A $15 million donation from Sally Ross Soter will bolster the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Venture Fund, aiming to address the significant underfunding of women’s cardiovascular health research and innovation. The gift, announced September 9, 2024, seeks to translate scientific findings into improved care for women, who face unique challenges in heart and brain health.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women, responsible for one in three deaths annually, yet receives a disproportionately small share of healthcare venture funding. In 2023, only 2% of the $41.2 billion in healthcare venture funding was specifically targeted towards improving women’s health, with the majority of that small percentage focused on reproductive health, leaving heart and brain conditions largely unaddressed.
The Go Red for Women Venture Fund, launched in June 2024 as part of the American Heart Association’s centennial celebration, is designed to reverse this trend. It will invest in solutions that recognize the distinct cardiovascular, brain, and related health needs of women. The fund builds upon the foundation of the Go Red for Women movement, which began in 2004 to raise awareness about heart disease as the number one killer of women.
According to the American Heart Association, women experience an average of nine years of their lives in poor health—25% more than men. They also account for 66% of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. And 80% of those with autoimmune diseases that can harm the heart and brain. Despite these statistics, investment in women’s health lags significantly.
“Sally’s passion for improving women’s health is the driving force behind her remarkable generosity,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “As she often says, ‘legacy matters’ and this new gift is another powerful example of her commitment to the Association’s mission and to creating a healthier future for women everywhere.”
Soter’s philanthropic support of the American Heart Association spans decades, including funding for the first Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network in 2015 and continued support in 2020. A recent report co-authored by the American Heart Association and the McKinsey Health Institute highlights the disproportionate impact of cardiovascular disease on women and identifies opportunities to close the heart health gap.
The American Heart Association estimates that every $1 invested in women’s health is projected to generate $3 in economic growth, with the potential to uplift the global economy by up to $1 trillion by 2040. Cardiovascular disease alone accounts for more than a third of the sex and gender health gap in the United States.
The Go Red for Women Venture Fund is actively seeking innovative solutions, with a focus on translating evidence-based science and medicine into tangible products and services. The fund’s investment strategy prioritizes solutions addressing the unique cardiovascular, brain, and related health needs of women at every stage of life.
