Health Forward Foundation announces Brian Henke as Chief Financial Officer

Kansas City, MO — Health Forward Foundation is pleased to announce Brian Henke as its next Chief Financial Officer. In this executive leadership role, Henke will guide Health Forward’s financial strategy and operations, providing insight and risk assessment to support strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability.

He will oversee financial planning, legal and compliance functions, audits, and internal controls, while also ensuring transparency, operational excellence, and alignment with Health Forward’s mission, values, and future growth.

Henke is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across nonprofit and for-profit sectors. He brings a proven track record of driving sustainable growth through strategic management, financial oversight, and organizational development.

“I’m deeply aligned with Health Forward’s commitment to advancing equity. My career has been focused on educational equity, where I’ve seen firsthand how systemic barriers—rooted in race, income, and geography—limit opportunity. Those experiences have reinforced for me that inequities in education are closely tied to broader challenges like housing, nutrition, and health care,” said Henke.

“I’m inspired by Health Forward’s holistic approach to health equity, which goes beyond expanding access to care and instead works to transform the systems that create disparities. I’m excited to bring my financial and administrative experience to an organization that views health as a fundamental human right and is committed to meaningful, lasting change.”

Henke most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Kansas City Art Institute. His previous roles include Director of Operations at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and as Director of Finance and Operations for Kauffman Scholars. He has also held leadership positions with the KIPP Endeavor Academy and the Missouri Charter Public Schools Association.

“We are excited to welcome Brian as our new CFO,” said Qiana Thomason, Health Forward President/CEO. “His financial expertise, proven ability to modernize systems, and strategic leadership position him to make an immediate impact. Brian’s experience navigating complex environments and leading high-performing teams will enable us to strengthen our operations and create new opportunities for shared success.”

Henke is a graduate of the University of Missouri and has completed a Leadership Certificate Program at Harvard University.