Introducing Cecilia Amor Kramer, Grantmakers In Health’s Director of Development

This month, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Communications Specialist Miranda Wesley sat down with Cecilia Amor Kramer, GIH’s Director of Development, to learn more about Cecilia’s career in health and development and how her experience applies to GIH’s mission of advancing better health for all through better philanthropy. Cecilia discusses the influence of Hawaiian culture on her life and career, the impact of her public health education, and how funders can support Native Hawaiian populations and those experiencing substance use disorder or homelessness.

How have your many years of experience in development and communications prepared you for your role at GIH?

I came into the field of development accidentally. I moved to the DC area because I was offered an editor position at the National Cancer Institute. But just before the job started, it was eliminated. So, I had to scramble to find employment. There was a position writing informational materials on secondhand smoke for an anti-smoking organization. So, I applied and somehow ended up fundraising instead.

I think that working for various health-related organizations prepared me for working at Grantmakers In Health because GIH’s Funding Partners have such varied interests. And that’s been my experience—I’ve worked in health care research as well as direct service; I’ve worked in behavioral health; I have experience in diet and nutrition; I’ve worked with children, as well as older populations. I’ve also worked with a traditional membership organization, where we lobbied Congress.

At the 2023 GIH Annual Conference, your “Hula as Exercise” wellness activity was a huge success. How has hula helped you, both physically and culturally, connect with others?

Michelle Obama once said of her husband, “You can’t really understand Barack until you understand Hawai’i.” The island culture of Aloha—a word that can mean hello, goodbye, love, and goodwill—is imbued in all of us who were born in Hawai’i or grew up there during our formative years.

Hula is very much a part of Aloha. It tells the story of our ancestors, our history, our ‘aina (land), and what’s important in life, like family. It just happens that it’s also a fun form of physical and mental exercise for everyone. I enjoyed sharing that Aloha with the conference attendees.

How has your MPH from the University of Minnesota influenced your career in development, communications, and philanthropy?

This is a story I love to tell. I used to work for the Hawaii Medical Services Association, which is one of our Funding Partners. I had taken the LSAT and was applying to go to law school. But a colleague—a mentor, really—said to me: “I know you. You’ll want to change the entire judicial system to help people. And you’ll just get frustrated. If you really want to make a difference, get a master’s in public health.” So, that’s what I did.

In addition to the core classes, I took courses in law, advertising, education, and nutrition. I did my internship working with Indigenous children. The focus of my MPH degree was in Administration, and it gave me a great foundation on how to best address the many problems facing society.

How has growing up in Hawai’i impacted your career in development and health philanthropy?

Hawai’i is a melting pot of so many different races and cultures. The “pidgin” language came about as a way to speak with plantation workers who came from so many different European, Asian, and Polynesian countries. We ate each other’s food, intermarried, and respected each other’s traditions. It’s a very expensive place to live, and good-paying jobs are scarce. Yet, people there are resilient and remain hopeful.

I was once accused of being Pollyanna; that I tend to look at life with rose-colored glasses.

Not true. But like the people of Hawai’i, I do believe in hope. I wouldn’t be able to raise money if I thought otherwise.

How can funders best support the health and wellness of Native Hawaiian populations?

A friend who worked with the Hawai’i chapter of the American Diabetes Association told me it was frustrating because so many people claim that their diet was part of their culture. But it’s not. The traditional Hawaiian diet used to include activities to gather food, like farming, fishing, and hunting. Now, it’s much easier just to drive to a fast-food restaurant and make unhealthy selections. The original Hawaiian diet did not include carbohydrate-rich foods like two scoops of white rice and “mac salad.”

I think funders who understand Hawai’i’s history and appreciate the culture of Hawai’i–like respecting the ‘aina and the gods—while applying evidence-based practices, will go a long way toward supporting the health and wellness of the Native Hawaiian population.

Additionally, please continue to help the people on the island of Maui by making a donation to the Maui United Way, Hawaii Branch of the American Red Cross, the Maui Food Bank, the Maui Humane Society, or the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation. He kuleana ko kakou (We have a responsibility to ourselves and to others). 

Most recently before joining GIH, you served as Director of Development and Communications at Samaritan Inns. What are some initiatives and programs addressing homelessness and addiction recovery that funders should consider supporting?

Since its founding in the mid-80s, Samaritan Inns has been a very successful treatment and recovery facility for homeless individuals suffering from substance use disorder (SUD). However, recent changes to the way Medicaid reimbursed for residential treatment programs have made it very difficult to maintain the program. Samaritan Inns has a three-phased system: extensive (known in the nomenclature as a 28-day program), transitional, and long-term. Samaritan Inns provided housing for all three phases. The recent changes to Medicaid’s reimbursement policies restricted residential treatment to two weeks, and then the client is released to outpatient treatment! To receive an extension, providers have to prove that the client is making progress. However, many of those suffering from SUD are still experiencing withdrawals during those first two weeks. Plus, they’re homeless. Where are they supposed to go?

Funders can really help by supplementing Medicaid’s initial two weeks, or, at the very least, pay for room and board so that the clients won’t have to be released back to the streets, where it is likely they will succumb to their old habits.

Please share something about you that’s not in your published bio.

I am a grandmother of five, ranging in age from 11 months to 13 years. And, despite having grown up surrounded by water, I can’t swim to save myself!