Contribute to the Philanthropic Growth and Impact Fund

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.

 

Explore Philanthropic Growth and Impact Topics

Latest Resources

Practicing What We Preach: Three Tips for Putting Equity at the Heart of a Successful Application Process

Every step of the grant application process
— from initial outreach to final award notification — provides opportunities for funders to either reinforce inequities or dismantle them. The grant application process is often the first barrier that organizations encounter when seeking funding. If designed without an intentional focus on equity, the application process can advantage well-resourced organizations, while disadvantaging equally or better qualified organizations that have fewer resources.

Read More →

Annabella R. Jenkins Foundation

“Health equity is not achieved by philanthropy alone. Guided by the vision of our all-female volunteer Board, the Jenkins Foundation is proud to collaborate with community partners and grantees by investing in relationships, resilience, and equitable access to care across the Greater Richmond, Virginia region. A recent example is our partnership in Boost 200, a workforce development initiative led by the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Through shared learning and collective investment with local funders, we have helped expand licensure opportunities for behavioral health counselors—strengthening our region’s pipeline of mental health professionals and improving access to care for our community.”

Read More →

Closing Remarks: 2025 Health Policy Exchange

President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health (GIH), Cara V. James, delivered closing remarks at the 2025 Health Policy Exchange, “Protecting the Freedom to Give” in Arlington, Virginia.

Read More →

Remembering John W. Murphy, Former Leader of the Flinn Foundation and an Early Supporter of Grantmakers In Health

Grantmakers In Health (GIH) mourns the loss of John W. Murphy, a founding member and former board chair of GIH, and 1999 recipient of the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award. He died on October 22, 2025, at age 88. Murphy was a visionary leader and transformative force in health philanthropy, serving as the former President and…

Read More →

Advancing Health Beyond Health Care: How Policy Wins in Texas Reflect Philanthropic Strategy

At Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF), our vision is to build healthy communities for all by focusing on health beyond the walls of the doctor’s office. In 2024, we launched a new strategic framework that centers on three major action areas: health and health care services, healthy communities, and health policies. Across these areas, we also are prioritizing food and nutrition security, maternal health, and diabetes prevention, as these are critical levers for improving health outcomes in Texas.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

Trustee Resources

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