Biogen Foundation

When Biogen’s then-new CEO introduced a refreshed strategy for the company, the Biogen Foundation had an opportunity to evolve in step with the enterprise. The company’s “New Biogen Way” emphasized a spirit of innovation, patient-centricity and an even stronger results-oriented approach. To ensure the Foundation’s work mirrored these priorities, the Biogen Foundation turned to us to help realign its philanthropic approach with the company’s vision and values. CCOP began by taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach.

Through conducting internal interviews, performing external benchmarking, analyzing processes and partners, and holding interactive workshops with Foundation leaders, the CCOP team surfaced insights into where the Foundation’s philanthropy could make an even greater impact. The result was a redefined strategy anchored in a clearer mission: to advance better health in the community, supported through efforts to promote access to healthcare, address social determinants of health, and help build a robust healthcare workforce. 

This better reflected patient-centricity than the prior focus, which was nearly exclusively centered on STEM education. To bring the strategy to life, we helped revamp the Biogen Foundation's policies and procedures to support the new mission, embedding data-driven decision-making further into its core operations. We also helped renew the Foundation's grantee portfolio, analyzing more than 200 existing and potential partners to identify those that best aligned with the new approach and presented the greatest opportunity for catalyzing real change for patients. 

Since implementing the new strategy years ago, the Biogen Foundation has pioneered or helped conceive nine new initiatives, all focused on community health, helping to serve more than 75,000 patients each year. With its transformation in tandem with the company, the Biogen Foundation has been able to create enhanced value not only for patients and communities, but also for the business, driving reputational gains and deepened relationships with employees and prospective employees.