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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

Courageous Action for the Health of Our Communities

The final day of the 2025 Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy focused on milestone moments in health like the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and elevated the philanthropic partnerships already inspiring a better tomorrow. While much of the conference was spent reflecting, today was marked by action and what comes next: standing firm in values, being courageous, and co-creating a vision for the future.

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Reimagining Health Philanthropy, Together

During Day 2 of the 2025 Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, attendees across sectors worked together to identify the intersections of their work and co-created solutions for healthier, thriving communities. Sessions spanned a wide range of topics, from exploring business’ role in health equity to strategies for supporting staff in uncertain times.

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Remarks on Defending Philanthropy’s Freedom to Give

President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health (GIH), Cara V. James, delivered opening remarks at the 2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy in New Orleans.

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Building a Collaborative Vision of the Future

Today, over 840 funders and thought leaders, representing 440 organizations, gathered in New Orleans for the largest Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy ever. Conference attendees started the day with site visits around the Crescent City and newcomer and networking lunches, rooting the week ahead in connections with the New Orleans community and each other. 

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Forging Partnerships for a Better Tomorrow at the Grantmakers In Health Annual Conference

The Grantmakers In Health Annual Conference pre-conference sessions kicked off today in New Orleans, a city rich in resilience and spirit. Nearly 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, we gather to be inspired by the partnerships that supported communities two decades ago, and the ones that we are forging for the road ahead. 

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Reports and Publications

Exiting Thoughtfully

Foundations that have adopted a limited-life approach have employed a number of principles to guide them in wrapping up their work. Several of these guidelines offer best practices for funders who are exiting from a field or retiring from grantmaking altogether. These lessons may in some cases also be relevant for foundations transitioning from an ongoing support model to a model of one-time/high-impact grants.

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Health in All Policies: What It Is and What It Means for Health Grantmaking

Health in All Policies (HiAP) is an emerging approach to public policymaking, grounded in recognition that the most important determinants of health are outside the reach of the formal health care system. This Issue Focus describes the HiAP concept, its history and evolution, and explores how this approach is poised to influence priorities and programs in the field of health philanthropy.

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2014 Terrance Keenan Award Speech

The following remarks are from former California HealthCare Foundation President and CEO Mark Smith’s acceptance speech upon receiving The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy on March 6, 2014.

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Trustee Resources

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