Text over a blue background reads “From the desk of Executive Director Ryan Easterly.” To the left is headshot of Ryan Easterly.
From the Desk of Ryan Easterly
Executive Director
WITH Foundation
[Date: September 20, 2023]
Dear WITH Partners and Friends,
I write to you today on behalf of the WITH Foundation (WITH) and its esteemed Board of Directors. As you may know, WITH was established in 2002 with a commitment to benefiting the disability community. In 2011, WITH Foundation honed its mission to focus on promoting comprehensive healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities in the United States. Over the years, we have had the privilege of witnessing the impact of our funding, which has exceeded $12 million, in support of projects and organizations working to enhance healthcare service delivery models for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
As a society, the experiences of the last few years have magnified the challenges faced by people with disabilities, further compounded by the complexities encountered by healthcare professionals. These challenges include the issues adults with I/DD face in navigating the adult healthcare system, the difficulties in finding disability specialists, especially in rural areas, and the challenges of the COVID-19 and Mpox responses, among many other examples. At WITH, we have worked to support organizations in addressing these formidable challenges. In our continued collaboration with healthcare institutions, dedicated healthcare professionals, and self-advocates, it has become increasingly apparent that WITH must evolve to meet the dynamic demands of our mission.
WITH Foundation was originally conceived to exist for a single generation, with a planned lifespan of up to 70 years. In alignment with that lifespan, we traditionally offered grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 to organizations each year. While these grants have been impactful, we know we can and must do more to support meaningful change. As we approach the milestone of our 21st anniversary, we have undertaken an important and strategic decision.
Hence, I’m writing to share that WITH Foundation and its Board of Directors have decided to shorten the planned lifespan of the Foundation and publicly cease its operations (sunset) on December 31, 2028. This strategic evolution in the lifespan of the Foundation marks the dawn of an exciting new chapter. In this chapter, we will be spending down all WITH assets within the next five years. To this end, we are restructuring our grant cycles in the following ways:
- Traditional Grant Cycles: WITH will now consider grants of up to $100,000. We will give preference to organizations that share our core values and work to support comprehensive healthcare for adults with I/DD.
- Research-Focused Grants: In our traditional cycles we will consider research-focused grants. We will now consider grants of up to $200,000, recognizing the pivotal role research plays in propelling positive change in the realm of disability healthcare.
In addition to these changes in grant sizes, WITH Foundation will collaborate closely with select grantees in the coming months and years, providing larger investments that bolster sustainability and fortify our core values within the healthcare landscape, thereby ensuring enduring impact.
Furthermore, our commitment to impact extends beyond the work of our immediate grant recipients. We are steadfast in our resolve to assist our philanthropic peers, particularly within the healthcare sector, as they endeavor to incorporate a disability lens into their grantmaking efforts as well as embrace community participatory approaches. In late March of 2024, I will provide additional details regarding our plans for the years ahead.
We remain cognizant of the critical role that our funding plays in supporting the work being done by our partners. I am grateful for their work and hope WITH will be a strong partner as we embark on WITH’s last chapter in supporting healthcare equity for adults with I/DD. It is our earnest hope that these deeper investments will resonate far beyond the lifespan of our Foundation, leaving an indelible mark on the healthcare experiences of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
With warmest regards,
Ryan Easterly
Executive Director
WITH Foundation