Pandemic-Related Funding Termination and Structural Drivers of Inequities: A Case Study of a <i>Promotores/as</i>-Focused Community-Based Organization.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governmental agencies expanded safety net programs to ameliorate profound economic suffering. However, structural challenges excluded many low-income, immigrant, and racially minoritized communities, deepening inequities. <i>Promotores/as</i> and community-based organizations (CBOs), whose models focus on addressing structural drivers of inequities, were vital to communities navigating these challenges. This analytic essay examines how terminating pandemic-related funding strained CBOs and the communities they serve. Through a case study of a midsized <i>promotores/as</i> model CBO, we analyze practice-based qualitative and quantitative data, alongside a qualitative study of COVID-19 <i>promotores/as</i> models. Findings illuminate a dual postpandemic benefits cliff. As pandemic benefits expired, individuals once again faced the economic hardships that had been temporarily alleviated. Simultaneously, heightened demands on CBOs, along with reduced funding and resources, threatened their ability to meet community needs. Findings indicate the importance of coalition-building for structural transformation and governmental and nongovernmental support of <i>promotores/as</i> models and CBOs to promote health equity. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2025;115(11):1824-1835. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308154).