Last month, the REACH staff, board members, and partners had the opportunity to attend the 2025 Grantmakers in Health (GIH) Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme, “Forging Partnerships for a Better Tomorrow,” brought together health funders, advocates, and thought leaders from across the country to tackle urgent challenges and explore transformative opportunities within the philanthropic sector. The 60th anniversary of Medicaid, Medicare, and the Older Americans Act, as well as commemorating two decades since Hurricane Katrina and Rita reshaped discussions on equity, disaster response, and community resilience made the conference particularly significant. The plenary session titled “Medicaid, Medicare, and the Older Americans Act: 60 Years Later,” featured experts from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Justice in Aging, and Elam Strategies who delivered a stark assessment of the existing landscape, highlighting the pressing concerns surrounding funding cuts.
This call to action was particularly timely for the REACH team, which has been collaborating with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and Manatt Health to develop projections outlining the potential impact of these proposed cuts in Kansas. Their forecasts estimate the number of Kansans who could lose coverage and detail projected losses in funding, both in the first year and over the following decade, predictions that could severely affect local and rural communities.
“This plenary was a pivotal opportunity to align our efforts and strengthen our collective response. It energized funders to think strategically about how we can protect coverage, support our most vulnerable communities, and lead with a proactive policy and advocacy agenda,” stated Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO of REACH.
Other sessions highlighted the urgent need to support Indigenous and LGBTQ+ organizations equitably, as these groups continue to encounter systemic barriers to delivering culturally responsive and affirming health and mental health care. Community leaders from LGBTQ+ health coalitions shared powerful stories of resistance, healing, and the transformative impact of care rooted in cultural identity and lived experiences.
Reflecting on the session, REACH Board Member Celia Byers remarked, “It shifted my perspective in important ways. I learned just how deeply anti-trans policies and systemic racism intersect to block access to care. It reinforced the need for funders like REACH to support work that centers on the most marginalized.”
Carla Gibson, vice president of programs at REACH, emphasized the responsibility of funders to act boldly and listen deeply. “The needs of Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities are distinct, and too often overlooked. This session was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when care is rooted in culture, trust, and lived experience. It left me wanting to find more ways we can support and elevate the work we do for these communities through deeper collaboration, more intentional funding, and a shared commitment to equity.”
In keeping with the foundation’s commitment to share its learnings with philanthropy colleagues, Carla Gibson had the privilege of co-presenting with partners Nicole Garner, executive director of the Center for African American Health, and Dr. Danielle Binion, chief strategy officer of the Community Health Commission of Missouri. Together, they shared insights from the 2024 Building Mainstream Champions (BMC) educational series, which addresses historical and systemic inequities affecting Black Americans. During their presentation, Binion, Garner, and Gibson discussed their approach to creating a unique reparative education series, highlighting the importance of equipping advocates with strategies to dismantle structural racism and work toward achieving health equity.
Both Binion and Garner expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend and share the BMC series at this year’s GIH conference. “One of the most powerful takeaways for me was around storytelling—the idea that narrative is power,” said Garner. “We have the ability to change the story we’ve been told, and the philanthropic sector has the opportunity—and responsibility—to change course. To fund differently, listen differently, and lead differently. That’s where the real work begins.”
For Binion, “The conference reaffirmed CHCM’s long-standing commitment to equity-centered trauma-informed care and clarified our future work in community participatory research and practices. Communities already hold the wisdom, knowledge, and capacity to lead their own solutions, recovery, and resilience. Our role is to remove structural barriers that prevent them from doing so…and get out of the way when necessary.”
As the conference came to a close, GIH President and CEO, Dr. Cara James, reiterated that the future of health philanthropy requires more than just strategy—it calls for shared action and deep listening—something that REACH takes to heart and puts into practice in our approach to trust-based philanthropic practices.
“Being a part of the conference affirmed for me that REACH is at the forefront of the work that’s needed to bridge the gaps within our communities,” said REACH Board Member Deryl Wynn. “As I listened to the sessions and heard about best practices and proven strategies, I realized many of these approaches are already part of the work we’re doing—which reinforces that we’re on the right path.”
For the REACH team, the conference was a powerful call to action—a reminder that even in the face of political uncertainty, we are not powerless. We have the opportunity, and the obligation, to act boldly, think creatively, and work collectively to advance justice, equity, and lasting change in the communities we serve.
