The REACH Foundation announced Core Operating Partner grants totaling $1.7 million to 17 health care, advocacy and policy, and coordinating organizations. The unrestricted grants will cover two years, beginning January 2025.
Core operating grants represent an important investment in a high-quality and effective safety-net health care system—a commitment the REACH Foundation has maintained for more than a decade. These unrestricted grants enable recipient organizations to address critical needs and advance their missions without specific spending limitations.
“REACH Core Operating grants help us meet critical needs in our communities by providing us the flexibility to use funds where they are most needed and can have the biggest impact. We appreciate that REACH understands the needs of community organizations and trusts us to be the best stewards of funds in our communities,” said Jason Wesco, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
To date, REACH has awarded over 400 Core Operating grants totaling nearly $25 million to key community partners, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, statewide advocacy organizations, direct service providers, stand-alone dental clinics, and rural health coalitions.
“Investing in organizations through operating grants is more than just funding—it’s about trusting and empowering our partners. By offering this flexible support, we aim to alleviate the financial pressures of daily operations, enabling organizations to concentrate on their programmatic work and enhance their impact on the communities they serve,” said Carla Gibson, Vice President of Programs.
“Swope Health and other safety net providers continue to face a dynamic environment and uncharted waters that present barriers to helping low-income patients receive high-quality, accessible healthcare. Unrestricted funding from the REACH Healthcare Foundation will help us respond to shifting tides– whether in Washington, D.C., Jefferson City, or Topeka—and enables Swope Health to continue to invest operationally in workforce development, provider burnout prevention, and health equity initiatives. Autonomy and discretion are critical in these moments of uncertainty; this funding enables Swope Health to remain nimble, agile, and push through unanticipated challenges to serve our patients and the community best,” said Jeron Ravin, J.D., President and CEO of Swope Health.
In the revised 2022-2026 Community Investment Framework, REACH redefined its goals for Core Operating funding, increasing emphasis on diversity and expanding the cohort to add new community organizations. In 2022, the foundation also structured the grants as two-year awards as a demonstration of commitment to the work of the selected organizations.
“We believe that when our partners are free to address operational needs as they arise, they can build stronger, more resilient programs that are responsive to the people who depend on them. This approach reflects our commitment to sustainable, community-driven change,” said Gibson.
The following organizations have been awarded $100,000 grants:
Cass County Community Health Foundation
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Jewish Vocational Service Bureau of Kansas City
Juntos – Center for Advancing Latino Health
Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund
