The Foundation for Seacoast Health is a nonprofit, private non-operating foundation established in 1984 following the sale of Portsmouth Hospital to Hospital Corporation of America in 1983.

Established in 1984, the Foundation has been a catalyst for positive change on the Seacoast, promoting a wide range of initiatives to improve the health and well-being of area residents. Over the years we have convened several community partnerships to explore pressing needs awarding specific program grants as a result of what we learned. Two multi-year projects addressed childhood obesity in elementary schools and promoting healthy eating and active living in communities. Understanding the importance of infrastructure to a nonprofit’s sustainability, the Foundation has been a leader in the area of providing unrestricted operating grants to organizations. Many of the Seacoast’s strongest nonprofits have benefited from this funding over multiple years.

In 1999, the Foundation took another bold step forward with the development of the Community Campus, one of the very first non-profit multi-tenant centers in the country. Today, the Campus is home to eight unaffiliated nonprofits and serves over 15,000 individuals annually.

By the end of 2018, the Foundation had awarded over $31.2 million in grants and $2.2 million in scholarships. In addition, the cost of building and operating the Campus represents another $45.2 million in community investment.

For a detailed history of our first twenty years please refer to our 2004 Annual Report.