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Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is committed to supporting health funders as they navigate the changing field of philanthropy and to building a more inclusive nonprofit sector.

 

Featured Resources

bi3 Article: Trust-Based Philanthropy is Grounded in Mutual Accountability and Learning

A new article shows how applying a trust-based philanthropy lens helps funders capture the full impact of grants, describes how bi3 evaluates initiatives, and how building funder-grantee relationships grounded in power-sharing, transparency, and mutual accountability helps achieve greater impact.

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New Competency Model for Foundation Program Officers Released

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University has released a competency model for foundation program officers.

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Taking A cultivate approach to Improve Community Health

Health foundations are increasingly recognizing that their mission is not simply to award grants to deserving nonprofit organizations, but rather to play a catalytic role in improving the conditions that influence health, especially at a population level.

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Latest Resources

Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

At the heart of our work at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a core belief in the dignity of all people. Our mission translates this core belief, which in our case flows from our commitment to Catholic values, but which is also affirmed by many outside this tradition, into specific actions. We exist to support and advance the health and well-being of precisely those New Yorkers whose dignity is at risk of being overlooked or denied and who too often encounter rejection or discrimination by people and systems. They are our focus, and it is a privilege to utilize the resources of this foundation in service to them.

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Delta Dental Foundation of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina

When philanthropy isn’t open and ready to embrace emerging initiatives, it hampers the nonprofit world’s ability to offer the often life changing services they provide to their communities. As the Delta Dental Foundation developed and launched its first strategic plan this year, it was important to me that we prioritize relationships so that we could be receptive to what our nonprofit partners are going through. It’s OK to say ‘no’ to programs and initiatives that don’t support your organization’s goals, but you need to be flexible enough to pivot quickly as needs arise.

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Sustainability? No, It Is about Building Durability!

Philanthropy has forever espoused the term “sustainability.” We ask in grant applications and in our conversations with grant partners: “What’s your sustainability plan?” and “How do you plan to sustain your program once the grant ends?” Thanks to the influence of Tom Klaus, formerly of Tenacious Change, my thinking has shifted and evolved over the past few years to “durability.”

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Staying Committed to Advancing the Long Game

Cara V. James, President and CEO, reflects on the 2024 election, the road ahead, and the work we need to do.

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Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon

Food insecurity is a critical issue in the communities we serve. While we work at the most basic level to provide healthy foods to those in need and to ensure our local food pantries are stocked, we realize much more needs to be done to make a lasting impact. Through our partnerships with nonprofits and other health funders, we work in a more systemic way to improve access to nutritious foods for everyone, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

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Reports and Publications

Diversity in the Leadership, Staff, and Boards of Health Philanthropy

A new Grantmakers In Health survey of health funder leadership, staff, and boards found that health funder organizations are more racially and ethnically diverse than the broader field of philanthropy.

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Advancing Health and Creating Lasting Impact: MacKenzie Scott’s Grants to Health Foundations

In 2019, MacKenzie Scott announced that she was stepping into the world of philanthropy to give away her multi-billion-dollar fortune “until the safe is empty”. She has kept her word—to date, she has given away $16.5 billion. Her initial process for choosing which organizations would receive grants was shrouded in mystery. From 2019 to 2023, Scott used a process she termed “quiet research” to identify possible grantee organizations. The lucky organizations received a call from Scott’s consultants, who let them know they were receiving a grant for immediate use however they would like to spend it. In the Fall of 2022, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) became one of those grantee organizations, along with more than 20 health foundations. Two additional GIH Funding Partner organizations received gifts in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

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2023 Survey Summary: Climate Change Strategies

This infographic summarizes the responses to a Grantmakers In Health funder survey, conducted in May and June 2023, on how philanthropy is addressing climate change, and the barriers and opportunities that exist to support climate-related efforts.

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Trustee Resources

Explore this page to browse resources, publications, and events related to foundation trustees.