Public Health Institute

What Public Health Institute does

Public Health Institute (PHI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oakland, California, with stated operations across 20+ countries and the ability to hire staff in 185 countries. PHI functions as an institutional home for 60+ public health programs and initiatives, supported by 560+ staff, combining research, evaluation, data surveillance, fiscal sponsorship, policy advocacy, and direct program delivery. Its portfolio addresses chronic disease prevention, communicable disease, substance use and mental health, environmental health, global health, disability rights, and health equity, with primary beneficiary segments including underserved communities, state and local health departments, community-based organizations, hospitals, and policymakers.

Core products and platforms include the Healthy Places Index (HPI), a census-tract-level social determinants of health tool developed with health departments across California; CA Bridge, a hospital emergency-department model for 24/7 Medication Assisted Treatment now adopted by 200+ hospitals and serving 76,000+ patients with buprenorphine; Together Toward Health, a network funding 548 community-based organizations for COVID-19 prevention and vaccine equity reaching 27M+ individuals; Rise Up, a global initiative impacting 172M women, girls, and youth across seven countries; the Telehealth Policy Finder maintained by the Center for Connected Health Policy; the California Data Explorer for environmental health; Tracking California surveillance systems; the Cancer Registry of Greater California; the Alcohol Research Group with 1,000+ peer-reviewed publications; and the Survey Research Group with 500K+ telephone health surveys since 1987. Underlying technology is positioned as public health research, evaluation, data surveillance, and program management technology platforms rather than a unified commercial software product.

PHI's revenue model is non-commercial and fund-based. It receives funding from government agencies (CDC, California Department of Public Health, HRSA), private foundations (The California Endowment, Abbott Fund, The Global Fund), and philanthropic partners, supplemented by fiscal sponsorship administrative fees and professional services revenue from training, technical assistance, and consulting. Disclosed funding rounds include $9.9M from HRSA (2022-02-10) and $3.5M from The California Endowment (2022-06-12). The go-to-market motion is community-led: PHI serves as fiscal sponsor, thought leader, and partner, leveraging research and program management skills to support direct delivery through grantees and contracted partners rather than selling a product.

Name

Public Health Institute

Legal name

Public Health Institute

Website

https://phi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Public Health Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1964 that operates 60+ public health programs across 20+ countries, combining research, policy advocacy, fiscal sponsorship, and direct program delivery to address health disparities, chronic disease, substance use, and environmental health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Research & Programs

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Program Administration & Operations (HLAJAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Strategy, Policy & Legislation (HLAJAMAA), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

• Public health programs
• Health equity research
• Fiscal sponsorship services
• Community health initiatives
• Health policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: PHI receives funding from government agencies including CDC, California Department of Public Health, and other federal and state sources for public health programs and research.
2. Foundation and Philanthropic Funding: Funding from private foundations and philanthropic organizations supporting specific public health initiatives and programs.
3. Fiscal Sponsorship: PHI provides fiscal sponsorship services to public health programs and initiatives, which may include administrative fees.
4. Program Revenue: Revenue from various public health programs including training, technical assistance, and consulting services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Public Health Institute operates a portfolio of 60+ public health programs that deliver research, evaluation, program management, policy advocacy, and capacity-building services across chronic disease, communicable disease, environmental health, substance use, and global health. The organization functions as a fiscal sponsor, thought leader, and implementation partner for public health initiatives, supported by proprietary data tools and a network of 548+ community-based organizations.

Product overview

Public Health Institute operates as a portfolio of 60+ programs rather than a single unified product. The organization's offerings span multiple focus areas including data analytics tools (Healthy Places Index, Data Explorer), healthcare access programs (CA Bridge, FACES for the Future), community health initiatives (Together Toward Health, Build Healthy Places Network), policy research (Center for Connected Health Policy, CAMI Health), and leadership development (Rise Up). Programs work collaboratively across pressing public health issues, leveraging expertise in research, evaluation, technology, and program management. The institute functions as a fiscal sponsor, thought leader, and partner rather than offering a traditional platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Together Toward Health: COVID-19 prevention and vaccine equity initiative providing funding to community-based organizations
• CA Bridge
• Healthy Places Index (HPI)
• Rise Up
• FACES for the Future
• CAMI Health
• Center for Connected Health Policy
• Center on Disability
• Alcohol Research Group

Products and services

• Healthy Places Index (HPI) Provides census-tract level snapshots of social determinants of health with measures to advance equity, helping communities, policymakers, and funders target resources effectively.
• Center for Connected Health Policy Advances state and national telehealth policies to promote better systems of care, improved health outcomes, and equity through tracking and advocacy.
• CA Bridge Hospital-based program delivering Medication Assisted Treatment to clients 24/7 through emergency departments, providing immediate access to addiction treatment.
• Tracking California Environmental health tracking program identifying pollution episodes and health threats through community-installed air monitors and data collection.
• Together Toward Health COVID-19 response initiative providing funding to community-based organizations for prevention information, outreach in primary languages, and mobile vaccination sites.
• Rise Up Global initiative advancing social justice, education, equity and opportunity for girls and women with programs in Nigeria, Mexico, India, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil and the United States.
• FACES for the Future Coalition Provides high school students with immersive healthcare experience and internship opportunities to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
• CAMI Health Focuses on advancing Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs) for sexual and reproductive health, hosting symposiums and maintaining a product development database.
• Center for Wellness and Nutrition Partners with California Tribal Organizations and community partners to promote healthy living, traditional foods, and collaborative nutrition education activities.
• Build Healthy Places Network Convenes multi-sector partnerships to align investments and policies around shared goals while embedding equity into implementation for community resilience.
• Telehealth Policy Finder Tool for tracking state telehealth laws and reimbursement program policies to advocate for greater access to care.
• Data Explorer: California Environmental Health Interactive data tool providing environmental health information across California communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 840K+ Californians provided COVID-19 response and vaccine equity access
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2026Research partnership on adolescent cannabis use and mental health. Kaiser Permanente researchers tracked 463,396 adolescents ages 13-26 using electronic health records from 2016-2023 to study links between cannabis use and psychotic/bipolar disorders.
• UC San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2026Academic research partnership on adolescent cannabis use study published in JAMA Health Forum.
• University of Southern California (USC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2026Academic research partnership on adolescent cannabis use study published in JAMA Health Forum.
• AbbottcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Partnership on Abbott's Healthy Food Rx program, one of the largest community-focused Food is Medicine programs in the U.S. reaching 2,100 participants. PHI's Center for Wellness and Nutrition conducts research on program outcomes for adults with type 2 diabetes.
• APSARAsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Community partner in research study on Healthy Food Rx program combined with community health worker-led coaching for diabetes management.
• Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San JoaquinsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Community partner in research study on Healthy Food Rx program for diabetes management.
• Build Healthy Places Network (program of PHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026PHI program convening 'Building Resilient Communities: A Multi-Sector Approach to Navigating Climate-Driven Disasters' virtual Summit to advance community-driven climate resilience strategies.
• Africa CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Partnership to launch Central Data Repository (CDR) in Addis Ababa to integrate and analyze public health data across the continent through a secure, interoperable platform.
• Public Health Informatics InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025Developed the Africa CDC Central Data Repository in partnership, culminating in a validation workshop in November 2025.
• California Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership on COVID-19 response and vaccine equity, including contracted work on Local Public Health Department roadmap.
• Public Health Alliance of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHI program that developed the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) in partnership with health departments across the state.
• Together Toward Health Partners (500+ CBOs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 548+ community-based organizations across California providing COVID prevention information, outreach in primary languages, and mobile vaccination sites.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Abt Associates: Research and consulting firm delivering public health, social policy, and evaluation services globally — closely comparable to PHI's research, evaluation, and program implementation portfolio funded by federal contracts.
• RTI International: Large nonprofit research institute delivering public health, policy, and program evaluation services — directly comparable to PHI in mission, funding model (federal grants/contracts), and portfolio of multi-domain programs.
• RAND Corporation: Nonprofit policy research institution conducting health, social, and economic research with government and foundation funding — closely comparable to PHI's research, evaluation, and policy advisory role.
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO): Membership association supporting local health departments — comparable to PHI's role in supporting state/local health departments through training, technical assistance, and program implementation.
• Trust for America's Health: Nonprofit public health policy and advocacy organization focused on disease prevention and health system strengthening — comparable to PHI in policy advocacy and federal/state public health focus.
• Westat: Employee-owned research firm conducting health surveys, program evaluation, and statistical research for federal agencies — directly comparable to PHI's Survey Research Group and federal health research operations.
• Urban Institute: Nonprofit research organization providing data and evidence on health, social, and economic issues — comparable to PHI in producing social-determinants data and policy research for government and foundations.
• CDC Foundation: Independent nonprofit created to extend CDC's public health mission through partnerships and funded programs — directly comparable as a public health program administrator and fiscal intermediary supporting federal/state health priorities.

Broad incumbents

• Milken Institute: Nonprofit economic and public health think tank producing health policy research and convening public-private partnerships — comparable in research/policy advocacy mission and convening function across public health issues.
• Kaiser Permanente (Kaiser Family Foundation / KP Research): Large integrated healthcare system with a major affiliated research/policy foundation — overlapping with PHI in health services research, public health data, and partnerships with government agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/phidotorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/publichealthinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-health-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/publichealthinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Health Institute