The Rise of Community Health Workers: A Best Practice for Modern Community Benefit Initiatives

Healthcare delivery has evolved since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, prompting health systems to find more effective ways to serve their communities and address identified health needs.

Enter the community health worker.

The emergence of community health worker (CHW) programs within healthcare systems has accelerated over the past five years. And with the potential for reduced government funding, CHWs play a critical role in advancing health equity.

Hospital foundations are increasingly partnering with community benefit departments to expand access to care. As public funding remains under pressure, philanthropic investments are becoming essential—helping hospitals sustain CHW programs, strengthen community outreach, and develop innovative care models that drive meaningful improvements in health equity.

What is a Community Health Worker?

A CHW is a newer role in healthcare and community outreach. This position is external—a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community they serve.

These workers serve as a liaison between healthcare services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. They help patients navigate complex healthcare systems, helping those who might otherwise fall through the cracks gain access to necessary services. Their work ensures that patients transition smoothly from hospital to community care, which is vital when hospital resources are strained due to budget cuts.

What does a Community Health Worker Do?

CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. As of 2023, there are over 58,000 CHWs working to help address unmet health needs in historically disadvantaged and underserved communities.

CHWs not only deliver clinical care but also help tackle underlying social factors—such as housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation challenges—that disproportionately affect marginalized populations. By addressing these determinants, they play a direct role in reducing health disparities. Through proactive follow-up and support, CHWs reduce hospital readmissions and improve overall patient outcomes.

The Role of Philanthropy in Sustaining CHW Programs

As hospitals expand their commitment to community-based care, philanthropic investments have emerged as a critical lifeline in sustaining and scaling CHW programs. While CHWs provide undeniable benefits, securing stable funding for these programs remains a challenge.

Hospital foundations, corporate donors, and individual philanthropists play a pivotal role in ensuring these programs not only continue but thrive. Charitable donations and grants help hospitals hire and train more CHWs, increasing their reach within underserved communities. Recurring donor support ensures that CHW programs remain resilient despite fluctuations in government funding and healthcare reimbursement policies.

Hospital Foundations as Champions of Community Benefit

Hospital foundations have a unique opportunity to position CHW programs as a core component of their community benefit strategy. By aligning CHW funding with broader health equity goals, healthcare foundations can demonstrate their commitment to reducing health disparities and improving population health outcomes. Additionally, leveraging donor engagement strategies—such as storytelling, impact reports, and targeted fundraising campaigns—can build sustained philanthropic support for CHW programs.

The Cleveland Clinic, for example, recently announced the expansion of its CHW program, demonstrating how large health systems are prioritizing these roles to drive better community health outcomes. Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Community Health Workers was established in November 2021 through a multimillion-dollar gift from the Jones Day Foundation. The program continues to grow with support from philanthropic contributions of all sizes. While the exact investment amount for the recent expansion—aimed at doubling the staff—isn’t specified, the program’s ongoing development relies on diverse philanthropic support. Philanthropic contributions are often essential in such expansions, enabling hospitals to innovate and tailor CHW services to meet community-specific needs.

Strong Community Benefit Initiatives for Health Equity

CHWs are more than just healthcare facilitators—they are vital agents of change in promoting health equity, particularly in challenging fiscal environments where philanthropic support fills critical gaps in care. By mobilizing donor support and leveraging hospital foundations as champions for community-based care, the healthcare sector can sustain and expand CHW programs, creating a future where every community has access to trusted, culturally competent health advocates bringing health equity within reach.

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