Beyond the Exam Room: Impacting Health Outcomes Through Civic Engagement
August marks Civic Health Month, a time to showcase the link between voting and health and celebrate efforts that ensure every voter can support their community’s health at the ballot box. At the same time, the United States is grappling with a health care system ranked 37th globally despite consuming 17 percent of the country’s GDP. With 26 million Americans uninsured and 43 million underinsured, the gap in access to care continues to widen. This crisis will deepen as critical ACA subsidies expire at the end of 2025, potentially leaving 3.8 million more Americans without coverage, in addition to new federal cuts to Medicaid and changes to how coverage is accessed through the health insurance marketplace, which could result in as many as 20 million Americans losing their health insurance.
Protecting Ballot Measures to Protect Democracy
Access to abortion care in Ohio. The chance to support city candidates with democracy vouchers in Seattle. Promoting judicial ethics in Colorado. An $11 an hour minimum wage in Arkansas. What do these policy changes have in common? They were all enacted through the ballot initiative process, and they all support healthy, thriving communities, both in process and in outcome. But multiple states are seeing efforts to curtail the ballot measure process, limiting the voices of voters.
The Children’s Foundation
“Action is where philanthropy demonstrates its true value. At the Children’s Foundation, this means supporting community-led solutions, participating in collaborative funding efforts, and advocating for policies that strengthen public health, uplift nonprofit partners, and reinforce the philanthropic sector. Action requires transparency, trust, and long-term commitment.”
Philanthropy @ Work – Transitions – August 2025
The latest on transitions from the field.
Pottstown Regional Community Foundation: August 2025
The Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF) will launch its 2025 Fall Grant Round. For this final grant round of the calendar year, the foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate clear alignment with PRCF’s Results Framework and have not yet received an award this calendar year. Competitive requests will be supported by goals stated in community and regional plans and address needs communicated in foundation or other research studies.
Philanthropy @ Work – Grants and Programs – August 2025
The latest on grants and programs from the field.
2025 Call for Grantmakers In Health Board Nominations
Grantmakers In Health, an educational organization serving staff, executives, and trustees of foundations and corporate giving programs working in the health field, is seeking nominations for its board of directors for terms beginning in March 2026.
2025 Congressional Calendar
Developed in collaboration with Leavitt Partners, this calendar tracks when each house of congress will be in session in 2025.
Policy Resource: Overview of Congressional Staff and Member Outreach
Developed in collaboration with Leavitt Partners, this resource provides a detailed overview of how congressional offices, committees, and leadership are staffed. In addition, it provides recommended best practices for meeting with Members of Congress and their staff.
Policy Resource: Overview of the 119th Congress
Developed in collaboration with Leavitt Partners, this resource provides a detailed overview of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, including leadership in both houses and key committee and subcommittee members.