Kansas now ranks #27 in America’s Health Rankings, a modest but meaningful rise from #28 in 2024.
Forward movement, no matter how incremental, matters, especially when compared to our state’s decades-long trend of steadily sliding down in these national rankings. Our progress might not be fast, but it is not accidental either. To lead the nation in health, it will take shared commitment, sustained effort and the growing vision that Kansas can make its way back to the top.
Continued progress on this monumental task will require bold collaboration across sectors, counties and communities, because no single organization can solve our state’s complex health challenges alone.
As we look ahead to 2026, the Kansas Health Foundation will act as a connector, a mobilizer and a resource to align statewide efforts around strong networks, impactful investments and the infrastructure needed to support positive health outcomes for all Kansans.
Mobilizing Statewide Efforts for Local Solutions
“In 2026, you’ll see Kansas Health Foundation spark innovative, catalytic ideas to spur Upward Mobility in Kansas.” – Lindsay Wilke, Associate Director of Network Mobilization
Health is deeply connected to economic opportunity, education and financial stability, which is why we chose Upward Mobility as our next major health challenge.
Learn more about how we approach major health challenges
We define Upward Mobility as “the ability to stabilize, thrive and make choices over time without losing connection to culture, community or self.” To achieve that kind of mobility, we need a far-reaching and aligned ecosystem working collaboratively. Network mobilization—activating statewide partners, connecting local leaders and creating a space for collaboration—is how this work takes shape.
Last year, we began work on this major health challenge by crowdsourcing Kansans’ ideas for change. This year, our focus shifts from listening to building.
During our annual FuseKS convening in April, we will bring together stakeholders and experts, organizations and advocates, businesses and government officials to share knowledge and co-create a blueprint to advance Upward Mobility informed by collaboration and lived experience.
Investing Resources for Long-Term Outcomes
“In 2026, I’m most excited for our work on impact investing and deploying more capital across Kansas.” – Alejo Cabral, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships
Improving health is not only good for Kansans, it’s also good for our economy.
We recently published The Economic Case for Health: Why Health Can Be a Strategy for Economic Prosperity, a report that outlines how health is a key ingredient to economic success and what leaders can do to drive long-term, positive outcomes for both.
Key Insights from the Report
- Macro Growth: Healthier states attract more investment and see higher per-capita income.
- Public Finance: Prevention protects public budgets and increases tax revenue.
- Workforce: Healthier workers mean higher productivity and lower business costs.
- Families: Good health is the foundation for household wealth and upward mobility.
Alongside traditional grantmaking, Kansas Health Foundation has committed to making impact investments in businesses and organizations that improve and strengthen the systems surrounding health in our state. By exemplifying the type of investment our research shows works, we hope to encourage other enterprises and organizations to invest in Kansas health with us.
What I’m Most Excited For in 2026
“We all have a role to play. Now is not the time to say it’s someone else’s job to make our neighborhoods, communities and state healthier and better.” – Rev. Kevass Harding, Executive Director, Hope Community Development Corporation
Last year, Rev. Harding closed our annual HealthRise event with a reminder that we all rise together.
In 2026, I am most excited to watch Kansas continue to rise… in America’s Health Rankings, in economic prosperity and upward mobility, and in our ability to collaborate to improve the health of our state.
The work ahead is ambitious, and we know Kansas will rise—together—to meet it.