About the Foundation
OUR APPROACH
The Linked Foundation invested in technical and financial resources to develop and scale social enterprises that improved the health of communities throughout Latin America and the United States.
We brought a gender lens to all of our work, in particular through our support of organizations that focused on women, who are important agents of change as health and economic decision-makers. By investing in scalable, market-based solutions, focusing on outcomes, and creating strong cross-sector partnerships, we ensured long-term, sustained impact. We often engaged in a “blended capital” approach, co-investing with partner organizations in the form of grants, debt financing and technical assistance to catalyze growth and social impact.
AREAS OF IMPACT
Catalyzed Health Access in Latin America
In Latin America we scouted and supported the most promising, impactful health social enterprises. We increasingly focused on women’s health, and often provided technical assistance in addition to financial resources. We provided innovation grant capital to help social businesses pilot promising new approaches that deepen the social impact, often combined with debt capital to scale existing services.
Ensured Access to Reproductive Health in the United States
With increasing threats to women’s health right here in the US, Linked created a domestic initiative that focused on reproductive health. Our investments were primarily selected and funded through Rhia Ventures (formerly the Reproductive Health Investors Alliance), of which Linked was a founding member.
Impact Investing
Our global impact investments represented Linked Foundation’s commitment to putting as much of our resources to work toward the mission as possible, through a range of investment classes. We invested in funds, public and private equities, and acted as a loan guarantor in a broader range of global investments that aligned with our criteria of generating economic opportunity, healthier communities, and investing in women.
Our Community
Linked Foundation remains committed to giving back to the Santa Barbara community through contributions to exceptional local organizations. Our criteria for local contributions focuses on the ability of the organization to address the most critical and relevant local needs, across all sectors.
criteria for funding
01
women
Our work focused primarily on underserved women as agents of change and enterprises that aim to improve outcomes for women.
02
health
We invested in solutions that addressed the health needs of our target population, with a particular focus on direct services, maternal and reproductive health.
03
latin america &
the united states
03
latin america &
the united states
latin america &
the united states
latin america &
the united states
Catalyzed health access in Latin America; and ensured access to reproductive health in the United States.
04
catalytic
We looked for opportunities to spark innovation and growth within early stage health enterprises.
05
impact
We were committed to providing technical assistance and funding so that our partners were able to evaluate their social impact.
06
scalable
We invested in developing and refining solutions that had the potential to be scaled throughout Latin America, particularly those that included corporate partners.
07
sustainable
We supported business models that required a diminishing subsidy level and that aimed to achieve financial sustainability.
08
partnership
Linked placed a high value on working together with like-minded funders, and supported initiatives where we could engage in collaborative funding partnerships rather than being the sole funder.
Theory of Change
Our Theory of Change guided our decision-making and resource allocation, serving as a roadmap for our work transforming resources into improved women’s health outcomes. While each funding partner had its own theory of change and impact metrics, this diagram captures our approach to funding and the pathways through which we created impact.
OUR TEAM
Dorothy Largay
FOUNDER
Dorothy Largay is Founder and CEO of Linked Foundation and a pioneer in using philanthropy to create new ways to solve critical health needs of women and their families.
Nancy Swanson-Roberts
Executive Director
Nancy Swanson-Roberts is a founding member and the executive director of Linked Foundation, a private foundation that invests in solutions that improve the health and economic self-reliance of women in Latin America and the United States.
Pati Griffin
KEEPER OF THE PEACE
Pati is the Administrator at the Linked Foundation and is responsible for financials, communications, and everything that makes the office run smoothly.
Anna De La Cruz
Chief Impact Officer
Anna De La Cruz oversees the social impact and advises on grantmaking strategy, and brings expertise in private sector health and gender lens design.
senior advisors
Ann Hutchins
SENIOR ADVISOR
Ann Hutchins is a licensed Financial Coach (ACC, CFC). Her almost 30 years of experience as a securities analyst and portfolio manager – combined with her passion for financial literacy – are unique in the world of coaching.
David Lehr
SENIOR ADVISOR
David’s career has largely focused on the intersection of business, job creation, and information technologies. He is currently the Senior Director, Strategy and Impact at TechSoup Global and also consults to organizations leveraging market-based approaches to addressing poverty.
Deborah Burand
SENIOR ADVISOR
Prof. Deborah Burand directs the International Transactions Clinic that she cofounded at the Law School in 2008. She writes and lectures on issues related to international finance, microfinance and microfranchise, impact investing and social finance innovations.
Kim Wilson
SENIOR ADVISOR
Kim Wilson has worked in microfinance for two decades, first as a practitioner with Working Capital, which won the Presidential Award for Excellence, and then later as an advisor and consultant to various international organizations.
Sheila Leatherman
SENIOR ADVISOR
Sheila Leatherman is a research professor at the School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She conducts research and policy analysis focusing on quality of care, health systems reform and community health interventions for poverty reduction.
Gabriela Salvador
SENIOR ADVISOR
Dr. Gabriela Salvador is the senior director of microfinance and health protection at Freedom from Hunger. She has more than 15 years of experience working as a medical doctor and public health practitioner, designing and implementing high impact health programs for very low-income women and children around the world.