The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission invests in programs and partnerships to address access, prevention, education and research that help all North Carolinians achieve better health.

The Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission was created by the General Assembly as one of three entities to invest North Carolina's portion of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The Commission receives one fourth of the state's tobacco settlement funds, which are paid in annual installments over a 25-year period.

The original eighteen members were appointed to the Commission in 2001. The Governor, President Pro Temore, and Speaker of the House have the authority to appoint six members each. Lieutenant Governor, Beverly Purdue was elected as Chair of the Commission. By statute, the Commission must be comprised of persons in public health, operation of health care deliver systems, health care practice, health research, tobacco-related health care issues, health promotion and disease prevention, health policy trends, health care for underserved populations, and child health care.