Introduction
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today’s webinar hosted by Patagonia Health. The topic is Diversifying Your Public Health Agency’s Revenue Streams.
If you’re not familiar with Zoom, you can use the control panel at the bottom of your screen to adjust audio settings, send chat messages, or ask questions.
Our speaker today is Deborah Thompson, a public health advocate with extensive experience in persuasive communication from her time as a legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Public Health. She founded DHT Consulting and Training, supports health and human services professionals, and is active with several public health associations and coalitions. She lives in Urbandale, Iowa, with her family, and outside of work she enjoys gardening, traveling, and adult coloring.
Deborah Thompson: Opening
1:16
Thank you, Dana, for that introduction. Gardening really is my happy place, so I appreciate you mentioning that.
Today, we’re going to talk about money ideas—specifically, how public health agencies can diversify their revenue.
Here’s our outline for today:
- First, acknowledge and honor the next hard thing in public health that’s pushed us back into the national conversation—much like COVID did.
- Second, put things in perspective so we can maintain our sanity, since health challenges aren’t going away.
- Finally, share and learn from each other. Some revenue ideas might be new to you, others not. If you’ve had experiences with these sources, please share tips in the chat. We’re stronger as a community when we learn together.
Honoring the Next Hard Thing
5:00
Public health is once again in the spotlight. After COVID, many hoped for a break, but now we’re facing new crises that push us into the national conversation again.
It’s important to take a moment to acknowledge that reality. These challenges are heavy, and the work can feel overwhelming. At the same time, the fact that public health is part of the national dialogue is also an opportunity. Visibility can open doors for support and new revenue streams.
Keeping Perspective
7:30 – Keeping Perspective The next step is perspective. Health challenges aren’t going away. COVID, substance use, mental health, maternal health, climate impacts—all of it continues to demand attention.
If we don’t step back and look at the big picture, the constant churn will burn us out. Diversifying revenue is one way to keep perspective. It allows agencies to be proactive rather than reactive, and to have stability when the funding landscape shifts.
This isn’t just about money; it’s about sustainability and resilience for the long haul.
Sources of Revenue
12:00
Public health agencies often rely heavily on federal and state grants. That’s important money, but it isn’t always predictable. Diversification means looking at other sources:
- Local government partnerships.
- Contracts with schools, nonprofits, and businesses.
- Billing for certain services when appropriate.
- Private philanthropy and foundation grants.
Some of these may already be in your mix; others may be new ideas. The point is to build multiple streams, so if one dries up, the whole system doesn’t collapse.
Partnerships and Collaboration
20:00
Collaboration can be both a mission strategy and a revenue strategy. Partnering with local hospitals, schools, or nonprofits can bring in contracts and shared funding opportunities.
Partnerships also expand your impact. When you’re able to show a wider network of collaboration, funders often view your agency as a stronger, more reliable investment.
28:00
Some agencies have explored fee-for-service models, where possible. For example:
- Immunizations billed through insurance.
- Workplace wellness contracts.
- Training or technical assistance for other organizations.
It’s not always easy to set these up, but once in place, they can create a sustainable stream that supports core operations.
Foundations and Philanthropy
35:00
Don’t overlook private foundations or local philanthropists. They may be interested in funding specific projects, especially if you can connect the work to their priorities, like youth, education, or healthy communities.
This money is often more flexible than government grants, though it does require relationship building and clear reporting.
Maintaining Sanity and Perspective
42:00
Diversifying revenue isn’t about chasing every dollar. It’s about building a structure that gives your agency resilience.
Remember: public health work is hard. Crises will keep coming. But if we prepare our organizations to be financially resilient, we’ll be better able to keep serving the community without burning out.
Audience Q&A
50:00
Question: How do you approach billing without alienating the community?
Deborah: Transparency is key. If a service is billable, explain why, and emphasize that no one will be turned away if they can’t pay. Many communities are understanding when they know the revenue supports continued service.
Question: What’s the best way to start with private philanthropy?
Deborah: Start local. Reach out to community foundations, local businesses, and civic groups. Build relationships before asking for money. Often, they’ll fund a small pilot project first. If you deliver well, they’ll come back for more.
Question: Any advice for staff who feel burned out from constantly chasing funds?
Deborah: Acknowledge that it’s exhausting. Diversification helps here too—when you’re not fully dependent on one funding stream, there’s less panic when that stream wobbles. Celebrate wins, no matter how small, and remind staff that revenue supports the mission.
Closing Remarks
Thank you all for participating and sharing your ideas in the chat.
Diversifying revenue streams isn’t easy, but it’s possible, and it’s necessary. Together, as a community, we can find creative ways to strengthen public health for the long haul.
