Giving for children's health by the largest U.S. foundations rose by more than 50 percent between 1999 and 2003, a new report from the New York City-based Foundation Center finds.

According to the report, Foundation Funding for Children's Health, grantmaking targeted to children for the prevention and treatment of diseases, improving access to health care, providing mental health care, and supporting hospitals and outpatient care, among other purposes, totaled $602.8 million in 2003, up from $390.6 million in 1999. That growth raised the share of overall health giving that specifically benefits children from less than 19 percent to nearly 22 percent.

"Foundations have long understood the critical role that children's physical and emotional health plays in determining their ultimate potential," said Loren Renz, vice president for research at the Foundation Center. "Our first-ever study of child health funding clearly shows that this is a growing priority for grantmakers."

To read or download the complete report (24 pages, PDF), visit: http://fdncenter.org/research/trends_analysis/pdf/childhealth.pdf.