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.
Strengthening Health Care Access for People with Disabilities: Lessons for Philanthropy
In July, we recognize Disability Pride Month, marking the anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and celebrating the contributions and diverse identities of people with disabilities. While the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and establishes protections and requirements for employers, state, and local governments, and other areas of public life, many people with disabilities still face barriers.
UniHealth Foundation: July 2026
UniHealth Foundation recently launched its Healthy Neighbors Small Grants Program. The new initiative will fund nonprofits focused on enhancing community health and wellness in Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena, California. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $10,000, with decisions announced in late fall 2026.
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.
Novo Nordisk, Inc.
We are excited about the new direction NNI is taking with our charitable giving strategy, focusing on reducing the burden of chronic disease for vulnerable populations. By committing funding to projects specifically geared toward prevention by way of community-based health education and nutrition equity/food access, we are focused on supporting capacity building of local, on-the-ground organizations to design solutions tailored for the needs of the communities they serve. This in turn is designed to ultimately lead to better health outcomes.
Funding Health Advocacy in Turbulent Times: Three Practices to Adopt
Effective health advocacy is not an easy endeavor, but when executed correctly, the results can be game-changing. Health advocates, whether operating through organizations, coalitions, campaigns, or movements, are accustomed to spending long periods of time with no outwardly visible activity or tangible progress, followed by an immediate sense of urgency and action to seize a window of opportunity. In many ways COVID-19 was one of those windows with phrases like health disparities becoming crystal clear to many.
Promoting Health Equity and Combating Racism Through Health Policy
Not every foundation is comfortable with trying to affect health policy.
Nevertheless, for philanthropies committed to promoting health equity, shaping governmental action at every level is a powerful tool that deserves close examination.
Foundation for a Healthy High Point: November 2022
The rate of teen pregnancy in Greater High Point decreased between 2010 and 2020, the rates of pre-term births, low birth-weight babies, and infant mortality increased slightly and remained above the state average, according to the “Healthy Beginnings in Greater High Point” study.
Episcopal Health Foundation: November 2022
Key findings from a new statewide survey on social determinants of health say that medical care alone isn’t enough for a person to live a healthy life, so the state should invest more resources to address non-medical factors like unemployment, neighborhood conditions, and housing.