The Do No Harm medical oversight group has criticized the “Health Equity” initiative managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF), claiming it discriminates based on race during its grant allocation process.
The initiative, known as the “Health Equity Fund,” seeks to offer grants primarily to organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to promote health equality for these and other underrepresented groups in Washington, DC. An online webinar from October 2023 revealed that applying organizations must detail the racial, gender, and ethnic backgrounds of their partner organizations’ board members through a “letter of intent”.
A controversy has arisen as the Daily Caller News Foundation reported Laura Morgan, a senior director at Do No Harm, expressing concern: “It appears the Greater Washington Community Foundation is more interested in racial discrimination than improving people’s lives.”
Morgan criticized the initiative for its race-based recipient criteria, arguing it prioritizes the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda over practical health solutions for Washington’s populace.
With $55 million available until March 2026, the Foundation has already disbursed $8.7 million to two initiatives in July, focusing on environmental resilience for BIPOC and women-led small businesses and providing education and job training to over 2,500 adults with limited resources.
As of one year into the program, the GWCF’s commitment to diversity is evident, with 41% of grants going to black-led and 17% to Latino/x-led organizations, covering a range of projects from cash assistance to housing and wealth creation initiatives. Since its establishment in 1973, the GWCF has been devoted to fostering racially equitable, just, and prosperous communities, amassing over $477 million in assets and investing $1.7 billion towards its mission, as reported in its 2022 IRS filings.
Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted the fund’s importance in an October 2022 statement, stressing its role in counteracting health disparities through addressing social determinants, thereby empowering families and revitalizing communities.
