Why Supporting Health Care Not-for-Profits Matters

In New York, approximately 940,000 residents lack health insurance entirely—nearly one million of our neighbors who face critical barriers to care.^[1] Yet even for those with coverage, significant gaps remain. Medicaid often excludes specialized therapies like art and music therapy for patients with dementia, and insurance leaves families struggling with copays and deductibles they cannot afford.

Addressing these gaps isn’t always visible or glamorous—and it’s rarely top of mind. But it is essential. Health care not-for-profits exist to do this quiet, critical work: filling the spaces insurance leaves behind and ensuring communities have access to high-quality care, services, and supports that make a real difference in people’s lives when they need it most.

Ways to Support Health Care Not-for-Profits 

The core American value of generosity remains constant, but technology has expanded the ways you can make a difference. Whether you’re someone who appreciates the need or is the loved one of someone who benefited from receiving compassionate care, you can pay it forward in meaningful and rewarding ways. 

• Create a Social Media Fundraiser:  Powerful social media tools like Facebook and Instagram Fundraisers allow you to leverage your platform to raise funds for causes you care about. While these platforms now charge small processing fees, they remain among the most effective ways to reach your network.^[2] Any funds raised will be paid directly to the not-for-profit you designate.
• Sponsor a Fundraising Event: Most not-for-profit organizations hold annual fundraising events to support their causes. This is a fun and exciting way to meet other like-minded people, support vital health care services and have a great time. Events range from golf outings to wine tastings, each providing an opportunity to connect with your community while making a tangible difference.
• Participate in a Run/Walk: For causes without dedicated events, you can create your own. Pledge to run, walk, or participate in an activity—such as the NYC Marathon—on behalf of patients and families of MJHS Health System, and invite friends and family to support you. It’s a meaningful way to turn a personal goal into funding for critical health care services.
• Many organizations also host established Run/Walk events with decades of impact, such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and AIDS Walk, which have long united communities around shared causes.
• Participate in GivingTuesday: GivingTuesday is celebrated every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a call to action to shift the holiday’s focus from consumerism and buying to giving. It’s also an excellent opportunity to multiply your donation, as many not-for-profits have donors who match contributions on this day. Learn more about GivingTuesday.
• Make a Legacy Gift: Legacy giving (also called gift planning) enables you to make significant gifts to charitable organizations through your will or estate plan. Recent changes to federal tax law in 2025 have made charitable giving even more valuable for tax planning, including new deductions for non-itemizers.^[3] Planned giving is a powerful way to ensure that patients and families in your community receive compassionate care for years to come. Learn more about Legacy & Planned Giving. 

If you choose to donate to MJHS Health System, you will support the continuation of a 120-year commitmentto caring for at-risk New Yorkers. It will also enable us to provide high-quality care to our patients and residents, as well as emotional support and guidance to their families. 

References 

1. Health Care for All New York. “2025 New York Policy Agenda.” HCFANY, 2025. U.S. Census Bureau. “American Community Survey 2024.” 
2. Citygate Network. “Fees to Resume on Facebook and Instagram Donations.” September 2025.
3. ABC News. “What is GivingTuesday? How to Donate on the Annual Day of Charitable Giving.” December 1, 2025.