How equity-centered philanthropy in Kansas is redefining impact—for communities and funders alike
Overview
Philanthropy often measures success grant by grant. But the most durable change happens when funders themselves evolve—when institutions rethink power, partnership, and what it means to invest for equity.
Convergence Partnership, in collaboration with the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF), supported a cohort of grassroots and intermediary, people-of-color–led organizations advancing racial justice and health equity across Kansas. These included Destination Innovation, Hutch in Harmony, and Omni Circle—organizations deeply rooted in their communities and addressing intersecting challenges spanning public safety, economic mobility, youth leadership, and community health.
What emerged was more than programmatic success. The work catalyzed organizational growth, measurable community outcomes, and a shift from reactive service delivery to proactive systems change. Just as importantly, it reshaped how KHF understood its role—directly informing the creation of the Building Power & Equity Partnership (BPEP), a long-term, trust-based, place-based investment strategy.
Kansas now offers a compelling case for prospective donors: when philanthropy centers trust, narrative power, and community leadership, the impact extends far beyond individual grants—transforming organizations, ecosystems, and the funders themselves.
What’s Taking Root in Kansas: Results That Build Power
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Early Lessons: Equity Requires Long-Term Vision
The Reality of Grassroots Leadership in Kansas
Early in the work, funders confronted a structural reality: in many rural and mid-size Kansas communities, POC-led organizations are scarce, informal, or under-resourced. When organizations were identified, they were often stretched thin by urgent community needs—housing instability, violence prevention, re-entry support—leaving little capacity for long-term planning or policy engagement. Yet community leaders emphasized that this work was not a detour from systems change; it was the foundation.
“For us, it isn’t about how many people come through the door—it’s about making sure people don’t die tomorrow on the street.”
— Esmeralda Tovar-Mora, Hutch in Harmony
This insight reframed expectations for funders: systems change does not begin with policy—it begins with stability, trust, and dignity.
Why Unrestricted Funding Changed the Trajectory
Across both funder and grantee interviews, one theme surfaced repeatedly: unrestricted, predictable funding was transformational.
“The biggest surprise was how huge unrestricted funding was. It was such a game changer.” — Valerie Black, KHF
For grantees, flexible funding meant moving out of survival mode and into sustained growth.
“Flexible funding and trust in our vision mattered most. Beyond dollars, the encouragement to think big allowed us to move from surviving to building a model for community wealth creation.” — Michael Odupitan, Omni Circle
For donors, the lesson is clear: unrestricted funding is not a leap of faith—it is a force multiplier.
Changing What’s Possible by Changing the Story
Narrative and visibility emerged as powerful tools for equity—often in unexpected forms. Murals, youth-led storytelling, entrepreneurship showcases, and public art reshaped how communities saw themselves and how institutions engaged them. What began as cultural expression translated into credibility, trust, and influence within civic systems.
“The community sees us as someone they can go to. The city comes to us when there are questions or when there is a hiring process that wasn’t equitable in the past.” — Esmeralda Tovar-Mora
At the same time, narrative work expanded what communities believed was possible—reclaiming identity, dignity, and voice in places too often defined by deficit.
“If Kansas can be a catalyst for hate, we can be a catalyst for love. Kansas is the heart of this country—if we can heal the heart, we can heal the world.” — Marquetta Atkins-Woods
Together, these narrative shifts laid the cultural groundwork for long-term policy influence and systems change—demonstrating that changing the story is often the first step toward changing outcomes.
From Reactive Work to Proactive Systems Change
Before Convergence’s support, many organizations were forced into reactive cycles—responding to crisis after crisis with limited infrastructure.
“For the first five years of Hutch in Harmony, it was very reactive work. Convergence allowed us to be more proactive, intentional, and rooted in community safety and trust.” — Esmeralda Tovar-Mora
With stability came strategy. Organizations began formalizing programs, building leadership pipelines, and engaging civic systems. Funders recognized this upstream potential as a critical insight.
“Just because an organization starts with basic needs doesn’t mean they can’t eventually move upstream to systems change.” — Valerie Black
How Funders Changed: From Convergence to BPEP
The lessons from this work did not remain isolated. They directly shaped KHF’s institutional strategy, culminating in the Building Power & Equity Partnership (BPEP)—a 10-year, $30+ million commitment to 30 organizations through multi-year, unrestricted funding.
This represented a fundamental shift in how KHF understood partnership, accountability, and risk. Scaling trust came with trade-offs—less short-term flexibility in grantmaking—but funders embraced this constraint as a sign of seriousness.
“In one way of looking at it, BPEP is the Convergence Partnership on steroids. The downside to long-term core support is that our flexible grantmaking budget gets smaller…but I like it that way.” — Ed O’Malley
Conclusion: An Invitation to Invest Differently
Kansas demonstrates what becomes possible when philanthropy centers trust, narrative power, and community leadership. Organizations grow stronger. Communities gain voice and visibility. And funders themselves transform—embedding equity into institutional practice.
For prospective donors, this case study is an invitation: to move beyond transactional giving and toward transformative investment. To support not only programs, but power. And to help scale deep models of philanthropy that are as resilient, relational, and visionary as the communities they serve.