The Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC) was established in October 2020 to provide education and evidence-based research to address the issue of social isolation and loneliness.
The Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC) has since expanded its offerings to support evidence translation into scalable and sustainable solutions to address social connection. The work of F4SC complements, as appropriate, the policy and other efforts of the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (CESIL). F4SC operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws.
F4SC’s governance and operational structure are achieved through its Board of Directors, Executive Director, contracted operational and staffing support services, a volunteer Scientific Advisory Council, and an Evidence & Innovation Hub. The organization’s affairs are carried out by its Executive Director with oversight, guidance, and support from its Board of Directors. To support the quality and ethical execution of that work, F4SC holds a management services agreement with Healthsperien, LLC, that includes administrative and staffing services to support the mission and impact of the organization. Additional structural support, advisement, and operations are achieved through the Scientific Advisory Council and Evidence & Innovation Hub.
Board of Directors
The Board is comprised of individuals with various backgrounds and expertise relevant to the topic of social connection, fundraising, nonprofit operations, research, issue-based communications, and other disciplines relevant to the operations and oversight of the organization. Members of the Board serve three-year terms and elect officers for two-year terms. The Board has direct oversight and authority over F4SC’s Executive Director, governance, and finances. Current Board Members can be found here.
Executive Director
The Executive Director serves at the will of the Board of Directors and is responsible for carrying out strategies and operations to achieve the organization’s mission and objectives. With support from the Board of Directors, the Executive Director develops annual goals, work plans, fundraising, and advisory opportunities to further F4SC’s impact and sustainability.
Contracted Operational & Staffing Support Services
Contracted services are obtained to support the operational and staffing needs of the organization, which provide requisite high-quality, diverse, and cost-effective structural support to the organization. F4SC achieves this through a management services agreement (MSA) contract with Healthsperien, LLC. The MSA provides for all of the organization’s staffing needs (including the Executive Director) and select administrative support. All revenues generated by staff operating under the MSA and on behalf of F4SC are solely held by F4SC under its grants, advisory services, contracts, or other funding arrangements.
Note on the role of Healthsperien, LLC – Healthsperien has a history of launching and incubating nonprofit health care and social services related organizations for the betterment of the most vulnerable among us. F4SC, founded in October 2020 by Healthsperien, is one such organization. Healthsperien provided pro bono services and support for all costs associated with the operations, staffing, and, through representation on the Board of Directors of F4SC, oversight of the organization for the first two years of the organization’s existence. Once F4SC achieved sustainable funding, Healthsperien entered into an MSA with F4SC, as described above. The MSA covers solely the direct and indirect costs associated with the staffing and administrative services as spelled out in the agreement and does not include profit to Healthsperien, LLC. The MSA provides full-time FTE staff and partial FTE staff positions. Partial FTE Staff contracted to F4SC do not serve other Healthsperien clients under separate contracting agreements when acting on behalf of F4SC. Should F4SC and Healthsperien jointly enter into a contract with a third-party entity, subcontracting agreements are obtained to ensure all appropriate funds raised by such efforts are held by F4SC.
Additional Structural Components
Collaboration: Our team of contracted staff, volunteer scientists, and partnerscome together to fulfill our mission by working cross-functionally with the shared goal of collective impact.
Integrity: Honesty and sincerity are integral attributes of the Foundation and are at the forefront of how and why we continue our work. We are focused on our mission and vision to benefit all Americans in our quest for social connection.
Respect: An environment of mutual respect and inclusion is maintained throughout every level of the organization. It is a guiding principle of social connection and elemental to our collaborative work.
Innovation: At the heart of our work is innovation. We seek novel, thoughtful, evidence informed solutions that enhance social connection and benefit all of society. We convene distinguished scientists in the field to advance and educate the mission-driven work of social connection.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are key components of social connection. F4SC embraces these principles and allows everyone to be seen, thrive, and contribute to our work. We celebrate our culture that brings together a diverse team of staff, scientists, leaders, partners, and other community stakeholders to work together on interventions that foster greater connection. Our organization welcomes contributors across race, socio-economic status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, and marital status.
Conflicts of Interest are taken seriously by F4SC and its partners. Members of the Board of Directors and the SAC disclose conflicts of interest on an annual basis. Should a conflict of interest be identified with any staff member or partner, it will be documented, and F4SC Leadership, including the Board of Directors, will work to mitigate it to the best of their ability. If F4SC Leadership deems a member of the SAC to have a conflict of interest in relation to a particular issue, resolution of such conflict, including recusal of the conflicted Board member, will be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by F4SC Leadership.