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If the Dow Breaks, Will Health Philanthropy Fall? Strategic Grantmaking During Economic Uncertainty
If we were measuring the health of our foundations by financial growth over the past two years, some of us might be considering life-support systems. Fortunately for the field, and for those we support through our grantmaking, the health of our organizations is not measured by dollars alone. The measure of our work is defined in people
Efficient Philanthropy: Modest Beginnings at The Health Funders Partnership of Orange County
A recently released report from The Center for Effective Philanthropy, Indicators of Effectiveness, comments on foundations’ growing understanding and interest in assessing their overall performance, noting that many are “convinced that better performance assessment will lead to greater effectiveness and, in turn, to more social impact on the people and issues they affect.”
Congregations as Health Service Partners
The current debate about government funding has sparked renewed interest in faith-based organizations and their role in meeting the economic, health, and educational needs of society. The small, open country chapel…the urban church with declining parishioners and rising community needs…the burgeoning suburban congregation of young families…the mega-church with a multimillion dollar budget…all are lumped together with countless other religious groups as one solution to the nation’s needs.
Funding Biomedical Research: A David in Goliath’s Field
When it comes to funding biomedical research, there is a
perception among health grantmakers that only the Goliaths
of the world can make a difference. A foundation must be as
large as the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, for instance, to hire
a sophisticated staff that can comprehend complex scientific
protocols. It must have the deep pockets and staying power
of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute to afford the notoriously expensive equipment and salaries, and to take a gamble on a payoff that may be long in coming, if ever.
Ad Venture Philanthropy: Creating the Community Campus: A Work in Progress
In late 1999, the Foundation for Seacoast Health celebrated
the grand opening of a noble experiment: The Community
Campus, home to health-related nonprofits, public programs, and the Foundation. The road that led to this
decision to build and share space with grantees was long
and winding, leading us to question if we’d ever get there.
Partnering with State Government: Lessons from a Local Funder
After passage of federal legislation creating the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Rose Community Foundation stepped in as the private partner in a public-private partnership to ensure its implementation in Colorado. Van Dusen and Nash share six key lessons learned about engaging government as a collaborator.
Reports and Publications
GIH Bulletin: April 2026
Sometimes innovation in philanthropy is associated with breakthrough technologies or new medical discoveries. But some of the most impactful investments fund something less visible: the coordination of people, protocols, and institutions already in place so they work together seamlessly to save lives.
GIH Bulletin: March 2026
Grantmakers In Health’s Maya Schane spoke with Stephanie Teleki of The California Health Care Foundation, Laila Bell of The Skillman Foundation, and Jaime Vazquez of The Pew Charitable Trusts about their recently published article in The Foundation Review, “When Shift Happens: Navigating Toward a Framework for Responsible Philanthropic Exits.”
Crisis Resources for Grantees
As non-profits face new challenges in the current policy landscape, effective crisis management has become essential. This Grantmakers In Health toolkit provides resources and action steps for grantee nonprofits before, during, and after a crisis.
Trustee Resources
Explore this page to browse resources, publications, and events related to foundation trustees.