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.

Creating a Culture for Innovation and Risk Taking in Transformative Times

Today the country is still addressing broad economic and fiscal challenges, and philanthropy, government, and the private sector stand at a juncture where opportunity looms much larger. Following are three funder perspectives on how each organization is approaching innovation and risk taking.

Read More →

Nonprofit Competition in the Health Insurance Exchange: Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans

When the Affordable Care Act was passed, Section 1332 established the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program, which offers a consumer-friendly, high-quality nonprofit competitor to provide affordable insurance products to the small employers and individuals that will be served by the health insurance exchanges.

Read More →

Osula Rushing Named GIH Vice President for Program and Strategy

Osula Evadne Rushing has been named Grantmakers In Health’s (GIH) vice president for program and strategy. In her new role, she will support program development and strategic positioning of the organization, as well as oversee and supervise program staff, and cultivate external relations and new ventures.

Read More →

Seismic Shifts Beyond Foundation Walls Compel Changes Within

What is a foundation to do when its mission to improve and transform health and well-being is threatened by persistent economic challenges and growing community needs? For Saint Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland, the answer lay in three words: rethink, redesign, and reinvent.

Read More →

Partnering with the Private Sector to Achieve Total Health

Kaiser Permanente has a vision called “Total Health.” Their perspective is that healthy individuals depend on healthy communities, and thriving communities depend on healthy people.

Read More →

Solving the Connecticut Data Deficit through Collaboration

Without data that could be monitored over time, how could those interested in improving the health of Connecticut residents track progress or measure success?

Read More →