History

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. Multi-year projects addressed childhood obesity in elementary schools, promoting healthy eating and active living in communities, and access to community resources for older adults. Understanding the importance of infrastructure and flexible funding to a nonprofit’s sustainability, the Foundation has been a leader in 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 first multi-tenant nonprofit centers in the country. In 2022 we sold the Campus to the City of Portsmouth who will continue the legacy of support and service to area nonprofits.

By the end of 2021, the Foundation had awarded over $33.4 million in grants and $2.4 million in scholarships. In addition, the cost of building and operating the Campus represents another $45.2 million in community investment.