The REACH Healthcare Foundation regularly partners with the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) to gather candid feedback from our grantee partners. This survey provides critical insights into how we are doing in areas such as grantmaking processes, clarity of communications, relationship-building, and our understanding of the issues our partners are tackling every day.
These surveys of our grantee perceptions have been conducted in 2016, 2019, 2022, and most recently in 2025. This year’s survey was sent to 108 grantees, with 66 responding, a strong 61% response rate. The results were benchmarked against REACH’s past performance and a dataset of more than 300 foundations nationwide, as well as a peer group of 15 regional and national funders of similar purpose and asset size.
The feedback we receive provides insights into how our partners experience our work and allows us to validate what is working well while identifying where we can improve.
Our last survey in 2022 was conducted during the first full year of REACH’s current strategic plan, and grantees strongly encouraged us to continue and deepen our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We listened, and under the leadership of Vice President of Programs, Carla Gibson, REACH increased investment in DEI-focused initiatives, was more intentional in communication practices, and exercised the foundation’s “trust-based philanthropy muscles” by implementing new processes to ease the administrative burden on our partners. The results of the 2025 survey demonstrate that those efforts are resonating.
While the foundation’s commitment to racial equity was already highly rated in 2022, grantee perceptions of REACH’s commitment to racial and health equity improved to a statistically significant degree. Respondents noted that our intentional DEI programs and initiatives are not only visible, but impactful.
The foundation has continued to focus on ensuring a streamlined process for grant applications. This year, REACH scored in the top 10% of all CEP’s national dataset for the transparency of our application process, including clarity around criteria, requirements, and timelines. In other words, our partners rated the foundation higher than 90% of funders for our transparency and user-friendly grant application processes.
“The REACH staff are always open to communication, I feel I can contact them at any time with questions or concerns. Their grants application and reporting requirements are easy to follow and not overly time consuming to complete. The flexibility they allow is ideal for the ever-changing environment our organization operates in. We are extremely grateful for the partnership we have with REACH!”
–REACH Grantee Partner Feedback
CEP’s benchmarks also placed REACH among the top 5 percent of all funders nationwide for communicating strategic goals. Grantee partners reported that our goals and strategies are well-articulated, consistent, and clearly connected to our grantmaking.
Reflecting on the progress, REACH President & CEO Brenda Sharpe shared, “We are pleased to see that the intentional changes we have made over the years in our grantmaking initiatives, processes, and communications have made a difference. Our partners see REACH not only as a grantmaker, but as a thought leader and advocate for health and social issues, and that affirmation means a great deal to us.”
While the 2025 survey results are encouraging, we know our work to integrate trust-based practices into our grantmaking is never finished. In fact, the most meaningful part of this process is the candid, constructive feedback from our partners about how we can continue to grow.
One area our partners highlighted for growth is the importance of continued support that goes beyond grant funding. They expressed a desire for REACH to play an even larger role in policy advocacy, convening organizations, and fostering collaboration. This reinforces our role not only as a funder, but also as a connector and catalyst for collective action. As one grantee reflected, “REACH brings many organizations and people together to learn, to build, and to act. They support multiple levels and areas that impact health and healthcare access, not just funding direct medical providers, which is very important for having a larger impact on our community.”
Grantees also encouraged us to continue spending more time engaging directly with their organizations and the communities they serve. While the foundation strives to stay connected with a small staff, partners noted that experiencing their work firsthand allows the foundation to better understand the impact beyond what is shared in applications and reports. This deeper connection not only strengthens REACH’s awareness of the lived experiences shaping grantee partners’ missions but also builds a stronger base for partnership rooted in empathy, trust and shared purposes.
“We value the honest, candid feedback we receive from our partners as it helps us grow, improve, and most importantly, better serve our communities,” said Gibson. “Our relationship with grantees is reciprocal and rooted in trust. As our partners continue to elevate the health and wellness of our communities, we are equally committed to evaluating, scaling, and improving the way we support and walk alongside them.”
The 2025 CEP Grantee Feedback Report validates that REACH is on the right path, but it also challenges us to keep learning, adapting, and deepening our commitment. Sharpe notes that this feedback will be incorporated into the foundation’s current year-long strategic planning process. “We are grateful to our partners for taking the time to share their experiences and perspectives, and we look forward to building on this feedback to strengthen both our organization, support our partners, and positively impact the communities we are all working to serve.”
Follow the link to view the report: 2025 Key Findings and Recommendations from REACH Healthcare Foundation’s Grantee Perception Report
