How Connecticut’s nonprofit hospitals, health systems use donor money: Looking to help people live

CT Insider – Tuesday, November 19, 2024
By Keith Loria

Connecticut nonprofit organizations reported $50.2 billion in revenue on their most recent tax filings, according to research by ProPublica, and many of the biggest targets of philanthropic efforts go towards the state’s nonprofit hospitals.

“In 2024, early reports from organizations that track giving have seen giving numbers higher than in 2023, so we are seeing growth,” said Karla Fortunato, president of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. “People are moved by stories of those experiencing crisis or need, so telling a story about how people are able to grow, flourish and succeed through the work of a nonprofit is incredibly impactful.”

One such story us that of Gracyn-Rose. She was diagnosed with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) at just 2 years old and had more than 20 hospitalizations due to her rare gastrointestinal disorder, which affects how food and fluids move through her body. With only about 100 children diagnosed each year, the now-7-year-old requires a specialized team for comprehensive care and she found this support at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, a nonprofit, pediatric acute care hospital located in Hartford, said James E Shmerling, president and CEO of Connecticut Children’s.

Donations from individuals has helped provide the money needed for her surgeries, ongoing treatment and overall care, and have brought plenty of smiles to Gracyn and her family.

“The impact (of donations) can help someone like Gracyn be a typical 7-year-old,” said Shmerling.

Here are some of the state’s nonprofit hospitals and health foundations that are making a difference thanks to the generosity of donors.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Private donations represent only about 2 percent of the hospital’s revenue; and on an annual basis it might raise $15-$20-million a year, Shmerling said.

“A lot of times, the donor directs us to where they want their money to go to—it might be for research, it might be for capital equipment, it might be for program support,” Shmerling said. “But about 25 percent of that is unrestricted, and that’s where we discuss how best to use the money.”

Connecticut Children’s has a foundation that’s extremely active and helps with the hospital’s four missions—critical care to children; advocacy about health policy that affects kids; research to advance care for kids; and education, he said.

“We do about 70 events a year across the state to get the word out about what we do,” Shmerling said. “We couldn’t do what we do without partnerships throughout the community and those who are helping with their philanthropic efforts.”

Donors are also invited to spend the day at the hospital and see first-hand how doctors and the staff are helping children.

Nuvance Health

Jeffrey L. McDaniel, vice president of development for Nuvance Health, a nonprofit health system headquartered in Danbury, noted donors play a crucial role in helping the organization achieve its mission.

“Thanks to their generosity, they have supported our community health programs like our community care teams, Mission Health Day and Food as Medicine, providing vulnerable populations with the care needed to improve health outcomes and address social drivers of health,” he said.

Additionally, McDaniel said the philanthropic help has contributed to Nuvance Health’s pancreatic cancer screening study, which identifies the cancer early; enabled the health system to serve more than 4,000 senior meals in Sharon, fostering a healthier community; enhanced emergency care through life-saving technology and staff training, ensuring timely access to critical care services when needed.

“Several critical programs rely 100 percent on philanthropic support for their continuation,” McDaniel said. “Those include our community care teams at Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital, our Food as Medicine Program in Danbury and the Connecticut Diaper Connections Program, which supports parents and their children.”
Nuvance Health’s cancer care and emergency department patient navigators at Danbury and Norwalk Hospitals also require philanthropic support. These essential roles ensure each individual has coordinated care, seamless experience and the best possible outcome, McDaniel said.

“One of the biggest challenges is overcoming the misguided belief that nonprofit hospitals and health systems are wealthy,” McDaniel said. “The COVID-19 pandemic impact on hospitals is ongoing as the cost to deliver care continues to increase at a disproportionately high rate compared to the increase in reimbursement from private insurance and government funders. Philanthropy makes many wellness and even life-saving programs possible.”

What’s more, philanthropy also contributes to the growth of Connecticut’s communities by investing in educating and training the next generation of healthcare professionals and nurturing existing talent through scholarships and tuition reimbursement.

Yale New Haven Health

Yale New Haven Health, a nonprofit healthcare system with headquarters in New Haven, relies a great deal on support from the community and state to compliment the funding that comes in through Medicaid taxes and reimbursement. Still, donations can make a big difference for many.

“We have a high degree of patients who don’t meet criteria for Medicaid and this significantly grows every year,” said Gail W. Kosyla, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Yale New Haven Health. “It leads to a cost in excess of our reimbursement for those patients and it really effects our ability to reinvest in our community and do great programs that help our patients.”

From the critical care offered at the patient’s bedside to the development of groundbreaking, life-saving treatments, Kosyla noted donations plays a vital role, impacting Yale New Haven Health’s commitment to patient-centered care.

Connecticut Mental Health Center Foundation

Connecticut Mental Health Center Foundation (CMHC)is a partnership between the state of Connecticut and Yale University, which provides comprehensive mental health services for people who have little or no income, or little or no insurance. It serves approximately 5,000 people a year in the greater New Haven area.

“Our services are funded through the state, but the nonprofit CMHC foundation is a supporting organization that provides critical financial emergency assistance for our patients for things like emergency food, clothing, seasonal items and documentary filing fees,” said Kyle Pedersen, director of the CMHC Foundation. “We are looking to help people live and thrive in their communities, and sometimes the things you need most are those small things so you can live independently and stretch your food dollars.”

Money from private donors go towards these services, as well as programs such as CMHC Cycles, where it partners with a local bicycling cooperative to provide refurbished bikes to clients who can use them for school, work, to visit family or just health and exercise.

“Those are things that aren’t funded with our state-budget funding,” Pedersen said. “We also provide support for non-psychiatric medications so they can manage their overall health.”

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