

We treat grantees as partners, not recipients. The best solutions come from the communities experiencing the problems — our role is to resource and amplify.

Rigor

We invest in evaluation and learning because we believe the sector deserves honest answers about what works. We share what we learn, including our failures.