Radiologists for global health: A guide to public charities and private foundations in radiology

Organizations in radiology with public service missions serve as unique avenues for radiologists to give back to global communities. Broadly, these organizations can be categorized as public charities and private foundations. Public charities are characterized by direct engagement with underserved populations through volunteers and staff. Key examples within the field of radiology include RAD-AID, ROAD2IR, Imaging the World (ITW), the International Society of Radiology (ISR), Radiologists Without Borders (RWB), Project C.U.R.E., and Ultrasound Networking Interpretation Training & Supply for Underserved Areas (UNITSUSA). They receive funding from individual donations, government grants, corporate sponsorships, and also enjoy significant tax advantages. Private foundations, in turn, typically begin with an infusion of capital by a single benefactor who retains significant control over the organization, with less tax benefits relative to public charities. In addition to private and public foundations, non-profit foundations exist as part of professional radiological societies, including The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Foundation, The American College of Radiology Foundation (ACRF), and The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation, as well as radiology-related efforts within other large private foundations. These organizations tend to indirectly serve those in need through grant funding and investments in large-scale initiatives. This article provides an overview of non-profits related to radiology and discusses paths for radiologists to join existing ones or establish their own.