Beyond the Ballot: Advancing Policy in a New Administration
Watch Dr. Ashish Jha Deliver the 2024 Lauren Leroy Lecture
Continued Collaboration
We discussed the election results’ impact on philanthropy’s work advancing better health for all, delved into critical policy issues that affect the country, and received updates from the Hill. Other topics explored by participants included opportunities for cross-sector collaboration in public health, updates on health policy at the state level, philanthropy and the Supreme Court, the changing landscape of women’s health, and philanthropy’s role in supporting systems change. Funder CEOs convened for a post-election conversation about navigating the new administration, including opportunities and challenges related to health equity.
2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy
Forging Partnerships for a Better Tomorrow
June 16 – 20 | New Orleans, Louisiana
Solving large, complex societal issues not only compels funders to use their resources in new and creative ways, but requires them to build strong, lasting partnerships with a wide range of public and private stakeholders. As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid Act and the start of a new administration, as well as reflect on 20 years of rebuilding since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the power of partnership stands as a key force for improving health for all.
Three New Members to Join GIH Board of Directors
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is pleased to announce the elections of Kenneth Jones, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Equity Officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Susan Mims, President and CEO of the Dogwood Health Trust; and Hilda Polanco, Market Managing Principal at BDO to its Board of Directors.
“We are honored to welcome Kenneth, Susan, and Hilda to the GIH board,” said Cara V. James, GIH President and CEO. “They bring extensive experience from health philanthropy and other sectors, and I look forward to hearing their unique perspectives and working with them to advance GIH’s mission.”
Kenneth Jones
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Equity Officer
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Susan Mims
President and CEO
Dogwood Health Trust
Hilda Polanco
Market Managing Principal
BDO
GIH Health Policy Update Newsletter
The Latest
An Exclusive Resource for Funding Partners
The Health Policy Update is a new monthly newsletter produced in collaboration with Trust for America’s Health. Drawing on GIH’s policy priorities outlined in our policy agenda and our strategic objective of increasing our policy and advocacy presence, the Health Policy Update provides GIH Funding Partners with a range of federal health policy news.
The Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy
Grantmakers In Health is delighted to announce the 2024 Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy class of fellows
The Terrance Keenan Institute was created to nurture the next generation of health grantmaking leaders and further their professional development. The program fosters relationships among the fellows; connects them with established figures in the field; and reflects key themes from Terrance Keenan's work and writings such as leadership, innovation, taking risks, and the creative deployment of resources available to grantmakers.
GIH Advocacy for the 2024 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA)
The OAA provides critical services that address the social drivers of health for older adults. If the OAA is not reauthorized, it is set to expire on September 30, 2024. Grantmakers In Health (GIH) and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) announced a partnership last year to engage funders in advancing the reauthorization of this critical piece of legislation.
OAA News and Updates
Recent Reports and Surveys
A new Grantmakers In Health survey of health funder leadership, staff, and boards found that health funder organizations are more racially and ethnically diverse than the broader field of philanthropy.
Read More →
Advancing Health and Creating Lasting Impact: MacKenzie Scott’s Grants to Health Foundations
In 2019, MacKenzie Scott announced that she was stepping into the world of philanthropy to give away her multi-billion-dollar fortune “until the safe is empty”. She has kept her word—to date, she has given away $16.5 billion. Her initial process for choosing which organizations would receive grants was shrouded in mystery. From 2019 to 2023, Scott used a process she termed “quiet research” to identify possible grantee organizations. The lucky organizations received a call from Scott’s consultants, who let them know they were receiving a grant for immediate use however they would like to spend it. In the Fall of 2022, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) became one of those grantee organizations, along with more than 20 health foundations. Two additional GIH Funding Partner organizations received gifts in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
2024 Survey Summary: Health Workforce Strategies
Concerns about the supply, diversity, cultural responsiveness, geographic distribution, and safety of the health workforce have reached a critical level across the country. Philanthropy has a role to play in maximizing the health workforce to achieve patient safety, provider well-being, equitable access, care quality, and improved health outcomes. Therefore, GIH recently conducted a survey to learn about funders’ strategies related to their health workforce investments.
2023 Year in Review
The 2023 Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Year in Review report explores a year’s worth of innovative programming, details the launch of GIH’s inaugural policy agenda, provides an update on the ongoing implementation of GIH’s strategic plan, and previews GIH’s priorities for 2024.
Perspectives From Health Philanthropy
Q&A: How the Chicago South Side Birth Center is Championing a Better Approach to Maternal Health
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) recently spoke with Jeanine Valrie Logan, Founder + Lead Steward of the Chicago South Side Birth Center, and Shruti Jayaraman, Chief Investments Officer of Chicago Beyond, to learn how the Chicago South Side Birth Center and Chicago Beyond are working together to improve maternal health outcomes for mothers in one of Chicago’s most underserved communities. This interview has been edited for style and clarity.
Medicaid Managed Care Contracts are a Powerful Tool for Change; Philanthropy has a Role to Play
As a foundation, the mission of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is to improve the health of all Kansans. Our success, in large measure, depends on investments we make in advancing positive policy and systems changes that affect the state and communities. So, with large numbers of the state’s most vulnerable people relying on Medicaid for health coverage and care, we focus on leveraging the opportunities this program offers to sustain improved health outcomes and make progress on health equity.
Investing in Inclusion: How Health Philanthropy Can Prioritize the Needs and Perspectives of Individuals with Disabilities
One in five children in the United States has a special health care need requiring more than routine health services, and one in four adults report having a disability. As 70 million adults and 14.5 million children in the United States have a disability, the population impacted by issues in the aging out process and in the health care system more broadly is far from insignificant. Despite these numbers, disability-related grants represent just 2 percent of total philanthropic giving and are primarily directed towards services and supports that seek to fix or cure disabilities and perpetuate the ableist assumption that people with disabilities are unable to make decisions about their own care.
Featured Resources
Youth Access to Gender Affirming Care at the Supreme Court: What to Know
Ahead of December 4 arguments in a Supreme Court case (U.S. v. Skrmetti) challenging the constitutionality of Tennessee restrictions for gender affirming care for minors, KFF explores the background of the case and potential rulings.
Reimagining Public Health Advocacy: Findings from a National Scan of Public Health and Community Power-building Groups
Drawing on a national scan of nongovernmental public health and community power-building groups, this report explains how Human Impact Partners approaches work to shift the field of public health, the research they conducted to better understand the gaps between public health and community power-building organizations, and the implications of what has been learned.
Delta Dental Foundation of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina
When philanthropy isn’t open and ready to embrace emerging initiatives, it hampers the nonprofit world’s ability to offer the often life changing services they provide to their communities. As the Delta Dental Foundation developed and launched its first strategic plan this year, it was important to me that we prioritize relationships so that we could be receptive to what our nonprofit partners are going through. It’s OK to say ‘no’ to programs and initiatives that don’t support your organization’s goals, but you need to be flexible enough to pivot quickly as needs arise.
GIH Bulletin + News
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Older Americans Act Renewal Approved by Senate
This an important and time-sensitive update on the Older Americans Act Reauthorization. The bill passed the Senate on Dec. 10th. It now needs to go through the House.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has an easy way for organizations who are legally able to lobby congress to reach out. Click here to complete a very brief form which will be automatically routed to your representatives. And please share with your networks!
Grantmakers In Health Welcomes Three New Members to Board of Directors
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is pleased to announce the elections of Kenneth Jones, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Equity Officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Susan Mims, President and CEO of the Dogwood Health Trust; and Hilda Polanco, Market Managing Principal at BDO to its Board of Directors.
Upcoming Webinars
CDC Injury Center at Risk – What’s Ahead?
Injury is the leading cause of death among people ages 1–44. Since 1993, the Injury Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has worked to prevent injury, overdose, suicide, and violence across the lifespan through science and action. Last year, Congress considered legislative proposals to eliminate funding for the Injury Center and similar proposals are likely to be revisited in the new Congress. This webinar will examine the Injury Center’s vital activities, explore potential threats to future capacity, and consider the role of health funders in supporting the Injury Center’s continued ability to track trends, conduct research, raise awareness, and implement prevention programs in partnership with states, localities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations. Speakers include Allison Arwady of the CDC Injury Center, Sharon Gilmartin of the Safe States Alliance, and Julie Morita of The Joyce Foundation.
Health Care Policy in 2025: What to Expect from Congress and the Trump Administration
In this timely webinar, experts from Leavitt Partners will provide an overview of what to expect from Congress and the Administration, focusing on key legislative priorities and executive actions, and share their predictions for what to watch over the first 100 days. The webinar will also spotlight the role that budget reconciliation could play in shaping the nation’s policy landscape, the implications for funders, and the challenges and opportunities presented while navigating this expedited process.
Upcoming Convenings
2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy
Every year, GIH brings together the bright minds, seasoned experts, and innovative practitioners working in health philanthropy to discuss the important issues facing the field.
Executive Director
S’firot Foundation is seeking its inaugural Executive Director. This is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial and visionary leader to shape the future of a new foundation serving a critical and growing communal need. They will report to and partner closely with a highly mission-driven, engaged, and supportive Board of Directors.
Director of Policy
The Connecticut Health Foundation is focused on health equity for people of color, and the Director of Policy is the point person in determining how to best use policy to achieve the foundation’s goals. This individual plays a leading role in building strong relationships with those working on health policy at the state level, including policymakers and advocates, to advance foundation’s strategic goals and policy objectives.
Chief Development Officer
The Chief Development Officer will be an enthusiastic ambassador for The Funders Network and will foster catalytic growth, developing and deepening critical engagements with partners and driving broader awareness and philanthropic support for the organization. The CDO will lead efforts to implement a comprehensive development strategy to significantly grow the organization’s revenue from a broad base of supporters, including foundations, individuals, giving circles, corporations, and government entities and meet its fundraising goals.
President and Chief Executive Officer
The President & CEO position is an exceptional opportunity for the right candidate to employ all of his/her/their skills in management, leadership, partnership, fundraising, visionary thinking and advocacy for a strong organization composed of a talented and committed leadership team and volunteer Board.
FEATURED POSITIONS @ GIH
Program Assistant
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is looking for a motivated team player who enjoys supporting a range of projects designed to increase the effectiveness of foundations and corporate giving programs in advancing their missions and improving health outcomes for all.
Program Director
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is looking for a dynamic Program Director who enjoys delving into pressing health issues and designing programs that help the staff and trustees of foundations and corporate giving programs advance their missions and improve health outcomes for all.
Connect and collaborate with peers, learn about opportunities to develop your staff, browse professional growth opportunities, and more.
Staff and trustees of foundations and corporate giving programs may receive strategic guidance from program staff, experts, and peers.
Communications Community of Practice
Resources for communications staff designed to foster peer relationships, accelerate the sharing of innovative and effective communications approaches, and identify strategies to combat misinformation & disinformation.
Trustee Tools and Resources
Browse trustee-tailored content related to governance, strategy, and effectiveness.