Our Mission
Common Thread strengthens public health by building the coordination infrastructure that connects underserved populations to the services they need.
We work between systems. Healthcare providers, community organizations, and public agencies each hold a piece of the puzzle. Common Thread brings those pieces together so people don’t fall through the gaps.
Common Thread and Vision to Venture
Common Thread is an initiative of the Vision to Venture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation provides the organizational structure, governance, and fiscal sponsorship. Common Thread is where that mission meets the ground.
Think of it this way: Vision to Venture is the foundation. Common Thread is the work. The Foundation holds the mission. Common Thread delivers it, one referral, one connection, one coordinated care pathway at a time.
Our Story
We stitch together the services that already exist.
Health isn’t just about doctors and hospitals. It’s shaped by where you live, how you get to work, the food you can access, and whether someone answers when you call for help.
For millions of people, the support they need already exists. But the path from need to help is broken. Too many agencies. Too much paperwork. Too many phone numbers that lead nowhere.
Common Thread exists to close that gap. We stitch together the services that already exist, making it easier for people to move from crisis to stability, and from isolation to support.
Our Role in Care Coordination
Clinical care accounts for only 10–20% of what determines how long and how well people live. The rest comes from social, economic, and environmental conditions. Common Thread focuses on the 80% that happens outside the clinic.
We work across five areas where social conditions directly shape health outcomes:
Clinical care accounts for only 10–20% of health outcomes
Economic Stability.
Employment, income, debt, medical bills. We connect people to financial assistance, job training, and benefits enrollment.
Education Access.
Literacy, language skills, early childhood education. We link families to ESL programs, literacy resources, and skills training.
Healthcare Access.
Insurance, provider availability, health literacy. We help people get insurance, find providers, and arrange transportation to appointments.
Neighborhood and Environment.
Housing quality, transit, safety. Where you live directly impacts your health. We connect people to housing resources and transportation solutions.
Social and Community Connection.
Isolation harms health. We build connections to community groups, peer support, and local networks that keep people engaged.
How Our Funding Works
Common Thread is funded through grants, partnerships, and philanthropic investment. Every dollar goes toward building the coordination infrastructure that connects people to services.
We don’t duplicate existing programs. We make them work together. That means your investment goes further because it builds on what’s already in place.
We track referrals to completion and report on outcomes, so funders can see exactly how their support translates into connected care.