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Health Forward Foundation

Annual Giving
$31.6M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.2M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $31.6 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $960 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $200,000
  • Number of Awards: 223 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Kansas City region (6 counties in Missouri and Kansas)
  • Application Method: Mixed (open funding opportunities, invitation-based, and responsive funding)

Contact Details

Website: https://healthforward.org
Phone: (816) 241-7006
Email: info@healthforward.org
Address: 2300 Main Street, Suite 304, Kansas City, MO 64108-2416

Pre-Application Support: Health Forward releases recorded webinars for each funding opportunity that detail priorities, provide tips and resources, address FAQs, and give an overview of the application process. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact staff with questions.

Overview

Health Forward Foundation (formerly the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City) was established in 2003 from the proceeds of the sale of the Health Midwest hospital system to HCA, with grantmaking beginning in 2005. The foundation adopted its current name in 2018. With total assets of $960 million (2023), Health Forward awards approximately $31.6 million annually in grants. The foundation's mission is to "achieve health equity and secure a fair and just region through leadership, advocacy, and resources." Since its inception, Health Forward has awarded more than $400 million to over 400 organizations in its six-county service area. The foundation has evolved from traditional program support grantmaking to focus upstream on social determinants of health and health equity, increasing investments in multi-sector collaborations, flexible multi-year funding, and community-driven solutions. In 2024, Health Forward was recognized through the KC Chamber's ATHENA award to CEO Qiana Thomason for her stewardship of economic inclusion.

Funding Priorities

Funding Approaches

Health Forward employs three distinct funding pathways:

  1. Open Funding Opportunities: Throughout the year, the foundation releases calls for applications with specific funding criteria to achieve outcomes within their purpose areas. Grants typically range from $100,000 annually to $200,000 over 24 months for capacity building initiatives.

  2. Invitation-Based Funding: To address historical racial bias in philanthropy and ensure equitable access, Health Forward invites organizations whose work is vital to achieving their strategic impact. This streamlines the process and reduces application burden.

  3. Responsive Funding: Available year-round to support community-driven opportunities aligned with strategic purpose areas, subject to funding availability.

Priority Areas - Four Purpose Areas

People: Equitable systems support community health

  • Whole-person care initiatives
  • Inclusive healthcare systems
  • Health safety net support
  • Mental health services

Power: Powerful communities are healthy communities

  • Civic engagement and voter participation
  • Community advocacy coalitions
  • Democracy participation initiatives
  • Capacity building for small nonprofits ($4.9 million awarded to 33 organizations in 2023)

Place: The places we live impact how healthy we are

  • Healthy and affordable homeownership opportunities ($1.6 million awarded to 6 organizations in 2024)
  • Digital access, skills, and equity ($515,000 awarded to 17 organizations in 2025)
  • Healthy eating and active living environments

Platform: Health is strongly influenced by systems, policies, and stories

  • Policy and systems change
  • Advancing racial and economic equity
  • Anti-racism initiatives

Recent Grant Examples

  • Missouri Jobs and Justice Voters Action: $250,000 (2023) to build a statewide coalition for voter education on minimum wage and paid sick leave
  • 11 Kansas organizations: $300,000 total (October 2024) for voter participation advocacy
  • Kanbe's Markets: $102,816 (2021) for healthy communities work
  • Cultivate KC: $100,000 (2021) for healthy communities work

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (for any reason, including medical procedures, prescriptions, health insurance, education, or training)
  • Basic or applied biomedical research or laboratory studies
  • Construction, purchase, non-mandated renovation, demolition, or re-purposing of physical facilities or real property
  • Political campaigns to support or oppose candidates for public office

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Qiana Thomason, President and CEO - A lifelong Kansas Citian who began her role in January 2020. Thomason has dedicated her career to health and wellness improvement across the region, with special focus on communities experiencing health injustices and people living in marginalized conditions. She serves as a board member for Grantmakers in Health, on the City of Kansas City Health Commission, and on the boards of the KC Chamber, Urban Neighborhood Initiative, and as a board trustee for William Jewell College.

Anthony C. Lloyd Sr., Chief Financial Officer - Recently appointed to oversee the foundation's financial operations.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is composed of passionate advocates for health equity and includes physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators, and community representatives. Board members are selected through a unique process involving the Community Advisory Council (CAC), which solicits applications, interviews, and vets candidates.

Current Board Members include:

  • Stacey Daniels-Young, Ph.D.
  • Dred Scott, Ph.D. - Community/Civic Advocate
  • Jim Pryde - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Senior Counsel
  • Lisse Regehr - Thrive Allen County, President and CEO
  • Kia Walsh - Sherwood Autism Center, Chief Executive Officer

Community Advisory Council

The Community Advisory Council serves as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity entirely separate from Health Forward Foundation, acting as the bridge between the foundation and the communities it serves. The CAC assesses Health Forward's body of work and community impact annually, screens potential board candidates, ratifies new board member selections, and provides an annual review of the foundation's progress.

Leadership Quotes

Qiana Thomason on racial equity: "As we continue our work, Health Forward Foundation will center racial equity in our core competencies of leadership, advocacy, and resources. Practicing racial equity means that we will work to create the conditions in which one's racial identity has absolutely no influence on their ability to thrive."

On the foundation's mission: "I'm confident that everything in my career and the foundations of my personal journey have not only led me to this opportunity but equipped and prepared me to lead Health Forward Foundation as President and CEO. I am blessed to once again serve the safety net system that once served me."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Health Forward accepts applications through three pathways:

Open Funding Opportunities:

  1. Monitor the foundation's website for funding opportunity announcements
  2. Watch the recorded webinar specific to the funding round (highly recommended)
  3. Complete eligibility quiz and register in the online grant portal
  4. Submit a Letter of Intent by the specified deadline
  5. If invited, submit a full application
  6. Undergo review by staff and outside reviewers
  7. Await Board of Directors approval

Note: All applicants, including returning applicants with previous accounts, must register in the current system.

Invitation-Based and Responsive Funding: Contact Health Forward staff at info@healthforward.org or (816) 241-7006 to discuss potential alignment with strategic priorities.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Status:

  • 501(c) tax-exempt status under IRS Code Section 509(c)(1) or 509(c)(2)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status must use a fiscal sponsor
  • Health Forward occasionally partners with government entities (schools, municipalities)

Geographic Requirements:

  • Priority given to organizations located within the six-county service area: Kansas City, MO, and/or Jackson, Cass, or Lafayette counties in Missouri, or Allen, Johnson, or Wyandotte counties in Kansas
  • Organizations must maintain ongoing operations (including staffing and programs) within the service area
  • Organizations outside the service area may be considered if their work benefits communities within it

Compliance:

  • Must comply with local, state, and federal regulations related to non-discrimination, wage and hour laws, workplace safety, licensure, and protection of confidential health care information
  • Must comply with IRS annual 990 filing requirements
  • Organizational policies must be consistent with Health Forward's values and non-discrimination standards

Decision Timeline

The timeline varies by funding opportunity. Example cycle:

  • Letter of Intent deadline: May 22
  • Full proposal deadline: June 19
  • Board approval: September 13
  • Total timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from initial LOI to Board approval

Awardees are notified by email and through the Health Forward website. The foundation also maintains a press release email list for funding announcements.

Success Rates

Health Forward made 223 awards in 2023, 314 awards in 2022, 256 awards in 2021, and 251 awards in 2020. Specific acceptance rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The foundation employs multiple funding pathways (open, invitation-based, and responsive) which affect overall application volumes and success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. For questions about reapplication, contact Health Forward staff at info@healthforward.org or (816) 241-7006.

Application Success Factors

Health Forward's funding approach emphasizes several key factors that increase application competitiveness:

Alignment with Strategic Purpose Areas

Applications must clearly align with one or more of the four purpose areas (People, Power, Place, Platform). The foundation has evolved from traditional program support to focus upstream on social determinants of health and health equity.

Community-Centered Approach

Health Forward prioritizes "input directly from the communities experiencing problems." Applications should demonstrate authentic community engagement and leadership from those most affected by the issues being addressed.

Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

The foundation centers racial equity in all core competencies. As CEO Qiana Thomason states, they work "to create the conditions in which one's racial identity has absolutely no influence on their ability to thrive." Applications should demonstrate how the proposed work advances racial and economic equity.

Multi-Sector Collaboration

The foundation increasingly invests in "multi-sector collaborations." Projects that bring together diverse partners across sectors are particularly competitive.

Systems and Policy Change Focus

Beyond direct services, Health Forward seeks to address "the conditions and barriers that keep problems in place" through investments in systems change, policy advocacy, and upstream interventions.

Watch the Webinar

Health Forward releases recorded webinars for each funding opportunity that detail specific priorities, provide tips and resources, and address FAQs. Watching these webinars is strongly recommended and may contain funding cycle-specific guidance not available elsewhere.

Flexible, Multi-Year Support

The foundation offers flexible, multi-year funding to support deeper, sustained impact. Applications that articulate a long-term vision and strategy may be more competitive than those focused on short-term programs.

Organizational Capacity and Compliance

Organizations must demonstrate compliance with non-discrimination policies, wage and hour laws, workplace safety regulations, and other applicable laws. Smaller organizations may benefit from capacity building funding opportunities.

Geographic Focus

Strong preference is given to organizations with ongoing operations, staffing, and programs within the six-county service area. Applications should clearly articulate how the work benefits Health Forward's communities of focus.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Watch the funding opportunity webinar - Health Forward releases detailed recorded webinars for each funding round with specific tips, priorities, and guidance. This is essential viewing for all applicants.

  • Lead with equity and community voice - The foundation centers racial equity and community input in all work. Applications must demonstrate authentic community leadership and address how the work advances racial and economic equity.

  • Think upstream and systems-level - Health Forward has evolved beyond traditional program support to focus on social determinants of health, policy change, and addressing root causes. Frame your work in terms of systems change and upstream interventions.

  • Align clearly with purpose areas - Ensure your application explicitly connects to one or more of the four purpose areas (People, Power, Place, Platform) and articulates how it advances the foundation's strategic priorities.

  • Consider invitation-based and responsive funding - In addition to open funding opportunities, Health Forward offers invitation-based and responsive funding pathways. Building relationships with foundation staff can open doors to these opportunities.

  • Emphasize multi-sector collaboration - Projects that bring together diverse partners across sectors are increasingly prioritized. Demonstrate how your work fosters cross-sector partnerships.

  • Be geographically specific - Priority is given to organizations with ongoing operations in the six-county service area. Clearly articulate your geographic presence and how you serve Health Forward's communities of focus.

References

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