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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.
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.”
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.
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.
Reports and Publications
Collaboration Across Government and Philanthropy
This Georgetown University Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership report uses data from a recent Grantmakers In Health survey to examine how philanthropy is partnering with government to fill critical gaps.
Grantmakers In Health Funder Collaboration Survey Report
At a time of deep cuts to health and social services, disappearing public health data, rising health care costs, and resurgent infectious diseases, philanthropy faces an urgent challenge: protecting vulnerable communities and sustaining hard-won health gains. Meeting this moment demands meaningful community engagement, strong coordination among funders, and partnerships that extend beyond the philanthropic sector. Yet despite the importance of these relationships, little is known about how health funders work together. To help fill this gap, GIH conducted research in 2025 to examine collaboration among health funders, highlight successes and challenges, and identify opportunities to strengthen collective impact.
Advancing the Public’s Health: Current Philanthropic Approaches and Priorities for the Future
This GIH report is grounded in discussions with a diverse set of philanthropic and public health leaders about the current state of the field. It aims to assess how foundations view public health and their guiding frameworks, as well as to identify lessons learned and priorities for strengthening the public health ecosystem.
Trustee Resources
Explore this page to browse resources, publications, and events related to foundation trustees.