A 2023 report reveals that 50% of veterans grapple with unaddressed social and health needs like housing instability, financial difficulties, and limited access to healthcare, yet only 14% seek help through the VA. Despite efforts by various organizations, a significant gap remains in meeting these needs effectively.Since 2022, the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact (NNSI) has been developing a metric to measure the effectiveness of veteran referral networks. This initiative

This year in the United States, 40% of Americans will experience material hardship.  However, less than half will receive help from any source. There are a variety of reasons behind this heartbreaking statistic. Like many people we’ve interviewed, some Americans say they were “taught to be independent” and “can tough it out.” Others feel ashamed of asking for help, especially from government programs with a stigma attached to them. Still,

In the pursuit of creating a healthier and more equitable society, community-driven health initiatives emerge as powerful catalysts for change. These initiatives, often led by grassroots organizations deeply embedded within their communities, represent a powerful force for driving change and addressing healthcare disparities. By empowering local communities to take charge of their health, these initiatives create sustainable and impactful solutions rooted in each community’s unique needs and strengths. Researching the

Nowadays, many healthcare and social care organizations are discovering that it is difficult to build robust referral networks. Despite indicating a need for an infrastructure to facilitate cross-sector referrals and service coordination, research suggests that local providers did not achieve higher efficiency from implementing this type of software. This is because they are relying primarily on the technology’s adoption, not what we know about effective multi-sector network design.Our blog series

In a world where abundance coexists with scarcity, where farmers’ markets flourish in affluent neighborhoods while food deserts persist in marginalized communities, the issue of food justice stands as a stark reminder of systemic inequities. Food justice encompasses every individual’s right to access healthy, culturally appropriate, and sustainably produced food. However, reality paints a different picture—socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location often determine access to nutritious food.Health equity reflects the

View the Resource By NNSI Editorial Team Philanthropy California is a 10-year-old alliance between Northern California Grantmakers (NCG), Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties (formerly Catalyst), and Southern California Grantmakers (SCG). In this episode, I speak with Karla Mercado, Director of Philanthropy California, Karen Freeman (now Chief Operating Officer at Southern California Grantmakers), and Megan Thomas, President & CEO of Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties, about the evolution of Philanthropy California and why they believe