Building Capacity Through Fund Development: CPPR Shares Tools for Systems Change at Kansas Health Foundation Summit

Fund development isn't just about raising money—it’s a key lever for systems change. That was the message behind “A Practical Guide to Fund Development,” a presentation that offered Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) partners concrete tools to evaluate, adapt, and grow their funding capacity in alignment with their mission.

CPPR Executive Director Jared Barton and Senior Research Associates Silke von Esenwein and Chris Tilden presented to about 30 grassroots, community-based organizations  at the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) 2025 Partner Summit on July 17. The presentation explained systems change through the critical role of fund development and covered the why, how, and appropriate frameworks needed.

With practical examples from organizations such as Radical Life, Douglas County AIDS, and Friends of Lawrence Area Trails, the CPPR researchers demonstrated how organizations can strengthen funding efforts by bringing together partners across sectors, building trust, adapting to change, and telling a clear story.

The presentation also recommended strategies and shared a self-assessment inventory for KHF partners to better identify and evaluate their values, collaborations, and ability to adapt to pursue new partners. With guided sections that prompt reflection and surface new potential strategies, the inventory provides a structure for organizations to take stock of their current resources and where to strengthen or pivot them.

See presentation and the self-assessment inventory.