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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.

 

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Latest Resources

The One that Got Away: Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy on Moving up and Moving on

Does philanthropy in the 21st century offer a viable career path for rising leaders with fresh visions and several decades of potential contributions before them, or is it a significant, yet temporary stop on what is sure to be a varied career journey?

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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Learn more about Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s mission, vision, and approach in this Grantmaker Focus profile.

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Grant Agreements and Lobbying

Have you read your grant agreement or grant award
letter recently? Not just scanned it to make sure the
reporting dates have been updated, but read every
paragraph or clause to make sure the agreement says what you
think it says…and what you want it to say? If not, it is time to
do it now.

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Cultivating the Next Generation of Philanthropic Leadership

Fellows from the inaugural Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy share their thoughts on how the field of philanthropy can help cultivate the next generation of leaders.

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Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

Giving Voice: The Power of Grassroots Advocacy in Shaping Public Policy

Within advocacy work, there exists a wide spectrum of strategies that can be employed to change or shape public policy. Yet, too often, nonprofit health organizations tend to limit themselves to a narrow range of strategies that typically includes education, policy/data analysis, and limited legislative advocacy. While these strategies are important to public policy work, they may not be enough to influence policymakers in today’s increasingly special interest and ideological-driven political system.

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Board Service: From in Perpetuity to Term Limits

Twenty-five years ago in 1985, The Health Foundation
of Greater Indianapolis was created with proceeds
from the sale of MetroHealth, one of the first
statewide, staff-model Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMOs). As an independent, not-for-profit grantmaker, the
foundation has been, and is still, dedicated to preserving and
enhancing the physical, mental, and social health of the
Greater Indianapolis community.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Trustee Resources

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