The Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation’s mission is to help build healthier communities around the world. By investing in locally led organizations and applying a community-centered approach, we aim to address today’s complex global health challenges, respond to urgent health needs, and empower Pfizer colleagues to make a positive impact where they live, work, and beyond.
Founded in 1953 by Pfizer Inc. as a charitable organization, The Pfizer Foundation is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.
Learn more about our partnerships and work below.
Credit: Reach52
Credit: North Star Alliance
Credit: Afya Research Africa
Credit: PATH / Gabe Bienczycki
Credit: Pfizer Inc.
All people, regardless of where they live, should have access to safe and effective healthcare. Together with our partners, we’re supporting organizations working to improve access to innovative care, strengthen health systems, and reduce vaccine-preventable illness.
Credit: Asher Habinsbuti/Partners In Health
Women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa are typically diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease and may face multiple barriers to care, creating a more difficult cancer journey and leading to avoidable loss of life.i With support from The Pfizer Foundation, Jhpiego and Partners In Health are exploring and scaling community- and country-led efforts to advance timely breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care in Rwanda, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Credit: Care 2 Communities
The Global Health Innovation Grants (GHIG) program supports community-based initiatives to improve quality of care and strengthen health systems in lower-income countries. Since 2016, GHIG-supported organizations have helped millions of patients receive care and trained tens of thousands of health workers.
To learn more about the program watch this video.
Credit: Direct Relief
Community healthcare centers are often the first point of care for 31 million people in the U.S. The Innovation Awards in Community Health program aims to improve health equity among medically underserved communities across the U.S.ii Implemented by Direct Relief, the program funds community health centers and free clinics to test and expand innovative approaches for preventing, diagnosing, and treating infectious diseases.
Credit: Amref Health Africa
Despite advances to improve access to healthcare worldwide, disparities remain. Nearly three in four people living in high-income countriesiii received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in compared to one in three people living in low-income countries. The Pfizer Foundation and Amref Health Africa, Africa’s largest non-profit health and development organization, are partnering to help increase COVID-19 vaccine access and strengthen health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in routine immunizations worldwide. Nigeria now has the highest number of zero-dose children in Africa, with over 2.25 million having never received a single vaccination.iv The Pfizer Foundation is supporting Zipline’s efforts to expand vaccine access in Nigeria through a medical drone delivery system to bring crucial health products and deliver care in zero-dose communities.
Responding to Natural Disasters and Resulting Health Crises
As natural disasters and climate emergencies become more frequent and unpredictable, Pfizer and The Pfizer Foundation are collaborating with partners to help strengthen their ability to respond to disasters before they happen and support their immediate relief efforts when crises strike.
Fostering Colleague and Community Engagement
Our programs help inspire colleagues to create a positive impact where they live, work, and beyond. Encompassing matching gifts, volunteer rewards, and skills-based volunteering programs, Give Forward — Pfizer’s community engagement initiative — helps Pfizer colleagues identify, connect with, and amplify their impact for causes they find most meaningful.
Learn more about Give Forward and 175 Days of Good—Pfizer’s global call to action to inspire and celebrate colleague volunteerism.
In the News
iTfayli, Arafat et al. “Breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries: an emerging and challenging epidemic.” Journal of oncology vol. 2010 (2010): 490631. doi:10.1155/2010/490631
ii“Impact of the Health Center Program | Bureau of Primary Health Care.” Bphc.hrsa.gov, Sept. 2024, bphc.hrsa.gov/about-health-center-program/impact-health-center-program.
iiiGlobal Dashboard for Vaccine Equity. https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/. Published September 27, 2022. Accessed March 16, 2023.
ivNigeria leads top 20 zero-dose countries, says WHO report. Healthwise, 2024. https://healthwise.punchng.com/nigeria-leads-top-20-zero-dose-countries-says-who-report