Health Forward Foundation is a Kansas City–based regional funder that advances health equity by investing in upstream social determinants of health across a six-county Kansas/Missouri service area. It prioritizes community-driven solutions, whole-person care, civic engagement and systems change, and provides flexible, multi-year and capacity-building support to local nonprofits, coalitions, and policy/advocacy efforts. The foundation combines rolling responsive grants, invitation-only strategic investments, and periodic open funding opportunities tailored to its People, Power, Place and Platform strategy areas.
Health Care Foundation of Greater Kc directs large-scale regional grants toward health equity work that reaches beyond clinic walls. Its recent awards show a strong emphasis on whole-person care and the social conditions tied to health, with major support for Kansas City Care Health Center, Swope Health Services, and Truman Medical Center’s charitable foundation. The foundation also backs community-based organizations working on housing, civic engagement, and access for uninsured and underinsured residents. The foundation’s strategy appears organized around People, Power, Place, and Platform, and the grant list reflects that structure in practice. On the health side, it has funded community health centers, safety-net providers, specialty care access, and maternal and infant health equity. On the community side, it has supported neighborhood trust-building, affordable homeownership, and organizing efforts. Several awards are multi-hundred-thousand-dollar commitments, suggesting a funder that uses substantial institutional grants rather than small project support. The mix of health systems, local nonprofits, and regional intermediaries points to a foundation investing in both direct service and broader systems change across its service area.
In primary care and safety-net health, the foundation gave $600,000 to Samuel U Rodgers Health Center for uninsured patient care support and $550,000 to Kansas City Medical Society Foundation for Project Access specialty care for the uninsured. It also supported Kansas City Care Health Center and Swope Health Services with repeated awards tied to people funding and core operations. Housing is another visible area. Health Care Foundation of Greater Kc gave $650,000 to Credit & Homeownership Empowerment Services Inc for HomeReady: Turning Visions Into Keys, and $450,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City for affordable homeownership, down payment assistance, and home builds. Regional housing work also appears in the $625,000 grant to Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corporation. On civic engagement and community power, the foundation awarded $525,000 to Urban Neighborhood Initiative for civic engagement and $500,000 to New Venture Fund for the Missouri Inclusive Democracy Fund. It also funded community organizing through Community Builders of Kansas City.
$26.4M
$944.7M
$45.1M
$51.3M
Most grants fall between $50K and $137K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$137K
About 69% of grants go to recipients in MO.
QIANA THOMASON
PRESIDENT/CEO
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Mix of rolling responsive grants, invitation-only strategic investments, and time-limited open calls; grant sizes typically range from ~$20,000 to $300,000, with flexible multi-year and capacity-building awards focused on Greater Kansas City. Decisions are program-driven and paced by fund availability and strategic invitations rather than a single annual cycle.
Notable grantees: Community Capital Fund, Cohort of local nonprofits funded for digital access and equity initiatives (aggregate awards)
Typical grant size centers at $75,000 median, with the middle half of grants ranging from $50,000 at the 25th percentile to $137,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Kansas City Care Health Center and Swope Health Services, which indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time transactions. The foundation is a public charity and also makes program-related investments. Its active funding includes responsive, invitation-based, and open opportunities, with year-round rolling options and periodic public calls.
Grant dollars are concentrated in Missouri, which accounts for 69% of grants in the HQ state, but the recipient map extends across the Kansas City metro on both sides of the state line. Kansas City, MO appears often, alongside Kansas City, KS, Merriam, Olathe, and Iola. The list also includes grants to Merriam and Overland Park in Kansas, showing that the foundation’s footprint follows the six-county service area rather than only the headquarters city.
The grant list shows a strong mix of community health centers, safety-net providers, housing and homeownership groups, and civic-engagement organizations. Examples include Kansas City Care Health Center, Swope Health Services, Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, and Urban Neighborhood Initiative.
The middle of the distribution sits at $75,000 median, with $50,000 at the 25th percentile and $137,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards often exceed that range, including several $400,000 to $800,000 grants.
Yes. The recent grant list includes repeated awards to the same organizations across different years, such as Kansas City Care Health Center and Swope Health Services. That pattern suggests continuing relationships rather than isolated one-off grants.
It uses more than one channel. Responsive Funding accepts unsolicited applications on a rolling basis, and Open Funding Opportunities also accept unsolicited proposals when public calls are posted. Invitation-Based Funding is by invitation only and is not open to unsolicited applications.
Its giving is regional and centered on a six-county Kansas City service area. Recent grants land in Kansas City, MO; Kansas City, KS; Merriam; Olathe; Iola; and Overland Park, showing a footprint across both Missouri and Kansas.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KANSAS CITY CARE HEALTH CENTER (KC CARE) | KANSAS CITY, MO | $800,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $800,000 | 2025 | PEOPLE FUNDING - 2024 |
| TURNER HOUSE CLINIC INC DBA VIBRANT HEALTH | KANSAS CITY, KS | $750,000 | 2025 | VIBRANT HEALTH: COMMUNITY ANCHOR & TRUSTED CONNECTOR |
| TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER (DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH) CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $750,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| CREDIT & HOMEOWNERSHIP EMPOWERMENT SERVICES INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $650,000 | 2025 | HOMEREADY: TURNING VISIONS INTO KEYS |
| EL CENTRO INC | KANSAS CITY, KS | $600,000 | 2025 | LATINO COMMUNITY HEALTH |
| SAMUEL U RODGERS HEALTH CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $600,000 | 2025 | UNINSURED PATIENT CARE (INDIGENT CARE) SUPPORT. |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY | KANSAS CITY, KS | $550,000 | 2025 | PEOPLE FUNDING 2024-26 |
| KANSAS CITY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION | MERRIAM, KS | $550,000 | 2025 | PROJECT ACCESS - SPECIALTY CARE FOR THE UNINSURED |
| HEALTH PARTNERSHIP OF JOHNSON COUNTY | OLATHE, KS | $510,000 | 2025 | 2024 - PEOPLE FUNDING/CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED OF JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS |
| THRIVE ALLEN COUNTY | IOLA, KS | $500,000 | 2025 | 2024-2026 PEOPLE INITIATIVES FOR ALLEN COUNTY |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $450,000 | 2025 | HABITAT KC AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP: DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND HOME BUILDS |
| MATTIE RHODES CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $450,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| TRUST NEIGHBORHOODS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $400,000 | 2025 | NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD TRUST |
| NURTURE KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $400,000 | 2025 | MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH EQUITY |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS INC | PITTSBURG, KS | $375,000 | 2025 | ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY & AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE IN ALLEN COUNTY |
| HCC NETWORK | LEXINGTON, MO | $375,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| CASS COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $360,000 | 2025 | CASS COUNTY DENTAL CLINIC |
| RESTART INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $350,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE |
| KC COMMON GOOD INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $350,000 | 2025 | KC UNITED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY- CAPACITY BUILDING |
| AD HOC GROUP AGAINST CRIME | KANSAS CITY, MO | $350,000 | 2025 | HEALING GENERATIONAL TRAUMA |
| UNITED COMMUNITY SERVICES OF JOHNSON COUNTY INC | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $350,000 | 2025 | RACIAL EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY |
| GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $333,000 | 2025 | BLACK COMMUNITY FUND 2024 SPECIAL INITIATIVE PROPOSAL |
| JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| SETON CENTER FAMILY & HEALTH SERVICES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | SETON CENTER DENTAL CLINIC WITH HOLISTIC CARE |
| ROSE BROOKS CENTER INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | ROSE BROOKS CENTER'S CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS |
| SYNERGY SERVICES INC | PARKVILLE, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | SYNERGY SERVICES TEENS AND TOTS INTEGRATED HEALTH CLINIC |
| BLAQOUT INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $280,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| KC HEALTH COLLABORATIVE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $263,292 | 2025 | 2024 LAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT |
| UZAZI VILLAGE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| MIGRANT FARMWORKERS ASSISTANCE FUND | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | FARMWORKERS AND FAMILIES - 2024 |
| FOOTPRINTS INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS |
| HOPE HOUSE INC | LEES SUMMIT, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | HOPE HOUSES GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
| MISSOURIANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM | ST LOUIS, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS |
| ST LOUIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CLAYTON, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | MISSOURI ECLISPE FUND |
| WESTSIDE HOUSING ORGANIZATION INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH MINOR HOME REPAIR |
| RECONCILIATION SERVICES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | RECONCILIATION SERVICES PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS |
| MISSOURIANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM | ST LOUIS, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | PHASE TWO |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY | KANSAS CITY, KS | $220,000 | 2025 | RADLE KC MCH DATA SHARING NETWORK (MCHDSN) AND BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY FOR CHWS THROUGH MEDICAID/MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT |
| MERCY & TRUTH MEDICAL MISSIONS INC | KANSAS CITY, KS | $200,000 | 2025 | STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY-NET: INCREASING ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE |
| SHEFFIELD PLACE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD AND CAPACITY BUILDING |
| MT CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | KANSAS CITY, KS | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024 PEOPLE FUNDING |
| MISSION VISION PROJECT KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | MVPKC OPERATIONS |
| POETRY FOR PERSONAL POWER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | S.T.A.R.S. PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY |
| GUADALUPE CENTER INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | FAMILY SUPPORT & SERVICES |
| SISTERS IN CHRIST | RAYTOWN, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | SISTERS IN CHRIST RESOURCE HUB |
| ALTRUISM MEDIA INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $170,000 | 2025 | THE MAIH CENTER - RURAL MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAM |
| KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION | LAWRENCE, KS | $165,000 | 2025 | K12 INITIATIVE |
KANSAS CITY CARE HEALTH CENTER (KC CARE)
$800,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES
$800,000PEOPLE FUNDING - 2024
TURNER HOUSE CLINIC INC DBA VIBRANT HEALTH
$750,000VIBRANT HEALTH: COMMUNITY ANCHOR & TRUSTED CONNECTOR
TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER (DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH) CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$750,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
CREDIT & HOMEOWNERSHIP EMPOWERMENT SERVICES INC
$650,000HOMEREADY: TURNING VISIONS INTO KEYS
EL CENTRO INC
$600,000LATINO COMMUNITY HEALTH
SAMUEL U RODGERS HEALTH CENTER
$600,000UNINSURED PATIENT CARE (INDIGENT CARE) SUPPORT.
COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
$550,000PEOPLE FUNDING 2024-26
KANSAS CITY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION
$550,000PROJECT ACCESS - SPECIALTY CARE FOR THE UNINSURED
HEALTH PARTNERSHIP OF JOHNSON COUNTY
$510,0002024 - PEOPLE FUNDING/CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED OF JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS
THRIVE ALLEN COUNTY
$500,0002024-2026 PEOPLE INITIATIVES FOR ALLEN COUNTY
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KANSAS CITY
$450,000HABITAT KC AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP: DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND HOME BUILDS
MATTIE RHODES CENTER
$450,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
TRUST NEIGHBORHOODS
$400,000NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD TRUST
NURTURE KC
$400,000MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH EQUITY
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS INC
$375,000ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY & AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE IN ALLEN COUNTY
HCC NETWORK
$375,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
CASS COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION
$360,000CASS COUNTY DENTAL CLINIC
RESTART INC
$350,0002024 PEOPLE
KC COMMON GOOD INC
$350,000KC UNITED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY- CAPACITY BUILDING
AD HOC GROUP AGAINST CRIME
$350,000HEALING GENERATIONAL TRAUMA
UNITED COMMUNITY SERVICES OF JOHNSON COUNTY INC
$350,000RACIAL EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY
GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$333,000BLACK COMMUNITY FUND 2024 SPECIAL INITIATIVE PROPOSAL
JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE
$300,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
SETON CENTER FAMILY & HEALTH SERVICES
$300,000SETON CENTER DENTAL CLINIC WITH HOLISTIC CARE
ROSE BROOKS CENTER INC
$300,000ROSE BROOKS CENTER'S CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS
SYNERGY SERVICES INC
$300,000SYNERGY SERVICES TEENS AND TOTS INTEGRATED HEALTH CLINIC
BLAQOUT INC
$280,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
KC HEALTH COLLABORATIVE
$263,2922024 LAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
UZAZI VILLAGE
$250,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI
$250,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
MIGRANT FARMWORKERS ASSISTANCE FUND
$250,000FARMWORKERS AND FAMILIES - 2024
FOOTPRINTS INC
$250,000OPERATING SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
HOPE HOUSE INC
$250,000HOPE HOUSES GENERAL OPERATING FUND
MISSOURIANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM
$250,000REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
ST LOUIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$250,000MISSOURI ECLISPE FUND
WESTSIDE HOUSING ORGANIZATION INC
$250,000EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH MINOR HOME REPAIR
RECONCILIATION SERVICES
$250,000RECONCILIATION SERVICES PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS
MISSOURIANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM
$250,000REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | PHASE TWO
COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
$220,000RADLE KC MCH DATA SHARING NETWORK (MCHDSN) AND BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY FOR CHWS THROUGH MEDICAID/MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT
MERCY & TRUTH MEDICAL MISSIONS INC
$200,000STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY-NET: INCREASING ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE
SHEFFIELD PLACE
$200,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION
$200,0002024 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD AND CAPACITY BUILDING
MT CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$200,0002024 PEOPLE FUNDING
MISSION VISION PROJECT KC
$200,000MVPKC OPERATIONS
POETRY FOR PERSONAL POWER
$200,000S.T.A.R.S. PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY
GUADALUPE CENTER INC
$200,000FAMILY SUPPORT & SERVICES
SISTERS IN CHRIST
$200,000SISTERS IN CHRIST RESOURCE HUB
ALTRUISM MEDIA INC
$170,000THE MAIH CENTER - RURAL MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAM
KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION
$165,000K12 INITIATIVE
Current and upcoming funding from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kc that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must align with foundation purpose areas and operate within the six-county service area; funding is subject to availability and strategic fit. Specific eligibility details are determined case-by-case.
Deadline: Rolling/year-round (subject to fund availability).
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