Focus Area

Health

Improving Health Outcomes

For both children and adults, good health is essential for success in life. Unfortunately, Indianapolis ranks at or near the bottom of almost every measure of public health and healthy living. Poor health outcomes reduce quality of life, increase healthcare costs, and lower productivity.

Our Goal

Improve the health of people in Indianapolis.

Our Strategy

Identify transformational approaches that will improve health outcomes.

Health Data That Drives Us

73

The average life expectancy for people born between 2020 and 2022 in Marion County was 73 years.

70%

70% of residents of the Indianapolis metro area were considered overweight or obese in 2023.

Grant Inquiry Process

Grant Inquiry Process

We are not currently accepting grant inquiries in our Health focus area. We will update this page when we reopen our inquiry process. If you are interested in learning about our inquiry process, please review our eligibility requirements.

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Key Health Initiatives and Grants

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Prevention Matters

Launched in 2018, Prevention Matters was a four-year, $13.5 million initiative to fund the implementation of substance use prevention programming in Marion County schools. Prevention Matters enabled 27 school districts, charter schools or networks, and individual schools to deliver proven prevention programs in 159 schools, reaching nearly 84,000 students annually.

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Smoking and Vaping Research

In 2023, the Fairbanks Foundation commissioned four separate research reports to better understand the health and economic impacts of smoking and vaping. The reports included recommendations for lowering the state’s smoking and vaping rates to improve Hoosier health and lower healthcare costs.

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Recent Health Research and Data

Research & Insights

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Interactive Data Graphs

We collect and publish data to provide a comprehensive view of health indicators affecting Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Use our Community Data Snapshot to access valuable information that supports informed decision-making and strategic planning.

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Health: Our Latest Efforts

2020 - 2024
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Grantee Work in Action

Supporting Substance Use Treatment

Since 2000, Dove Recovery House – often referred to as Dove House – has offered free, comprehensive residential treatment for women in Marion County experiencing substance use disorder. They recently broke ground on an 8,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project.

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Addressing Social Drivers of Health

As part of the Beyond Barriers campaign, Eskenazi Health launched a pilot program around three health engagement zones. Health engagement zones are geographic regions in Indianapolis where multiple organizations are working to address long-term social drivers of health.

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Focus Area

Education
Focus Area

Vitality of Indianapolis
About the Foundation

Our Mission