Better health for all through better philanthropy

Grantmakers In Health is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people.

Grantmakers In Health Seeks Nominations for 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Awards

The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award recognizes and rewards grantmakers whose thoughtful use of philanthropic dollars has had an impact on human health, at any level.

The Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy is presented each year to an outstanding advocacy grantee.

Deadline: Friday, December 13, 2024

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.

Supporting Communities Recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

October 1, 2024
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Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is saddened by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in communities across the southeastern United States, affecting many of our Funding Partners and the people they serve. However, we are heartened to see the strong show of support from philanthropy, government, businesses, and individuals to help those affected by the storm recover.

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GIH Health Policy Update Newsletter

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.

Support GIH and GIA's OAA Partnership

GIH and GIA are raising funds to support our advocacy work on the OAA, and we still need additional investments to reach our goal. Please reach out to Cecilia Kramer at ckramer@gih.org for more information. We are appreciative of the funders who have already supported this partnership. 

Recent Reports and Surveys

Diversity in the Leadership, Staff, and Boards of Health Philanthropy

October 8, 2024
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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.

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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.

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Tracking the Field: Health Workforce Strategies

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.

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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.

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Perspectives From Health Philanthropy

Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation’s Persistent Journey toward Equity

Since 2019, the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) has embarked upon a journey of perspective transformation—challenging ourselves to know, think, and believe differently so we will decide, engage, and act more equitably. Through consistent commitment and action, our Board of Directors, leadership, and staff have moved equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work beyond “box checking” activities, institutionalizing long-term, individual, organizational, community, and cultural changes.

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Supporting Community Health Workers to Achieve Their Full Potential: What Role Can Philanthropy Play?

Community Health Workers (CHWs)—frontline public health professionals who have a unique and trusted relationship with the communities they serve—have proven their ability to help create just, equitable, and thriving communities. As a CHW for over a decade and a CHW ally for over 35 years, we have never witnessed a time of greater interest and investment in the CHW workforce. Amidst a rapidly changing CHW funding landscape, the philanthropic community has an important role to play in assuring that CHWs are able to make an optimum contribution to communities and to the health system.

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Ending Girls’ Incarceration in California is Possible When We Listen to Young People and Invest in Their Healing

The United States leads the world in incarceration rates of women and girls—we account for only 4 percent of the world’s population of women and girls but 30 percent of women held in prison and jails. Many girls are incarcerated not because they pose a threat to ​the ​public but because of concerns for their own safety in the community—such as abusive home environments. California incarcerates more girls than any state other than Texas and can lead the way on ending girls’ incarceration nationwide.

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GIH Bulletin + News

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Staying Committed to Advancing the Long Game

Cara V. James, President and CEO, reflects on the 2024 election, the road ahead, and the work we need to do.

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New Grantmakers In Health Survey Finds Leadership and Staff of Health Funders More Diverse than Broader Philanthropic Field

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 →

Upcoming Webinars

Save the Date: CEO Working Group Webinar

Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group to share election reflections and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations.

Register →

Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff

Join this informal roundtable discussion to connect with your peers, explore pressing issues, and share your experiences to advance policy change.  

Register →

Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff

Join this informal roundtable discussion to connect with your peers, explore pressing issues, and share your experiences to advance policy change.  

Register →

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.

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Research and Evaluation Associate

The Research and Evaluation Associate will be responsible for supporting the Director of Evaluation and the Executive Vice President for Health Policy, Research & Strategic Partnerships in conducting research, managing and analyzing data and data collection processes, to support the execution of learning and program activities of the Research, Policy and Evaluation team, and assist in evaluating the impact of the Foundation’s work.

Learn more and apply →

Senior Communications Officer

The California Wellness Foundation (Cal Wellness) is seeking a skillful, creative, strategic communications professional to serve as a Senior Communications Officer focused on proactively elevating the voice of the foundation and its partners to expand visibility, influence, engagement and impact.  This role requires the skills and experience to develop, execute, and manage strategic communications and the full range of communications tools and tactics that advance the mission of the Foundation.

Learn more and apply →

Data and Administration Manager

This position will provide data management and reporting support for the Foundation’s new Boost 200+ program. The Data and Administration Manager also ensures that core operations run efficiently and smoothly in a hybrid work environment so that the Foundation can maximize its impact in meeting its mission to increase access to primary care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.

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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.

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FEATURED POSITION @ GIH

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.

Learn more and apply →

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.