In the US alone, 46% of health workers report feeling symptoms of burnout, with 44% expressing their intention to seek alternate employment. Globally, health workers in impoverished or humanitarian crisis settings face a myriad of challenges too, including supply shortages, inadequate training, and poor working conditions. Fortunately, organizations around the world are working to improve the outlook for health workers. So, we had to ask: what are the best charities that support hospitals and their staff?

The best charities that support hospitals and their staff are Project HOPE and MedShare. Charities such as The Physicians Foundation and the American Nurses Foundation focus on prioritizing mental health to avoid burnout. 

Whether you want to ensure that hospitals carry adequate supplies to treat their patients, fund innovations in healthcare technology, or help overwhelmed health systems in the face of humanitarian crises, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that support hospitals and their staff are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to donate. 

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Support Hospitals and Their Staff Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements. The majority of these charities are based in the US, but most operate internationally to support hospitals and their staff.

Many of these charities focus on training health workers in underserved communities to utilize best practices to treat their patients. Others focus their efforts on empowering entire communities to improve their health care. 

Some seek to lift the voices of physicians or nurses to guide policy and improve working conditions, while others focus on delivering much-needed medical supplies and equipment to vulnerable communities. 

Yet, they all share a common goal: to support hospitals and their staff.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Support Hospitals and their Staff

Below are our favorite charities for supporting hospitals & their staff (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Support Hospitals and their Staff

Project HOPE

MedShare

The Physicians Foundation

American Nurses Foundation

IntraHealth International

CARE

Touch Foundation

Doctors Without Borders

Medical Teams International

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Project HOPE: Resilient Health Workers, Resilient Communities

Project Hope was founded in 1958 by Dr. William B. Walsh after he witnessed the horrendous health conditions in the South Pacific during World War II. Today, the charity is dedicated to bringing hope and health to underserved communities around the world by empowering local healthcare workers. 

Project HOPE holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We empower health care workers facing the world’s greatest health crises to build resilient communities and a healthier, more equitable world.”

Project HOPE

Project HOPE supports hospitals and their staff by partnering with local communities and healthcare workers to strengthen healthcare systems in impoverished or remote communities. For example, to mitigate the global shortage of health workers, they provide training to local health workers to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver expert care. The charity also runs online and in-person mental health and resilience training courses for healthcare workers to normalize support systems that are often overlooked in clinical settings. Furthermore, their advocacy efforts focus on influencing and shaping global health policies to improve global health.

Since their founding, Project HOPE has trained over 2 million medical professionals and provided more than $2 billion worth of medical supplies in 150 countries around the world. For example, in 2022 alone, they donated $51 million in medical supplies to communities in need and reached more than 2.8 million people through their services. And, their mental health and resiliency training programs for healthcare workers have reached 71,000 people on 5 continents.

You can donate directly to Project HOPE through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or by setting up a fundraising event. 

MedShare: Supporting Medically Underserved Hospitals

MedShare was founded in 1998 by A. B. Short and Bob Freeman to tackle the environmental threat of discarded medical supplies by donating them to underserved countries. Today, the charity is a global humanitarian organization that is improving healthcare systems in underserved communities.

MedShare holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Strengthening the world’s most vulnerable health systems.”

MedShare

MedShare supports hospitals in medically underserved communities by working with distributors, manufacturers, and American medical facilities to collect and redistribute high-quality surplus medical products. Through their Biomedical Equipment Training & Repair Service, the charity provides quality, functioning equipment and biomedical engineering training to healthcare workers in underdeveloped countries. For example, their Maternal and Child Health Program delivers supplies such as Clean Birthing Kits to decrease maternal and infant mortality among women in medically underserved communities.

Since their founding, MedShare has served over 33 million people and equipped 964,576 medical professionals in marginalized communities in 118 countries. For example, their Biomedical Training & Repair Service has helped divert 4.9 million lbs of discarded medical equipment from landfills. Moreover, in 2022 alone, their Maternal and Child Health Program served 88,000 mothers and babies through $715,000 worth of donated medical services and supplies. 

You can donate directly to MedShare through their website. If you work in the healthcare industry you can also support the charity by donating surplus medical supplies. Alternatively, you can attend one of their awareness events or volunteer for the charity.

The Physicians Foundation: Empowering Physicians in America

The Physicians Foundation was founded in 2003 by a group of physicians and stakeholders after they won a substantial settlement against private third-party insurers. Since then, the charity has grown to become a leading voice for physicians across America. 

The Physicians Foundation holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Empowering physicians to lead in the delivery of high-quality health care.”

The Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation supports hospitals and their staff by conducting research to identify barriers to high-quality healthcare delivery and awarding grants that seek to improve the healthcare system. Their work is guided by their strategic plan, which focuses on four key elements: Physician Leadership, Physician Well Being, Physician Perspectives, and Drivers of Health. For example, they awarded $50,000 to the Travis County Medical Society Foundation to improve physician wellness programs. As another example, they awarded $150,000 to the Montana Medical Association Foundation’s Healthcare Excellence in Leadership Program to improve continuing education opportunities for physicians.

Since their founding, The Physicians Foundation has awarded more than $49 million in grants to organizations including non-profits, universities, hospital systems and medical society foundations. In 2022 alone, they invested $2 million to foster leadership skills and improve wellbeing among physicians in the US. For example, they invested $675,000 to support physician leadership and over $990,000 to support physician well being.

You can donate to the Physicians Foundation through the Great NonProfits website. You can also support the charity by signing up to join their email list, or getting involved with Vital Signs, the charity’s campaign to end physician suicide. 

American Nurses Foundation: Lifting the Voices of Nurses

The American Nurses Foundation was founded in 1955 as the research, education, and charitable branch of the American Nurses Association. Today, the charity is committed to supporting nurses and improving healthcare for all.

The American Nurses Foundation holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Nurses are the key to a healthy nation.”

American Nurses Foundation

The American Nurses Foundation supports nurses, including those working in hospitals, by investing in the well-being and success of individual nurses to benefit the entire healthcare system. For example, their Stress and Burnout Prevention Program encourages nurses to address their stress levels and provides management strategies to lessen the chances of burnout. As another example, their Reimagining Nursing Initiative funds programs that lean on nurses’ knowledge, expertise, and creativity to improve the healthcare system. And, they advocate on a state and federal level to monitor nursing-related legislation and champion policies that improve the nursing profession.

Since their inception, the American Nurses Foundation has fought to improve conditions for the more than 5 million registered nurses across America. For example, in 2022, their Reimagining Nursing Initiative awarded $14 million to three 10-year pilot programs in 29 states to test and scale nurse-led ideas to transform health care. In the same year, 677,000 nurses participated in their wellness programs and 36,400 nurses participated in surveys to guide future initiatives.

You can donate directly to the American Nurses Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by getting involved in one of their advocacy campaigns.

IntraHealth International: Bolstering Vulnerable Health Systems

IntraHealth International was founded in 1979 by lifelong health worker advocate Pape Amadou Gaye to strengthen local non-profits. Today, the charity is a global organization committed to improving the performance of healthcare workers and strengthening the systems in which they work. 

IntraHealth International holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Because health workers save lives.”

IntraHealth International

IntraHealth International supports hospitals and their staff by working with governments, businesses, technologists, and activists to improve the performance of healthcare workers. For example, their programs help ensure that health workers feel confident in their skills and stay up-to-date with their training by providing opportunities for scholarships, access to new technology, and relevant training. Furthermore, they strengthen vulnerable health systems by providing customized, onsite supervision, mentoring, and coaching. And, they work in tandem with local partners to ensure health workers have the supplies they need.

Since their founding, IntraHealth International has helped improve the performance of hundreds of thousands of health workers in over 100 countries. For example, in 2022 alone, they worked with 6,616 local partners in communities worldwide, reaching 174,067 health workers and strengthening services at 5,189 health facilities. In the same year, they supplied 289,271 pieces of personal protective equipment to keep health workers safe and provided on-site supervision, mentoring, and coaching at 3,380 health facilities.

You can donate to IntraHealth International via their website. You can also support the charity by subscribing to their newsletter or following their social media.

CARE: Fighting Poverty by Strengthening Health Systems

CARE was founded in 1945 as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe to send food and rations from America to Europe immediately following World War II. Today, CARE works around the world to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice, including supporting hospital staff.

CARE holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We seek a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security.”

CARE

CARE utilizes a community-based approach that tackles poverty from every angle, including supporting local hospitals and health workers. For example, they launched the Bihar Technical Support Program to help frontline health workers better provide maternal and infant care in India. Furthermore, during a cholera outbreak in Kasai-Oriental and Sankuru, they lightened the burden on the local health system by recruiting and training community volunteers to track and report new cases of the disease. And, they support doctors in rural areas by delivering medical supplies, equipment, and medicines, as well as training community members to act as healthcare assistants.

Since their founding, CARE has impacted the lives of millions of people living in poverty around the world. For example, in 2022 alone, they worked in 111 countries, reaching over 174 million people through over 1,600 programs. And, in the same year, they launched a $250 million comprehensive emergency response to help families impacted by the global hunger crisis driven by COVID-19, regional conflicts, and climate change.

You can donate to CARE via their website. You can also support the charity by joining their advocacy efforts or attending an event.

Touch Foundation: Improving Healthcare Quality in Tanzania

Touch Foundation was founded in 2004 by Lowell Bryan to address the healthcare crisis in Tanzania. Today, the charity is dedicated to supporting and strengthening healthcare systems in Sub-Saharan Africa to build stronger, more resilient communities. 

Touch Foundation holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Providing better access to care and improving the quality of local health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Touch Foundation

The Touch Foundation supports hospitals and their staff in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Tanzania, by designing and implementing data-driven programs to address barriers to equitable and reliable healthcare delivery. For example, their Prioritization and Optimization Analysis is a tool that helps governments distribute the limited number of health workers they have to facilities where they are needed most. As another example, they supported the creation and growth of a medical school in Tanzania, and developed the Treat and Train Network, which connects medical students with local hospitals for hands-on experience. 

Since their founding, the Touch Foundation has invested over $90 million in strengthening Tanzania’s healthcare system. For example, their Prioritization and Optimization Analysis tool has placed over 6,000 health workers across 7,000 facilities with the highest need. Furthermore, more than 620,000 patients have received high-quality healthcare at facilities within their Treat and Train Network.

You can donate directly to the Touch Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by joining one of their virtual awareness events.

Doctors Without Borders: Impartial Medical Aid

Doctors Without Borders was founded in 1971 in France by a group of doctors and journalists in the wake of conflict and famine in Nigeria. Today, the organization remains committed to providing emergency medical aid quickly, effectively, and impartially.

Doctors Without Borders holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“Medical care where it is needed most.”

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders supports overwhelmed or underserved hospitals and staff by supplementing medical care, providing equipment, and training health workers. For example, they helped hospitals and facilities in neglected communities in Puerto Rico respond to COVID-19 by providing personal protection equipment and running health education programs. As another example, during an outbreak of kala-azar in Kenya in 2022, they supported the health authorities’ response by training local health workers and distributing mosquito nets to mitigate the spread of disease. Furthermore, they provide emergency medical aid in the face of violent conflict by supplementing available aid.

Since their founding, Doctors Without Borders has helped tens of millions of people in over 70 countries access high-quality health care regardless of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. For example, in 2022 alone, they assisted in 320,700 births, including Cesarean sections, and treated 438,100 children for malnutrition. And, in 1999, they were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for the non-discriminatory nature of their work.

You can donate directly to Doctors Without Borders through their website. You can also support the charity by attending an event or organizing a fundraiser.

Medical Teams International: Supporting Overwhelmed Health Systems

Medical Teams International was founded in 1979 by Ron Post to provide medical aid to Cambodian refugees. Today, they are a highly-regarded humanitarian relief agency, ensuring vulnerable communities have access to emergency medical aid.

Medical Teams International holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.”

Medical Teams International

Medical Teams International supports hospitals and their staff in communities facing emergencies or long-term crises by strengthening health systems. They work with the local community and health workers to identify the greatest areas of need and respond accordingly. For example, they support overwhelmed health systems by providing extra training for local health workers and making sure hospitals are stocked with the supplies and medicine they need. As another example, they empower community members to be health advocates by teaching them about healthy practices so they can help others. And, they provide emergency medical aid in the face of emergencies, like natural disasters or conflict.

Since their inception, Medical Teams International has helped hospitals and their staff provide high-quality healthcare to millions of people in need. For example, in 2022 they shipped over $19 million worth of medical supplies and equipment to struggling health facilities affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, impacting 757,000 people. And, in 2014, they joined the Integral Alliance, a group of international aid organizations that work together to decide how to respond to crises and make sure their efforts aren’t duplicated or unnecessary.

You can donate to Medical Teams International via their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or attending an event.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for supporting hospitals & their staff. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the websites of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to supporting hospitals & their staff – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

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