The Global Wellness Institute has been granted its 501(c)(3) status – the most common form of tax-exempt non-profit organisation – from the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Our mission is to empower wellness worldwide by facilitating cross-industry collaboration and providing proprietary global research with the ultimate vision of ensuring optimal wellbeing for people everywhere,” said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of the GWI. “Education is paramount to that vision and is the cornerstone of the GWI’s goals and initiatives.”

While the GWI is a private educational foundation and not a public charity, it is nonetheless able to accept financial support (tax deductible) from individuals and organisations interested in furthering the GWI’s work.

Ellis thanked those who have already supported the GWI, from US$1,000 (€905, £651) Ambassadors to its first Member level contributor, the Richard P. Woltman Donor Advised Fund at Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, for its US$100,000 (€90,555, £65,144) contribution.

“We believe that the GWI has been instrumental in propelling wellness from an industry trend into a global movement,” said Ellis. “Our research, statistics and information have been downloaded by thousands – from ministers of tourism and development to other government officials to business and corporation leaders, management consultancies and universities.”

The Global Wellness Institute has established four foundational pillars to facilitate cross-industry collaboration:

1.) Research: The GWI produces global statistics for the wellness industry and commissions a comprehensive research project on a topic of relevance and importance to furthering wellness in the world. In addition, the GWI publishes briefing papers by industry leaders throughout the world and curates research from other credible sources, all of which is available for free. The latest research report, “Wellness at Work,” explores the realities and trends facing today’s changing workplace environment and the role wellness plays in it; initial findings will be presented during the 2015 Global Wellness Summit in Mexico City in November.

2.) Initiatives: To further the international conversation about wellness in its many and varied forms, the GWI supports a growing number of industry initiatives. Some current initiatives include career development, clinical wellness, the future of workplace wellness, wellness for cancer and Global Wellness Day.

3.) International Roundtables: GWI convenes global roundtables to foster communication and create a forum for conversation about the present state of wellness and to look deeply into the future. The roundtables bring together thought leaders from medicine, science, business, technology, research, media, academia, spa and hospitality, architecture, beauty, finance, fashion and more.

4.) Wellness Evidence: The GWI launched the first website to provide direct access to current medical evidence for the most mainstream wellness approaches. By providing access to thousands of clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of everything from acupuncture to weight loss, wellnessevidence.com makes it easier for millions of people seeking alternative health solutions or information about the efficacy of various modalities to research and evaluate information from the most authoritative sources of evidence-based medicine. This website serves the general public and is free.