Courageous Action for the Health of Our Communities
The final day of the 2025 Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy focused on milestone moments in health like the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and elevated the philanthropic partnerships already inspiring a better tomorrow. While much of the conference was spent reflecting, today was marked by action and what comes next: standing firm in values, being courageous, and co-creating a vision for the future.
Reimagining Health Philanthropy, Together
During Day 2 of the 2025 Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, attendees across sectors worked together to identify the intersections of their work and co-created solutions for healthier, thriving communities. Sessions spanned a wide range of topics, from exploring business’ role in health equity to strategies for supporting staff in uncertain times.
Remarks on Defending Philanthropy’s Freedom to Give
President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health (GIH), Cara V. James, delivered opening remarks at the 2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy in New Orleans.
Board Service: From in Perpetuity to Term Limits
Twenty-five years ago in 1985, The Health Foundation
of Greater Indianapolis was created with proceeds
from the sale of MetroHealth, one of the first
statewide, staff-model Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMOs). As an independent, not-for-profit grantmaker, the
foundation has been, and is still, dedicated to preserving and
enhancing the physical, mental, and social health of the
Greater Indianapolis community.
Building the Community Health Worker Field through Partnership and Innovation
Minnesota is home to the country’s largest Somali and
second-largest Hmong populations and has significant numbers of immigrants from Central and
South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is also home to the
largest urban population of Native Americans. With many
cultures come many different beliefs on health and illness, and
treatment and prevention options.
Giving Voice to Oral Health in Kansas: Benefits of Long-Term Commitment
Someone recently used the term philanthropy du jour,
and it was not meant as a positive appellation. As a field,
we increasingly see longevity as virtue whether it comes
under the guise of general operating support, capacity building, or place-based or strategic grantmaking. The work of the
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund in a single field –
oral health – began in late 1998. My reflections attempt to
capture the results of this extended $11-million initiative.
Foundation Collaboration: Partnering to Improve Young Children’s Oral Health
Dental disease is the single most common chronic childhood disease and is so widespread and the health effects so significant that the U.S. Surgeon General has classified dental disease as a silent epidemic (HHS 2000).
It Takes Many Villages to Create a Public Health Improvement Plan
Public health has gained attention in Colorado over the last four years as a result of a partnership that includes health foundations, the Colorado School of Public Health, the state legislature, and state and local health agencies.
Paid Sick Days: A Health Policy for Everyone
When the H1N1 pandemic broke out, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged sick people to stay home. Unfortunately, for many Americans, staying home meant losing income, losing a good shift, or worse, losing their job.