Healthier Information Ecosystems: Strategies for Health Philanthropy

Our information environment is transforming—including the places and people who help us make decisions about our health. Those health information ecosystems are fragmented; filled with information from a wide range of expertise and sources; and platform algorithms exert tremendous and unseen control over what messages are seen, shared, and amplified. These changes have many of our traditional health information sources racing to learn new skills to ensure they remain trusted and relevant.

Read More →

Beyond Innovation: How Philanthropy Can Strengthen Systems to Improve Rural Health Outcomes

Sometimes innovation in philanthropy is associated with breakthrough technologies or new medical discoveries. But some of the most impactful investments fund something less visible: the coordination of people, protocols, and institutions already in place so they work together seamlessly to save lives.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

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.

The Pregnant Elephant in the Room: The U.S. Maternity Care Crisis

Maternity and newborn care cost the United States over $50 billion annually—the largest category of hospital costs for Medicaid and commercial insurers—yet the United States ranks 50th in the world for maternal mortality and 36th for neonatal mortality.

Read More →
Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

The Role of Evaluation in Designing CHOMPERS! and Bringing Dental Care to Kids

In response to the clear and urgent need to improve the dental health of young children living in poverty in western and central New York, the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York launched CHOMPERS! Because the foundation was taking a brand new approach in implementing the Cavity Free Kids curriculum as part of the initiative, a strong evaluation was critical.

Read More →

2013 Call for GIH Board Nominations

GIH seeks nominations for its board of directors for terms beginning immediately following the annual meeting in March 2014. Nominations are due by Friday, September 6.

Read More →

Social Connectedness and Health: A Fresh Approach to Community-Driven Grantmaking

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation sought to engage the public in learning about social connectedness and the impact those connections can have on health.

Read More →

Sustaining Health Care Improvement Initiatives through Policy

Many foundations now recognize their own responsibility and the opportunity to improve the sustainability of grant projects by taking active roles in advocating for important public and private policy changes. By partnering with grantees and by capitalizing on their unique roles, foundations can work with policymakers to continue successful programs through ongoing policies that sustain transformative efforts.

Read More →

Philanthropy: Terrance Keenan Style

The Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy launched in 2010 in honor of a giant in philanthropy, the late Terrance Keenan.

Read More →