Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts

What Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts does

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) is an independent nonprofit public health organization founded in 2017 and headquartered at 1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA. It builds healthier and more equitable communities across Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties) through community engagement, coalition convening, research and evaluation, and policy advocacy. Its core products include the 413Cares.org community resource database (built on the findhelp platform, launched March 2020 with 30+ partner organizations), the Healthy Air Network (a 55-site outdoor air quality sensor network operated with Yale School of Public Health), the Air Watch consumer mobile app (launched May 2026), the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition (active 20+ years), the Springfield Youth Health Survey Initiative (continuous since 2014), and Community Health Needs Assessment consulting services for a coalition of 7 Western Massachusetts hospitals and one health insurer. Underlying technology is limited to third-party SaaS (findhelp), sensor infrastructure, and interactive data visualization tools; no proprietary AI/ML systems are disclosed.

PHIWM's revenue model is grant- and contract-driven. It receives funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, federal grants (including the CDC-funded COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant OT21-2103), legislative earmarks (a $200K MA earmark in December 2023), healthcare system partners (Baystate Health, Berkshire Health Systems, Health New England), and major foundations (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Point32 Health Foundation, Massachusetts Gaming Commission). All community-facing services and resources (413Cares, Air Watch, reports, technical assistance) are provided free of charge to end users. The go-to-market is community-led: PHIWM operates as a coalition builder and neutral convener rather than a commercial vendor, distributing through partner organizations, schools, community events, webinars, and earned media. Approximately 20 staff and a Board of Directors led by Executive Director Jessica Collins execute the mission.

Name

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts

Legal name

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts

Website

https://publichealthwm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts is a Springfield-based nonprofit that improves community health across Western Massachusetts through coalition convening, research, and policy advocacy. Its flagship products include the 413Cares resource database, the Healthy Air Network air quality monitoring system, and Community Health Needs Assessments for regional hospitals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: PHIWM receives funding from state agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, as well as federal grants such as the CDC-funded COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant (OT21-2103). Funding supports community health initiatives, data collection, and program implementation.
2. Healthcare System Partnerships: Funding and in-kind support from hospital systems including Baystate Health, Berkshire Health Systems, and other coalition members for Community Health Needs Assessments, regional health initiatives, and community benefit programs.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from foundations including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Policies for Action Grant), Kresge Foundation, Point32 Health Foundation, and others for specific research, advocacy, and community health improvement projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PHIWM is a nonprofit public health institute that operates community resource databases, air quality monitoring networks, and mobile applications to connect Western Massachusetts residents with health and social services. The organization conducts Community Health Needs Assessments for a coalition of seven hospitals and one health insurer, convenes regional coalitions focused on asthma, youth mental health, and health equity, and leads research and policy advocacy initiatives. All services and platforms are provided free of charge to community members, with operations funded by government grants, foundation support, and healthcare system partnerships.

Product overview

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts operates as a public health organization rather than a commercial technology company. Its primary offerings include: 413Cares (a community resource database platform built on findhelp), the Healthy Air Network (air quality monitoring with neighborhood-level sensors), the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition, Community Health Needs Assessments consulting services, the Springfield Youth Health Survey Initiative, and the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide. These programs focus on community health assessment, coalition building, policy advocacy, and health equity through collaborative partnerships with healthcare systems, government agencies, and community organizations across Western Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 413Cares.org Platform
• Air Watch Mobile App
• Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA)
• Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition
• Springfield Youth Health Survey Initiative
• Race and Health Equity Resource Guide
• Healthy Air Network
• Youth Mental Health Roadmap for Western MA

Quantifiable outcome

• Springfield asthma ranking improved from #1 to #46 in Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America rankings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Hilltown Community Health CenterregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2023One of four new regional partnerships established in 2023 to expand 413Cares into Franklin and Berkshire counties and the Hilltown regions.
• Berkshire Regional Planning CommissionregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2023Regional partnership to expand 413Cares services into Berkshire county, bringing the platform to new communities.
• Community Action Pioneer ValleyregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2023Regional partner expanding 413Cares reach in Western Massachusetts communities.
• Quaboag Hills Community CoalitionregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2023Regional partnership to extend 413Cares services into the Quaboag region.
• findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2019PHIWM selected findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha) as the platform for the online community resource database branded as 413Cares. The platform serves Western Massachusetts residents to find free and low-cost services including food, health, housing, and employment programs.
• Yale School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYale School of Public Health serves as the technical lead for the Healthy Air Network, collaborating with PHIWM to operate a network of outdoor air quality sensors measuring neighborhood-level air quality across Massachusetts with 55 monitoring sites.
• Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals/InsurercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHIWM serves as lead consultant for Community Health Needs Assessments for a coalition of 7 nonprofit hospitals (Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital, Berkshire Health Systems, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Mercy Medical Center) and 1 health insurer (Health New England).
• Berkshire Regional Planning CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Community Health Needs Assessments, working with PHIWM to implement the 2025 CHNA process across Western Massachusetts.
• Collaborative for Educational ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultant partner in the CHNA process, contributing research expertise to assess community health needs in the region.
• Franklin Regional Council of GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning partner contributing to the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessments for the Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals/Insurer.
• Tufts UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner with PHIWM leading the R.O.A.D.S. Study investigating whether Complete Streets policies lead to changes in the built environment, economic environment, social environment, and health behaviors.
• Live Well SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHIWM partnered with Live Well Springfield's Transforming Community Initiative on the R.O.A.D.S. Study, engaging community residents in data collection and interpretation efforts.
• Pioneer Valley Asthma CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition convened by PHIWM for over 20 years consisting of health professionals, community groups, public health organizations, municipal and state agencies, academic institutions, schools, and environmental groups committed to improving asthma conditions.
• Springfield Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHIWM collaborates with Springfield Public Schools to administer the Springfield Youth Health Survey (YHS) and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students since 2014.
• Springfield Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on the Springfield Youth Health Survey Initiative and various community health improvement programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Health Resources in Action (HRiA): Boston-based nonprofit public health institute that conducts community health needs assessments, research and evaluation, and capacity building for health and social service organizations. Closest functional peer — both are regional nonprofit public health institutes serving Massachusetts with very similar service lines (CHNA consulting, coalition convening, applied research).
• findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): Social services search and referral platform that operates the underlying technology for PHIWM's 413Cares.org. Comparable as a community resource directory serving residents and partner organizations in the social determinants of health space, with overlapping end users and partner organizations.
• Prevention Institute: National nonprofit focused on advancing health equity through coalition building, policy advocacy, and community-based prevention strategies. Comparable as a mission-aligned peer in the health equity coalition and policy advocacy space, though serving national rather than regional scope.
• Human Impact Partners: National nonprofit that partners with community organizations to build power for health equity through research, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Highly comparable in values, approach (community-led, coalition-based, research-informed advocacy), and target audience (grassroots health equity coalitions).
• BUILD Health Challenge: National initiative funding community coalitions that address upstream health disparities through cross-sector partnerships. Highly comparable coalition-based model targeting health equity in specific geographies, with PHIWM-style anchor institutions (hospitals, public health, community orgs).

Broad incumbents

• Trust for America's Health: National nonprofit policy organization focused on disease prevention and public health system strengthening. Comparable in policy advocacy and data-driven public health framing, but operates at federal/national level rather than regional coalition model.
• County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Collaboration between RWJF and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute producing county-level health data and evidence-based guidance. Comparable as a data-driven public health resource serving community health improvement, though broader geographic scope and operated by academic/foundation partners rather than a regional institute.
• Partners In Health: Global health nonprofit delivering health services and advocating for health equity in resource-poor settings. Compares on the values of community-led health equity work and coalition-building, though vastly larger scale and primarily global rather than U.S.-based operations.

Regional players

• Boston Public Health Commission: Local public health authority serving Boston with similar mandates (community health assessment, health equity, coalition building). Comparable regional scope and mission, though operates as a government agency rather than an independent nonprofit institute and serves a different Massachusetts region.
• Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA): Statewide public health advocacy organization where PHIWM's Policy Director Andrea Freeman previously served as Field Director. Comparable in Massachusetts-focused health equity policy advocacy, with overlapping board and staff networks but operating at state rather than regional level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WMNEH
• Facebookfacebook.com/westernmachna
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PHIWM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts