Explore Health Equity and Social Justice Topics

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Requests for Proposals

Merck Foundation: December 2024

Merck Foundation has launched a new initiative – the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care to advance equitable access to high-quality, culturally responsive cardiac care for people living with heart conditions in underserved United States communities. The foundation is committing $17 million over five years to support the development and implementation of innovative, comprehensive programs for cardiac health care across the country as well as promote cross-sectoral collaborations to address barriers to care associated with social drivers of health.

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Reports

Marin Community Foundation: October 2024

Episcopal Health Foundation’s (EHF) annual poll shows continuing health care affordability and access crisis in Texas. EHF’s poll found that 64 percent of Texans said they skipped or postponed some sort of health care because of the cost. That includes things like check-ups, treatments, tests, filling prescriptions, and dental care. That percentage is slightly down from the 68 percent who said they skipped care last year – the highest percentage in the six-year history of EHF’s poll.

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Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation’s Persistent Journey toward Equity

Since 2019, the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) has embarked upon a journey of perspective transformation—challenging ourselves to know, think, and believe differently so we will decide, engage, and act more equitably. Through consistent commitment and action, our Board of Directors, leadership, and staff have moved equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work beyond “box checking” activities, institutionalizing long-term, individual, organizational, community, and cultural changes.

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Ending Girls’ Incarceration in California is Possible When We Listen to Young People and Invest in Their Healing

The United States leads the world in incarceration rates of women and girls—we account for only 4 percent of the world’s population of women and girls but 30 percent of women held in prison and jails. Many girls are incarcerated not because they pose a threat to ​the ​public but because of concerns for their own safety in the community—such as abusive home environments. California incarcerates more girls than any state other than Texas and can lead the way on ending girls’ incarceration nationwide.

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Safeguarding Health Care Access for Transgender Communities

For decades, LGBTQ+ Americans have been at the forefront of powerful movements championing the freedom for all individuals to be themselves and pursue their dreams. This grassroots organizing has led to unprecedented public support for LGBTQ+ equality and increased visibility for transgender people within our society. However, despite growing acceptance, a dangerous political backlash threatens the progress made in securing health care access for transgender communities. 

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New America Report Examines Subminimum Wage for Disabled Workers

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are allowed to pay disabled workers less than the federal minimum wage, which has significant impacts on these workers’ health and well-being. A report from New America examines, state by state, the policies that drive the use or elimination of the subminimum wage, as well as the programs each state provides to more comprehensively support individuals with disabilities as they seek meaningful employment and fair wages.

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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.

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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.

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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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