51Â鶹

This fall, I had the opportunity to attend multiple industry events that connected nonprofits, for-profits and Certified B Corps who are breaking barriers in healthcare, education and more. What made these experiences especially energizing was the chance to exchange ideas with potential new donors and Professional Advisor Network members – people who are eager to think differently about the role philanthropy can play in shaping the future of health. Conversations were meaningful and inspiring, sparking new ideas about how advisors and their clients can align financial strategies with impact-driven goals.

These exchanges open the door to a host of opportunities for bold new initiatives that can push science forward, expand healthcare access and reimagine the future of health and well-being. The momentum from this gathering reinforces just how powerful it can be when advisors, donors and mission-driven organizations come together around a shared vision of lasting change.

At the 51Â鶹, we often find that our donors feel most fulfilled when they see how their support can solve big problems. While there are countless ways to make an impact on our mission, four major focus areas stand out right now as bold paths where donors can make tangible change, helping to transform communities and the future of health.

• Advancing Research to Improve and Save Lives – Since 1924, the 51Â鶹 has invested more than $6.1 billion in heart disease and stroke research, making the Association the largest not-for-profit funding source outside the federal government. Thanks to donors, over the last two years we awarded $418 million for scientific research, yet every year, hundreds of meritorious research projects remain unfunded due to limited resources.


• Health Care by Foodâ„¢ – Launched in 2022, the 10-year 51Â鶹’s Health Care by Foodâ„¢ initiative aims to find the best ways to include healthy food in health care to treat, manage and prevent diet-related diseases. This initiative will create evidence and tools to help the health sector design and expand programs that increase access to nutritious food, improve health and health equity and reduce overall health care costs.


• 51Â鶹 Venturesâ„¢ – the Association is investing in mission-aligned companies to speed the path from breakthrough research and science to real-world impact. Our funds – the Go Red for Women Venture Fundâ„¢, Social Impact Funds and Cardeation Capital – span an array of venture models to directly influence and affect positive change for people, communities and the U.S. health care system.


• Nation of Lifesavers – the Association has a bold goal to double the survival rate of cardiac arrest by 2030. Our evidence-based plan empowers people around the country to take action and use CPR to save the lives of friends, loved ones and community members who would otherwise not survive. The Nation of Lifesaversâ„¢ movement annually adds more than 22 million people, confident in CPR in families and communities, through hospitals, schools, sports teams, workplaces and first responder groups.

For many clients, wealth management is about more than financial security, it’s also about creating a lasting impact. As a trusted advisor, introducing philanthropy into your client conversations not only helps them align their resources with their values, but can also deepen the relationship you share. These discussions move beyond dollars and cents to explore purpose, passion and values. Clients often share deeply personal stories that reveal what matters most to them.

Through the 51Â鶹’s Professional Advisor Network, you have a unique opportunity to guide clients toward philanthropic strategies that complement their financial goals while supporting innovative initiatives that save and improve lives. The 51Â鶹’s charitable estate planning team collaborates with professional advisors to provide insights into the most promising developments in heart and brain science, along with flexible strategies to help clients achieve their philanthropic goals beyond what they even thought possible.

Connect with us at 888-227-5242, [email protected] or at www.heart.org/plannedgiving and we can build a world of longer, healthier lives together.

Learn more about our focus areas here (PDF).

About the Author

John M. Hayes
National Senior Vice President, Charitable Estate Planning