Kutak Rock attorney Howard Hahn recently spearheaded the formation of The GOARN Fund, Inc. (“The Fund”), a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening global health security and international outbreak response capabilities.
Filling a Critical Global Gap
The Fund was established to address severe resource shortages in global outbreak response efforts following recent funding reductions from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Its core mission is to support the World Health Organization Operational Support Team and the more than 360 institutional members of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) as they work to detect, contain, and respond to emerging infectious disease threats worldwide. GOARN is currently responding to multiple public health emergencies, including the Ebola outbreak.
Scope of Support
The organization’s mandate is broad, flexible, and not limited to any single pathogen or emergency event. The Fund will drive resources toward critical frontline initiatives, including:
- Field Deployments: Providing operational support for rapid-response teams.
- Workforce Development: Enhancing public health preparedness and technical training.
- Logistics: Funding public health projects and securing medical supply procurement and international shipments.
An Unusually Swift Launch
Notably, the Fund received its IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt determination letter within six weeks of filing – an exceptionally rare and prompt turnaround achieved without a request for expedited consideration.
Looking Ahead
The GOARN Fund, Inc. has established an initial fundraising goal of $10 million during its first year to immediately begin deploying resources to the global public health community. Those interested in supporting this work can learn more here.