Humana Foundation Advances Equity Through Community-Engaged Research Practices
Grantmakers In Health’s Maya Schane spoke with Heather Hyden and Soojin Conover of the Humana Foundation about the Foundation’s recently published report, Strengthening Science and Community Impact Through Equitable Research Practices. The report examines innovative research methods adopted by the Foundation’s partners to promote health equity in public health research through community-engaged research practices.
Collaborating for Impact: Providing Trust-Based Grantmaking and Technical Assistance to Support Local Resilience to Extreme Weather Events
In the last few years, there has been an increased number of extreme weather events, including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and heatwaves in the United States. In 2023, the United States experienced 28 disasters that cost at least $1 billion, the largest number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year on record (Smith 2024). While some areas of the country are more susceptible to these threats, there are no regions immune to disasters. According to a recent Gallup poll, 37 percent of adults in the United States report they have been personally impacted by at least one extreme weather event in the last two years, which is higher than the 2022/2023 survey result at 33 percent.
Celebrating Our Colleague Eileen Salinsky, a Grantmakers In Health Mainstay Since 2007
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.
Maternal Health in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathways Forward
Maternal health is a cornerstone of any community’s well-being, yet American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women face disproportionate challenges in achieving safe and healthy pregnancies. Historical inequities, systemic barriers, and the enduring effects of colonization have resulted in significant maternal health disparities within Native communities. However, these same communities are also sources of resilience, creativity, and innovation. Maternal health programs aimed at centering community in tradition, culture, and resiliency can offer unique, cross-sectoral solutions to complex systemic health barriers for AI/AN families.
Investing in Civic Infrastructure: The Rise of a New Foundation in a Rural, Disinvested Community
When people hear about our work in Imperial Valley, they often exclaim, “How exciting to build a new foundation!” But I gently redirect them: We’re not building another institution— the last thing our communities need is another organization competing for resources. Instead, we’re building civic infrastructure to create the framework for lasting, community-led change.
Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation: March 2025
The Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation’s Spring 2025 grantmaking cycle opened March 1, 2025. All grant applications are submitted through AkoyaGo, the foundation’s grants portal. The foundation no longer requires a letter of intent for grant applications.
Episcopal Health Foundation: March 2025
Almost two thirds of Texans say they skipped or postponed some form of health care in the past year because of cost, while major health concerns like diabetes and obesity continue to grow. Those are just a few of the results from the annual Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) statewide poll on health care access and affordability in Texas.