HOW WE FUND
Our Approach to Grantmaking
Bethesda Inc. launched bi3 to leverage its assets to transform health by fueling innovation and reducing health disparities within TriHealth and the Greater Cincinnati Community. bi3 applies both a Trust-Based Philanthropy approach and a racial and health equity lens to its work while fostering collaboration and sharing lessons learned.
Practicing Trust-Based Philanthropy
We build trusted relationships with our funded partners grounded in power-sharing, transparency, mutual accountability, and continuous learning. A mutual commitment to
transparent conversations and learning leads to greater impact.
Adopting a trust-based approach not only makes bi3 a more effective funder, but it also fuels our ability to collectively achieve our mission of transforming health for all people in Greater Cincinnati. Trust-Based Philanthropy offers a new way of looking at traditional funder-grantee relationships. It recognizes grantmakers’ and grant-seekers’ unique—yet equally valuable—contributions. In the six-pillared approach, funders authentically partner with grantees to advance community efforts, prioritize transparent communications, and leverage learning to maximize impact. By applying this approach, bi3 seeks to build more equitable relationships with funded partners.
Learn more about how bi3’s adoption of the trust-based approach.
Taking Risks
As an innovative funder, bi3 encourages funded partners to take risks, implement new ideas and
pilot new solutions to solve for deep-seated community health issues.
Applying a Racial and Health Equity Lens
We consider race, ethnicity and social determinants of health in every facet of our work, e.g. while analyzing problems, looking for solutions, and defining success. We seek to understand disparities and look at root problems from a structural standpoint. bi3 pursues ideas that address underlying factors affecting health and wellness to ensure every person has equal opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and well-being.
Viewing impact through an expansive lens
In addition to considering outputs and outcomes, we value the identification of barriers and captured learnings.
Our Aim and Funding Priorities
bi3 funds forward-looking health and healthcare solutions that have the ability to jump-start and scale new approaches to improve community health. Our aim is to achieve health equity through measurable improvements in health and reductions in health disparities. We award grants to 501(c) not-for-profit organizations located in the Greater Cincinnati area, including Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Highland and Warren Counties in Ohio; Campbell, Boone and Kenton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana. Our priorities build upon past successes by focusing on our key funding areas:
- Improving maternal, infant and young child health
- Responding to unmet community health needs
- Fueling innovation and systems change
There is no one path to sustainable change. We work towards our mission by:
- Making direct investments
- Fostering new collaborations
- Convening TriHealth, community partners and those with lived experiences to fuel new solutions to deep-seated community health issues
- Engaging in policy/advocacy to address system and systemic barriers
- Capturing and sharing best practices and lessons learned
bi3 retains flexibility in its funding approach to best respond to new opportunities and changes in the community.
Through our IDEA principles, we hope to bring transformative thinking to life and accelerate change in our Greater Cincinnati community. We invite you to share your ideas with us, and we welcome conversations around opportunities to invest in innovative approaches to health that align with our funding priorities and grantmaking values.