Behavioral Health Strategies

GIH conducted a survey in late 2024 on funder engagement in behavioral health. This fact sheet, based on a sample of 139 health funders, summarizes the current trends, gaps, successes and challenges for funders. It also highlights philanthropy’s continued commitment to behavioral health while also signaling concern about the upcoming funding environment.  

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Strategies for Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health

This Issue Brief, based on a May 2000 Issue Dialogue, begins by documenting disparities for six health conditions targeted by the federal government and explores some of the underlying causes of health disparities. The report presents examples of philanthropic strategies, as well as federal and state initiatives, and offers conclusions about the challenges foundations are likely to face in working to eliminate health disparities.

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Youth Mentoring: A Social Development Approach to Youth Health Promotion

When health is defined as the absence of illness and injury, youth fare well. But when that definition is broadened to include emotional, social, and environmental health issues, it becomes clear that youth face significant health problems and health risks. This Issue Brief highlights the work of grantmakers who are supporting mentoring as a strategy for addressing the root causes of adolescent health problems and promoting healthy youth development.

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Coping With Managed Care: Responding to the Needs of the Elderly

This Issue Brief discusses the challenges surrounding Medicare managed care and its ability to meet the needs of elderly beneficiaries. The publication presents related trends, issues related to the elderly as active health care consumers, and grantmaker opportunities and lessons learned.

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Tracking Foundations Created from Conversions

Since 1980, more than 170 foundations have been created as the result of the conversion of nonprofit hospitals, health plans, and health systems.  GIH periodically surveys these organizations to learn about their grantmaking and operations.

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Childhood Immunization: Protecting Individuals and Communities

Childhood immunizations are one of the greatest public health achievements in modern times. Questions, however, have been raised about the value and safety of specific vaccines – underscoring the need for balanced, accurate information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. 

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Philanthropy’s Newest Members: Findings from the 1999 Survey of New Health Foundations

This GIH report presents findings from our 1999 survey of new health foundations.

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Spanning the Generations: Putting Health Grantmaking in an Intergenerational Context

This report features keynote addresses by Marian Wright Edelman, John W. Rowe, and Gene Cohen.

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