Kansas Health Foundation Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: What is the mission of the Foundation?
A: To improve the health of all Kansans.

Q: Why do you focus so much attention on children?
A: We’ve learned that what happens from birth to age five significantly impacts an individual throughout his or her life. This has real implications for the future of our communities and Kansas. A healthier tomorrow demands helping kids today.

Q: What type of activities do you fund?
A: The Kansas Health Foundation provides funding within four primary areas: children's health, public health, leadership and policy.

Q: If I am interested in applying for a grant what should I do?
A: The Kansas Health Foundation generally does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. An exception is our Recognition Grant program, which is open to any nonprofit organization doing innovative work to improve health in Kansas.

Q: Why does the Foundation run commercials and ads about reading to children? What does that have to do with health?
A: Research shows that reading, rhyming, singing, drawing, telling stories and other activities that engage a young child stimulate critical brain development. Amazingly, by age three, 85 percent of the brain’s core structures are organized. Creating an environment that nurtures children and puts them first helps them grow up to be healthy, tolerant, thoughtful and contributing adults.

Q: What do you mean by taking a preventive approach to health?
A: Consider the example of pregnancy prevention. A young teenager – female or male – could go through a pregnancy-prevention program. An even earlier approach would be to help develop strong self-esteem and good decision-making skills as a pre-teen. A primary-prevention approach would help create a nurturing environment when the child is small, helping her (or him) be ready for school by age five. Being ready to enter school increases chances of doing well in school, of graduating from high school, of not becoming pregnant or engaging in other risk-taking behaviors, and living in better economic circumstances – all of which leads to better health. That’s what we mean by prevention, and that’s why we take this approach.

Q: How did the Foundation obtain its assets?
A: Originally known as the Wesley Foundation, our largest influx of proceeds came as a result of the sale of the nonprofit Wesley Hospital to a for-profit corporation. More than $200 million from the sale went to endow what is today known as the Kansas Health Foundation. As a result of responsible investment policies and sound financial governance, today we have assets of approximately $480 million and annually allocate more than $23 million in qualifying distributions.

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