Chances are, you’ve probably heard of hospital foundations, like North Sunflower Medical Foundation. But like many individuals, you may have no idea what they are, or why they’re so necessary. For a non-profit hospital like North Sunflower Medical Center, they are critical.

Simply put, a hospital foundation raises money and community awareness for a hospital or medical center, like North Sunflower Medical Center. Hospital foundations are created to financially hold up thousands of not-for-profit hospitals and medical centers.

“A foundation may share some board members with a hospital, but it’s a separate organization with a separate focus,” said Stacy Davis, Associate Executive Director of North Sunflower Medical Foundation (NSMF).  NSMF is incorporated under the laws of the state of Mississippi and has its own ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit charity.

The focus of the Foundation is to provide resources for North Sunflower Medical Center for equipment, educational grants, programs and services that otherwise would not be possible. Its mission statement is: “The mission of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation is to promote health and wellness for the residents of Sunflower County and surrounding areas by assisting with the enhancement of quality healthcare, to provide grants for educational purposes to ensure the availability of healthcare professionals, and to partner with local governmental agencies in matters related to healthcare.”

Through fund-raising efforts and community involvement, hospital foundations help keep health care providers and their communities in touch with each other’s needs.