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Episcopal Health Foundation’s Journey in Advancing Medicaid Non-Medical Drivers of Health in Texas
Access to affordable medical care is vitally important, but it is only 20 percent of what contributes to a person’s overall health. The remaining 80 percent is determined by social and economic status, health behaviors, community safety, physical environment, and much more. From grantmaking to working with community partners and congregations to providing research, EHF supports solutions that address underlying factors impacting health.
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation: August 2023
The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is issuing a special request for concepts focused on addressing lung cancer care disparities for Indigenous communities. They are currently seeking concepts for ideas for multiyear grants that pilot/test innovative models of community-based care to increase access to services and improve lung cancer outcomes across the lung cancer care continuum.
New York State Health Foundation: August 2023
A new data analysis from the Urban Institute finds nearly half of New Yorkers with medical debt owed $500 or more and may still have medical debt appear on their credit reports under current credit reporting practices. Last month, the New York State Legislature passed a bill, still under the Governor’s consideration, that would prevent all medical debt from being included in credit reports.
NCRP Climate Justice and Just Transition Campaign
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) recently announced their multi-year campaign to get grantmakers to invest more in grassroots climate solutions. NCRP’s latest online journal features several articles on the climate justice and just transition campaign.
Want to See Lasting Systemic Change and Transformation to Build Health Equity? Invest in Power Building
Despite a commitment to transformation, equity, and rebalancing the scales of justice, philanthropy often operates in ways that undermine its very purpose. Historically, the philanthropic field has taken a siloed and narrow approach to change, offering investments in short-term funding cycles and attempting to create change from the top down.
Philanthropy’s Role in Equitable Medi-Cal Expansion
California has more people enrolled in Medicaid than any other state—almost 15 million of 93 million enrollees nationwide, and the state’s efforts to equitably address the enrollment churn make it worth watching. When the pause on Medicaid redeterminations ended in April, up to 3 million Medi-Cal enrollees, California’s program, were at risk of losing coverage. Most at risk are those often eligible but inconsistently enrolled in Medi-Cal—if at all. Many of these individuals are from poorly served communities who often experience longstanding discrimination in accessing health care. They commonly live in extremely rural areas and lack access to the internet and transportation; have unstable housing; are reluctant to enroll due to their immigration status; and have limited English proficiency, live with a physical disability, or have behavioral health needs. If Medi-Cal is to be a true driver for health equity, we need to close the enrollment gap in these communities.
Reports and Publications
GIH Bulletin: January/February 2026
One year ago, as we were just one month into the new administration, I wrote that “At a moment when so much has been described as ‘unprecedented,’ and so much of what we value is being attacked, we need to ask ourselves as individuals, organizations, and a field, what do we stand for? What values do we hold, and what will we do and say to defend them?” Today, the answers to these questions are needed more urgently than ever.
GIH Bulletin: November/December 2025
GIH President and CEO, Cara V. James, delivered these remarks on Protecting the Freedom to Give at the closing of the 2025 Health Policy Exchange, in Arlington, Virginia.
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.