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.
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.
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.
GIH Health Policy Update Newsletter
The Latest
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.
KFF Introduces Health Policy 101—A Primer on U.S. Health Policy
KFF launched a new resource —the Health Policy 101 — an online resource or mini “textbook” about health policy for faculty and students. Drew Altman felt the need for a resource like this ages ago, when he was at MIT writing a book on health care regulation and needed a reference with real detail on public programs and health costs. It took a while to produce it but now it’s ready!
CMS Announces an $500 Million Funding Opportunity to Increase ACA Outreach and Enrollment Efforts
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the availability of $500 million in grants over the next five years to increase the number of organizations who help people enroll in health coverage through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) on HealthCare.gov. This is the largest funding allocation CMS has made available for Navigator grants to date.
Ensuring Access to Care: Why Sustaining California’s Health Workforce Investments Matters
California’s shortage of health workers threatens people’s ability to access the care they need to live healthy lives. In response, state policymakers have taken significant steps over the past five years to expand and diversify the health workforce by funding various programs to recruit, educate, train, and retain health workers. However, as the state deals with substantial budget challenges, it is critical that these investments be sustained.
Day 3 – Looking Ahead: A Year of Bold Action
The final day of the 2024 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy doubled down on a theme we’ve seen throughout our time in Portland. Even if you fund a specific program or issue area, your philanthropy has broader and more profound impacts. Throughout the conference, attendees were encouraged to approach their philanthropy in innovative and new ways. We are excited to hear about your courageous steps to widen your viewpoints, advocacy, and philanthropy in the weeks and months ahead.
Day 2 – Learning from Philanthropy’s Courageous Leaders
On Day 2 of the GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, the sun emerged and highlighted Portland’s natural beauty. Attendees kicked off this warm summer day with a power walk, networking breakfasts, breakout sessions, and quick takes before the annual Terrance Keenan and Andy Hyman Awards Plenary Luncheon, which honored two incredible leaders in health philanthropy and equity.
Day 1 – Advancing a Movement for Health Equity
Today we welcomed over 600 attendees to our biggest and boldest Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy! The conference officially launched with on-site and off-site experiences to introduce attendees to Portland, community organizations, and local health initiatives. GIH Board members and staff warmly welcomed conference newcomers and left them with advice applicable to all attendees: Don’t hesitate to meet new people at the conference. These connections and shared ideas will outlast your time in Portland and advance a movement for health equity.