Improving Care for Those Living With Serious Illnesses and Individuals Approaching End of Life: A Decade of Investments.

BACKGROUND

The mission of The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) is to improve the care of older adults. Since 1982, JAHF has invested more than $724 million to advance the aging and health fields. The focus of this article is JAHF's serious illness and end-of-life priority area. This article seeks to understand the impact of JAHF's investment in this priority area and how JAHF's grantmaking strategy contributed to this impact.

METHODS

NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) conducted this assessment from August 2024-January 2025. It was conducted using a three-phase, mixed-methods approach. The assessment included a thorough document review of all grant documentation, the development of an impact framework to summarize outcomes and key program metrics, and surveys and interviews with partners.

RESULTS

This assessment identified five outcomes, each supported by key program metrics; outcomes include 1) increasing access to services through sharing best practices; 2) providing professional training to the health care workforce; 3) influencing public discourse through community engagement and messaging; 4) informing public policy through research, recommendations, and technical assistance; and 5) increasing collaboration and partnerships through network building.

CONCLUSIONS

This assessment highlights JAHF's role of catalyst, collaborator, and convener. JAHF's approach to grantmaking-including mission alignment, commitment, flexibility, active engagement, and focus on collaboration-contributed to the impact achieved by grantees.