Make Connections to Create a Movement for Rural Health
On Thursday, September 24, the Annual Meeting of the Rural Health Philanthropy Partnership kicked off in downtown Bethesda, MD. Selected highlights from the convening’s first day setting the stage for a full day of sessions and networking opportunities centered on how collaboration can build on progress already underway in rural and tribal communities, including rural health transformation efforts.
NJ SNIP: Supporting Behavioral Health Access Through Trust-based Grantmaking
Amid shifting federal health care funding, grants that enable health care safety net entities to respond to the changing landscape can unlock immense value. This form of grantmaking puts daily program-related decisions in the hands of people doing the work, allowing organizations to develop and sustain staff positions, workflows, and programs that reflect their priorities.
Leaning Into Radical Collaboration Will Advance Your Focused Mission
At this year’s GIH annual conference, I found myself surrounded by hundreds of philanthropic leaders deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of their communities. Again and again, I met funders whose work was grounded in a particular place, population, or issue. These funders know their communities intimately. They understand local history, relationships, and the needs of their communities. Their focus is one of their greatest strengths.
Changing the Vaccine Conversation Before It’s Too Late—What Can Philanthropy Do?
In July 2026, the United States reached a grim milestone when the number of confirmed cases of measles exceeded the total for all of 2025. On August 10, 2026, the White House issued an executive order directing changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule and categories, and calls for availability of separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. The science has not changed, but the new framework could significantly slow down the delivery of protective immunizations from these serious diseases.
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.
Supporting Community Health Workers to Achieve Their Full Potential: What Role Can Philanthropy Play?
Community Health Workers (CHWs)—frontline public health professionals who have a unique and trusted relationship with the communities they serve—have proven their ability to help create just, equitable, and thriving communities. As a CHW for over a decade and a CHW ally for over 35 years, we have never witnessed a time of greater interest and investment in the CHW workforce. Amidst a rapidly changing CHW funding landscape, the philanthropic community has an important role to play in assuring that CHWs are able to make an optimum contribution to communities and to the health system.
Ending Girls’ Incarceration in California is Possible When We Listen to Young People and Invest in Their Healing
The United States leads the world in incarceration rates of women and girls—we account for only 4 percent of the world’s population of women and girls but 30 percent of women held in prison and jails. Many girls are incarcerated not because they pose a threat to the public but because of concerns for their own safety in the community—such as abusive home environments. California incarcerates more girls than any state other than Texas and can lead the way on ending girls’ incarceration nationwide.
Safeguarding Health Care Access for Transgender Communities
For decades, LGBTQ+ Americans have been at the forefront of powerful movements championing the freedom for all individuals to be themselves and pursue their dreams. This grassroots organizing has led to unprecedented public support for LGBTQ+ equality and increased visibility for transgender people within our society. However, despite growing acceptance, a dangerous political backlash threatens the progress made in securing health care access for transgender communities.
Health and Social Care Integration: Five Years of Progress on a National Academies Report
Historically, social determinants of health (SDOH) have not been addressed in health care visits. However, whether someone has a safe place to live or healthy food to eat directly impacts health. Other SDOH outlined by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion include economic stability, education access and quality, neighborhood and build environment, social and community context, and healthcare access and quality. It is critical that health care providers understand individuals’ experience of these domains; without this, the care provided is not patient-centered and does not fully address health and well-being.
Vitalyst Health Foundation: October 2024
Vitalyst Health Foundation launched its Systems Change Grant request for proposals. The Systems Change Grants support coalitions in implementing their desired systems change. By the end of the grant period, coalitions will have either fully implemented or made significant advancements toward their systems change project.