What Sunflower Foundation does

Sunflower Foundation is a Topeka, Kansas-based 501(c)(3) health philanthropy founded in 2000 that operates three integrated pillars: Healthy Communities (trails, food access, nutrition security), Health Systems (public health, mental health, primary care, integrated care), and the Sunflower Nonprofit Center, a state-of-the-art meeting facility. The foundation administers the Kansas Fights Addiction (KFA) grant program under the Kansas Fights Addiction Act of 2021, distributing opioid settlement funds expected to total nearly $400 million through 2038 to support substance use disorder services across the state. Since 2002, the foundation has invested more than $13.4 million in capacity building grants supporting nearly 400 Kansas nonprofit organizations and currently serves nearly two-thirds of Kansas counties.

Revenue mechanics operate through a grantmaking model rather than product sales. Funds are distributed via formal Request for Proposal (RFP) processes managed through Fluxx-based Sunflower Portal and KFA Portal platforms, with capacity building grants capped at $25,000 per organization and KFA peer recovery support funding offering up to $450,000 over three years ($150,000 annually). The foundation is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees — eight appointed by the Kansas Attorney General and one by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas — and operates with a small staff of approximately 1-10 employees under President & CEO Brandon Skidmore (appointed April 2024, succeeding founder Billie Hall).

Product and service offerings extend beyond grantmaking to include convening services at the Sunflower Nonprofit Center (168 events hosted in FY 2025), multiple learning collaboratives (Food is Medicine, Integrated Care, Capacity Building, Donor Development), specialized initiatives such as Food is Medicine (partnered with six FQHCs and two Kansas food banks since 2022), the Sunflower Trails program (214 funded projects at $5.5M cumulative investment), and the Trail Finder mapping tool. Strategic partnerships span Bipartisan Policy Center, Dole Institute of Politics, KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, Aspen Institute, and the Kansas Alliance for Tribal Community Health (KATCH), establishing the foundation as the central convening institution for Kansas health-sector nonprofits.

Name

Sunflower Foundation

Legal name

Sunflower Foundation

Website

https://sunflowerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sunflower Foundation is a Topeka, Kansas-based nonprofit health philanthropy that administers grant programs — including the Kansas Fights Addiction opioid settlement fund — and operates the Sunflower Nonprofit Center, serving Kansas nonprofits, FQHCs, tribal health groups, and rural health organizations statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Health philanthropy
• Grantmaking foundation
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Substance use disorder
• Community health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sunflower Foundation is a Kansas-based health philanthropy that awards grants and operates programs to improve health outcomes across the state. The foundation administers the Kansas Fights Addiction (KFA) opioid settlement grant program, Capacity Building Grants for nonprofits, the Food is Medicine initiative with FQHCs and food banks, and the Sunflower Trails program. It also operates the Sunflower Nonprofit Center, a state-of-the-art meeting facility in Topeka available to nonprofits and government agencies, and runs collaborative learning programs for the Kansas health sector.

Product overview

Sunflower Foundation operates as a health philanthropy organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of grantmaking programs (Kansas Fights Addiction, Capacity Building Grants), place-based initiatives (Healthy Communities, Health Systems), and facility services (Sunflower Nonprofit Center). Educational offerings include Food is Medicine Learning Collaborative, Integrated Care Learning Network, Donor Development Series, and Paving the Way trail development program. The foundation also provides the Trail Finder tool for public use. All programs and services are designed to improve the health of Kansas residents through catalytic investments in communities, health systems, and behavioral health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kansas Fights Addiction (KFA): A grant program administered by Sunflower Foundation that distributes funds from opioid legal settlements to support substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services across Kansas.

Products and services

• Kansas Fights Addiction (KFA) Grant Program A statewide grant program administering opioid settlement funds to support substance use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery services, and harm reduction across Kansas. Eligible applicants include state entities, municipalities, nonprofit entities, and for-profit private entities providing SUD services in Kansas. KFA Peer Support and Community Health Workers funding opportunity offers up to $450,000 total ($150,000 per year for up to three years).
• Capacity Building Grant Program Provides core operating funding to nonprofit organizations to strengthen their capacity to serve community health needs across Kansas. Capacity Building Grants are capped at $25,000 per organization. In 2024, nearly $1.5 million was awarded to 65 organizations, with 267 applications received.
• Healthy Communities Program Focuses on community health initiatives including trails, food access, nutrition security, and outdoor spaces to improve health outcomes across Kansas. Includes the Food is Medicine initiative and Sunflower Trails program.
• Health Systems Program Supports healthcare delivery systems, public health, mental health, primary care, and integrated care initiatives throughout Kansas. Includes behavioral health and primary care safety net work.
• Food is Medicine Initiative Partners with six Federally Qualified Health Clinics (Heartland Community Health Center, Genesis Family Health, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Hoxie Medical Clinic, Health Ministries Clinic, HealthCore Clinic) and state food banks (Kansas Food Bank, Harvesters) to provide medically tailored groceries and nutrition support for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes.
• Sunflower Trails Program Funds and supports the development of public trails across Kansas, with 214 unique trail projects funded at a total investment of $5.5 million. Includes the Paving the Way learning and technical assistance program supporting 25 Kansas communities at different stages of trail development.
• Sunflower Nonprofit Center A state-of-the-art meeting facility in Topeka, Kansas providing event space and collaborative learning environments for nonprofits and health organizations. The center hosted 168 events in FY 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). Catering services available (coffee, tea, water dispensers).
• Integrated Care Learning Network Collaborative learning initiative supporting healthcare organizations in implementing integrated behavioral and primary care models. Offered through the foundation's learning events program.
• Donor Development Virtual Series A five-session virtual training series for nonprofits covering philanthropy culture, case for support, donor advised funds, corporate development, and prospect research.
• Food is Medicine Learning Collaborative Connects Kansas health clinics participating in the Food is Medicine program with food banks and national experts to share implementation experiences.
• Paving the Way - From Blazing Trails to Building Community A learning and technical assistance program supporting Kansas communities in planning, developing, and sustaining public trails through virtual learning series and expert guidance. Includes the Paving the Way Learning Library providing free virtual learning series and resources for trail development.
• Trail Finder An interactive mapping resource helping Kansas residents locate and explore public trails throughout the state.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 organizations awarded nearly $1.5M in 2024 through capacity building grant program
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kansas Trails, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Provides technical assistance for the Paving the Way - From Blazing Trails to Building Community program. The foundation has provided funding and learning opportunities to 25 Kansas communities at different stages of trail development through this program.
• The Harbinger Consultancy (Michele Archie)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Michele Archie, principal from The Harbinger Consultancy, is leading the virtual learning series for trail grantees covering topics such as trail visioning, partnerships, route planning, legal considerations, funding, design, and sustainability.
• KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Leading the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment of Substance Use Disorder Systems and Related Work in Kansas. This assessment informed KFA Grant Review Board's funding priorities for 2026.
• Bipartisan Policy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partnership with Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to bring the Bob & Elizabeth Dole Series on Leadership to Kansas. This was the first time in the five-year history of the series that it was held outside Washington, D.C. Sunflower Foundation partnered with the Dole Institute of Politics to present engaging discussions about challenges and opportunities within rural health care.
• Dole Institute of Politics (University of Kansas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Hosted the 2023 Dole Lecture Series at the Dole Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, partnering with Sunflower Foundation for the first out-of-Washington D.C. event in the series' five-year history.
• Aspen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner for Food is Medicine initiatives. Dr. Marianna Wetherill provided update on Aspen Institute's Food is Medicine Research Action Plan. Aspen Institute brought Food is Medicine Midwest Convening to Topeka in January 2024.
• Kansas Food Bank and Harvesters - The Community Food NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023State food banks collaborating with FIM health clinic partners to procure additional food supplies for medically tailored groceries and nutrition programs.
• Kansas Alliance for Tribal Community Health (KATCH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023New intertribal health coalition representing four Kansas tribes: Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska. Organized 2023 Kansas Tribal Health Summit at Sunflower Nonprofit Center.
• University of Kansas Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Part of the Food is Medicine (FIM) evaluation team. Kristina Bridges, PhD, serves as evaluator alongside Marianna Wetherill, PhD, MPH, RDN (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center) and Susan Harvey, PhD (University of Kansas).
• Gretchen Swanson Center for NutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research scientists Christopher Long, PhD, and Carmen Byker Shanks, PhD, provide national perspectives and case studies on Food is Medicine effectiveness. Helps position Kansas within the FIM movement.
• Food is Medicine Health Clinic Partners (Six FQHCs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Six Federally Qualified Health Clinics in Kansas participating in Food is Medicine program: Heartland Community Health Center (Lawrence), Genesis Family Health (Dodge City), Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg), Hoxie Medical Clinic (Hoxie), Health Ministries Clinic (Newton), HealthCore Clinic (Wichita).
• Kansas Attorney General's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFA board appointed by Kansas Attorney General. The Kansas Fights Addiction Act was enacted in 2021 by the Kansas Legislature. Sunflower Foundation serves as administrator for the KFA grant program, distributing opioid settlement funds.
• United to TransformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment of Substance Use Disorder Systems and Related Work in Kansas, which informed KFA Grant Review Board's funding priorities for 2026.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCBS of Kansas appoints one trustee to Sunflower Foundation's nine-member Board of Trustees. Current BCBSKS appointees include Andy Corbin (former president/CEO) and Angie Strecker (former VP of Provider Relations).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Colorado Health Foundation: Statewide health philanthropy focused on Colorado with similar pillars of healthy communities, health equity, and behavioral health. Comparable mission and program structure at a larger scale.
• Missouri Foundation for Health: One of the largest regional health philanthropies in the Midwest, administering statewide opioid abatement funding. Comparable in grantmaking structure and scale, with a broader geographic footprint.
• Conrad N. Hilton Foundation: Large global foundation with significant U.S. health, substance use, and food systems work. Comparable in operating a multi-program health philanthropy with capacity building and learning components.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: National health philanthropy focused on health equity, social determinants, and community health. Comparable in mission orientation toward healthy communities and systems change, though far larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Kansas Health Foundation: The largest Kansas-focused health philanthropy, also based in Wichita. Directly comparable as a state-level health foundation investing in community health, policy, and capacity building across Kansas, with overlapping grantee ecosystems.
• REACH Healthcare Foundation: Regional health philanthropy serving Kansas and Missouri with a focus on health equity, behavioral health, and safety-net providers. Comparable mission, grantmaking approach, and similar nonprofit foundation structure.
• Health Forward Foundation: Kansas City-area health philanthropy with similar focus on community health, mental health, and integrated care. Comparable in scale, mission, and target nonprofit grantee base.

Emerging players

• Aspen Institute: National policy and convening organization that partnered with Sunflower on Food is Medicine Midwest Convening. Comparable in running collaborative learning initiatives and convening stakeholders around health issues.
• Empire Health Foundation: Regional health foundation in Washington state with comparable focus on rural health, behavioral health, and Food is Medicine-adjacent programs. Comparable mid-sized grantmaking foundation operating multiple programs.

Regional players

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation: BCBS of Kansas is a corporate partner and board trustee of Sunflower Foundation, with its own philanthropic arm. Comparable in Kansas-focused health philanthropy and overlapping grantee universe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sunflowerfdn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SunflowerFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunflowerfdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/SunflowerFDN
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunflowerfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Foundation