A Philanthropic Tree of Life: Seeding Health Equity through Influence and Innovation

Philanthropy can function as a living ecosystem for change rooted in equity, nourished by trust, and bearing the fruits of community well-being. The Direct Relief Fund for Health Equity (DRFHE), launched with $50 million in initial investments, exemplifies a transformative philanthropic model supporting nearly 200 community-based organizations across the United States. Acknowledging DRFHE as a “Tree of Life” offers a framework grounded in community-led, trust-based, and unrestricted giving that challenges traditional philanthropic paradigms. Therefore, this article describes the fund’s origins, strategic priorities, and outcomes, and introduces the DRFHE Tree of Life framework as a replicable model for equity-driven philanthropy.

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Transitions

Philanthropy @ Work – Transitions – April 2026

The latest on transitions from the field.

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Grants and Programs

Philanthropy @ Work – Grants and Programs – April 2026

The latest on grants and programs from the field.

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GIH Health Policy Update Newsletter

An Exclusive Resource for Funding Partners

The Health Policy Update is a newsletter produced in collaboration with Leavitt Partners and 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.

Ethel and James Flinn Foundation: Sepember 2019

The Center for Health Research Transformation conducted a community mental health landscape analysis and examination of Michigan’s public mental health system.

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Case Foundation: Sepember 2019

The Millennial Impact Report provide guidance and insights from a decade of research focused on understanding how millennials connect, give and involve themselves with social and political causes.

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Philanthropy @ Work – Awards – September 2019

The latest on awards from the field.

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Philanthropy @ Work – Grants and Programs – September 2019

The latest on grants and programs from the field.

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Reflecting on the Annual Conference

Reflecting on the Annual Conference

With this year’s annual conference being my last as GIH’s President and CEO, I would like to share a few personal reflections on the evolution of this gathering—which is still health philanthropy’s largest!—and its value to us and to the field.

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Join the Age-Friendly Health Systems Movement

Join the Age-Friendly Health Systems Movement

The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is an opportunity to build, together, more effective health systems that reliably deliver on the promise of better care for older adults.

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