GIH Blog and News
Power to the People: Advancing Impact Through Participatory Budgeting
Who is best positioned to determine how health funding should be allocated? At the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM), we believe the answer is clear: the people most affected by health disparities.
Philanthropy, Stewarding a Just America
In a time of intensive action to dismantle policies and practices that protect the well-being of all Americans, where chaos is the principal strategy to overthrow the will of and care for the American people, philanthropy must remain rooted in what is legally and morally right.
How Pew Is Learning to Improve Health Policy
Antibiotics revolutionized medical treatment and are a cornerstone of modern health care. However, the global rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is making infections costlier and deadlier. After a 2008 report commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted these concerns, the organization invested in multiple projects to set limits on the use of antibiotics and to spur the development of new drugs.
GIH Bulletin
GIH Bulletin: April 2025
In a time of intensive action to dismantle policies and practices that protect the well-being of all Americans, where chaos is the principal strategy to overthrow the will of and care for the American people, philanthropy must remain rooted in what is legally and morally right.
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GIH Bulletin: March 2025
After 18 years at Grantmakers In Health, Eileen Salinsky, longtime Program Advisor and former Vice President for Program and Strategy, has announced her retirement. Her last day at GIH will be Friday, March 21, 2025. Eileen was recruited as GIH’s Vice President for Program and Strategy by former President and CEO Lauren LeRoy in 2007. Family obligations required Eileen to step back from her management position, but she stayed on part-time as a Program Adviser for almost two decades.
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GIH Bulletin: January/February 2025
At the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, this has been a challenging year for North Carolina, where we live and work. Hurricane Helene devastated the western part of NC and the surrounding region, and we endured an election that divided our state and nation. We also know that we are not alone facing the challenges of 2024 and those we will take on in 2025. Many of us in the Grantmakers In Health (GIH) community are wondering how to persevere through these uncertain times. At the Trust, we acknowledge the heaviness of the moment—because we anticipate policy changes that will negatively impact people who are already being left behind.
Read More →Reports and Surveys
2024 Health Equity Survey: Understanding the Changing Landscape
In 2024, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) surveyed its Funding Partners to understand how their health equity work has evolved. The survey consisted of 40 questions including demographic information, program focus areas, partner engagement, organizational strategy, priority population, successes, and challenges. This report summarizes findings from the Health Equity Survey titled, “Understanding the Changing Landscape.”
2024 Survey Summary: Firearm Violence Prevention Strategies
GIH conducted a survey in September 2024 about funder engagement in firearm violence prevention. This fact sheet summarizes the survey results with a total sample of 81 health funders. This public health crisis and social justice issue is preventable, and health funders have an important role to play in advancing firearm violence prevention efforts.
2024 Year in Review
The 2024 Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Year in Review report explores a year of programming designed to help funders navigate a time of change, details the expansion of GIH’s expansion of its policy work, provides an update on the ongoing implementation of GIH’s strategic plan, and previews GIH’s priorities for 2025.
Upcoming Webinars
CEO Working Group Webinar
Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group to discuss challenges in our work and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions under the new administration.
Policy Briefing: Threats to Food and Nutrition Programs in Budget Reconciliation
The House and Senate continue to work on a budget reconciliation. On April 10, the House narrowly passed the Senate’s version of a budget blueprint, calling on Congressional committees to slash billions of dollars from programs within their jurisdictions including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meal supports like the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and Medicaid in exchange for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. The House and Senate will determine the final tax and spending levels by agency and program in committee debates in coming months. In this session, experts from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) will provide an up to the moment analysis of how federal budget reconciliation impacts food and nutrition programs, the tie into Farm Bill negotiations, and ultimately, what these policy decisions mean for the health and well-being of children, families, and communities across the country. Experts will also highlight how advocates are organizing in support of these crucial programs, FRAC’s advocacy resources, and how funders can support this work. Please note this session will not be recorded. Notes and key takeaways will be shared with registrants.
Social Security is for Everyone – And Philanthropy Plays An Important Role
Social Security turns 90 this year with nearly four generations of Americans rightfully counting on social security as a part of their economic plan. It is not just for older adults but also supports children and families in the event of disability and death. However, the program currently faces a long-term financing gap which, if unaddressed, will result in across-the-board benefit cuts of approximately 15 percent. There are workable solutions and this new survey from National Academy of Social Insurance, supported by RRF Foundation on Aging, tested vetted options to understand what components people most value, would like increased and could be decreased.
Foundations Take Action on Medicaid
Congress is considering significant cuts to Medicaid as part of the budget reconciliation process being used to advance the new administration’s legislative priorities. Cuts to Medicaid funding would dramatically impact the 80 million people served by the program today. This webinar will provide an overview of potential federal policy changes to Medicaid and considerations for foundations and corporate giving programs as they consider how to take action in their communities. The webinar will feature a panel discussion with the leadership of state foundations to highlight their key initiatives and collaborations on Medicaid defense. Speakers include Patti Baum of Manatt Health, Heather Howard of State Health and Value Strategies, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, Sheldon Weisgrau of Missouri Foundation for Health, and Aaron Wernham of Montana Healthcare Foundation.