Expiring Federal Health Program Authorizations
This resource provides an overview of federal health programs whose authorizations have expired or are set to expire. As Congress considers whether and how to reauthorize these programs, funders have an opportunity to understand what is at stake and help inform policymakers about those affected by potential changes or inaction. It explains how the congressional authorization and appropriations processes shape program funding, and highlights opportunities for funders to inform policymakers about community needs, program impact, and priorities for reauthorization or continued funding.
Select Legal Challenges Relevant to Health Funders in 2026
This resource highlights key court cases that could affect health funders, their communities, and their partners. It focuses on legal challenges to changes in federal programs and policies implemented by the current Administration. The brief also highlights significant cases related to health funders’ priorities. Understanding these cases can help funders anticipate changes in federal policy, assess potential implications, and identify opportunities to support or protect health programs and services.
2026 Terrance Keenan Institute Fellows Named
GIH is delighted to announce the 2026 Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy class of fellows.
Elevating Community Priorities to Shape Georgia’s Health Policy Agenda
Georgia stands at a pivotal moment that will shape the direction of health policy in our state. With an open governor’s race in 2026, along with other open seats, we’re on the cusp of significant political transition. While new leadership introduces uncertainty, it also creates opportunity. This moment opens the door for nonpartisan, nonprofit, private foundations like our team at Georgia Health Initiative to play a constructive role in elevating community priorities to shape a health policy agenda designed to work for all Georgians.
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.
Notes from the Journey: Going Beyond Words to Advancing Health Equity
In the weeks since the 2023 Grantmakers In Health conference in Minneapolis, where we gathered as a community of grantmakers seeking to advance health equity, I have been reminded often of the inspiring and encouraging conversations we had by an envelope of Post-It Notes sitting on my desk. These notes make me smile. They make me feel connected. And their messages motivate me to continue the journey from health to health equity for the long haul.
Terrance Keenan Institute Alumni Reflect on How COVID-19 Changed Grantmaking
Foundations play a vital role in the nonprofit sector, funding everything from safety net services to social innovation. Like many businesses, philanthropic organizations altered their ways of doing business in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector, including hospitals and other health care settings along with public health organizations, were deeply affected by the magnitude of illness and the polarization of the pandemic response. To understand exactly how the business of health grantmaking shifted during COVID-19, Jennifer Chubinski and Allen Smart conducted in-depth interviews with health foundation leaders from around the country to learn what changed in their grantmaking strategies and practices.
The Kids Are Okay: Lessons Learned from a Youth-Led Participatory Grantmaking Program
The Natrona Collective Health Trust (NCHT) was created in October 2020 after the sale of our community’s standalone nonprofit hospital to a regional hospital system. As Wyoming’s first health conversion foundation, NCHT uses trust-based philanthropy and systems change advocacy to advance the mental well-being of our community’s young people. During an extensive strategic planning process, we found that at both our community and state levels, there is insufficient infrastructure to address mental and behavioral health needs, which perpetuates health disparities and high incidences of childhood trauma.
The SCAN Foundation: September 2023
The SCAN Foundation published a report analyzing 2014-2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. The analysis found racial inequities in telehealth, access to care, and health status during the first year of the pandemic. In 2020, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults over 50 experienced worse self-reported health status, used less telehealth, delayed care more, and were less likely to have their care preferences considered compared to their white counterparts.
KFF: September 2023
KFF released three reports analyzing Medicare Advantage’s impact on enrollment, benefits and cost-sharing, and bonus payments. One report found that “federal spending on bonus payments to insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans” will be at least $12.8 billion, around 30 percent more than in 2022 and more than four times the spending in 2015.
Healthy Communities Foundation: September 2023
Healthy Communities Foundation recently published its General Operating Support in Action: 2021-2022 Insights Report, which showcases learnings in its first year implementing new evaluation and flexible funding approaches. The report also outlines the impact of multiyear general operating support for grantee partners.