In 1973, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine founded the Saint Ann Foundation with assets from the sale of Saint Ann Hospital which had served women and children in Cleveland, Ohio for 100 years.  Focused on women, children and youth, Saint Ann Foundation was America’s first “healthcare conversion” foundation, and the first to be sponsored by a religious congregation.

Three Sisters of Charity Foundations were established in 1996 with funds from the sale of 50% of the Ohio and South Carolina hospitals.  Through strategic grantmaking, convenings and collaboration, each organization works to address root causes of poverty, nurture the growth of healthy communities, emphasize the needs of youth and families and measure the outcomes of these efforts. 

Together, the Sisters of Charity Foundations have invested a total of more than $10 million annually in grants to strengthen their communities and those most in need.