Build Missouri Health to Serve as Intermediary for Upward Momentum’s Bridging Divides Initiative
Build Missouri Health is proud to partner with Upward Momentum, a Missouri-based philanthropic initiative launched in 2024 to address the root causes of generational poverty and expand economic mobility across the state.
As part of this partnership, Build Missouri Health will serve as intermediary managing this year’s grant funding under Upward Momentum’s Bridging Divides initiative.
Upward Momentum’s work is guided by three strategic pillars that shape investments and partnerships statewide:
Across these pillars, the Bridging Divides initiative focuses on the power of collective learning and collaboration. The initiative supports leaders in rural and urban communities in understanding shared challenges, aligning resources, and developing solutions that expand opportunity for individuals and families across Missouri. By creating an exchange of ideas and approaches that can be adapted in different contexts, Bridging Divides aims to reach communities statewide.
In our role as intermediary, Build Missouri Health will manage the grant funding process — supporting application development, coordinating reviewers, and facilitating a transparent and equitable review cycle aligned with Upward Momentum’s priorities.
“Build Missouri Health understands the importance of transparency, collaboration, and community context,” said Ryan Risley, Managing Director of Upward Momentum. “Our partnership helps ensure that we are supporting organizations positioned to create meaningful change across Missouri.”
“We know that opportunity, stability, and health go hand in hand,” said Jasmine Hall Ratliff, Executive Director for Build Missouri Health. “Serving as intermediary for the Bridging Divides initiative allows us to support organizations doing important work across Missouri while helping build the connections and shared learning that move communities forward.”
Through this partnership, Upward Momentum and Build Missouri Health are strengthening the structure that supports collaborative investment across Missouri. By managing the funding process and creating opportunities for shared learning, the Bridging Divides initiative will help organizations connect ideas, align efforts, and expand solutions that can be adapted in communities statewide.
As part of this partnership, Build Missouri Health will serve as intermediary managing this year’s grant funding under Upward Momentum’s Bridging Divides initiative.
Upward Momentum’s work is guided by three strategic pillars that shape investments and partnerships statewide:
- Caring for Families: Re-centering and re-imagining what it means to “care” for families and their economic well-being
- Navigating Work: Providing guidance and comprehensive support to help individuals effectively engage with labor market systems
- Strengthening Communities: Equipping communities with the conditions, coordination, and capacity needed to support long-term economic mobility
Across these pillars, the Bridging Divides initiative focuses on the power of collective learning and collaboration. The initiative supports leaders in rural and urban communities in understanding shared challenges, aligning resources, and developing solutions that expand opportunity for individuals and families across Missouri. By creating an exchange of ideas and approaches that can be adapted in different contexts, Bridging Divides aims to reach communities statewide.
In our role as intermediary, Build Missouri Health will manage the grant funding process — supporting application development, coordinating reviewers, and facilitating a transparent and equitable review cycle aligned with Upward Momentum’s priorities.
“Build Missouri Health understands the importance of transparency, collaboration, and community context,” said Ryan Risley, Managing Director of Upward Momentum. “Our partnership helps ensure that we are supporting organizations positioned to create meaningful change across Missouri.”
“We know that opportunity, stability, and health go hand in hand,” said Jasmine Hall Ratliff, Executive Director for Build Missouri Health. “Serving as intermediary for the Bridging Divides initiative allows us to support organizations doing important work across Missouri while helping build the connections and shared learning that move communities forward.”