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Remembering Patricia Mathews, Founding President and CEO of Northern Virginia Health Foundation
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Patricia Mathews, a longtime fixture in health philanthropy and a former member of the GIH board of directors. Please join us in celebrating Patricia Mathews’ memory, as well as her many contributions to the field of health philanthropy and GIH.
Responsible Exits: Insights from Three Funders
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.”
What We Heard When We Asked—and Why It Matters for Health Philanthropy Now
Over the past year, volatility and uncertainty have become defining features of the nonprofit landscape. Federal and state policy shifts, the cancelation of critical federal funding, delayed reimbursements, the unwinding of pandemic-era supports, and rising operating costs are converging. For many nonprofits, these pressures are no longer episodic; they shape everyday decisions about staffing, services, and sustainability.
St. David’s Foundation
“The greatest health challenges we face today are rooted in deep inequities—not only in access to care, but in opportunity, agency, and voice. Our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment highlights our research upon which we build our impact work. At St. David’s Foundation, we are committed to removing barriers, investing in community-led solutions, and working alongside our partners to build a Central Texas where everyone can thrive.”
What Do We Stand For?
One year ago, as we were just one month into the new administration, I wrote that “At a moment when so much has been described as ‘unprecedented,’ and so much of what we value is being attacked, we need to ask ourselves as individuals, organizations, and a field, what do we stand for? What values do we hold, and what will we do and say to defend them?” Today, the answers to these questions are needed more urgently than ever.
Reports and Publications
Advancing Health and Creating Lasting Impact: MacKenzie Scott’s Grants to Health Foundations
In 2019, MacKenzie Scott announced that she was stepping into the world of philanthropy to give away her multi-billion-dollar fortune “until the safe is empty”. She has kept her word—to date, she has given away $16.5 billion. Her initial process for choosing which organizations would receive grants was shrouded in mystery. From 2019 to 2023, Scott used a process she termed “quiet research” to identify possible grantee organizations. The lucky organizations received a call from Scott’s consultants, who let them know they were receiving a grant for immediate use however they would like to spend it. In the Fall of 2022, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) became one of those grantee organizations, along with more than 20 health foundations. Two additional GIH Funding Partner organizations received gifts in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
2023 Survey Summary: Climate Change Strategies
This infographic summarizes the responses to a Grantmakers In Health funder survey, conducted in May and June 2023, on how philanthropy is addressing climate change, and the barriers and opportunities that exist to support climate-related efforts.
Update from the Field: Results of Grantmakers In Health’s 2021 Review of Health Care Conversion Foundations
GIH’s Update from the Field: Results of Grantmakers In Health’s 2021 Review of Health Care Conversion Foundations documents the continued growth and evolution of this important sector within health philanthropy. This article and foundation directory highlight the growing diversity of the field and provide benchmarking data on more than 300 foundations.
Trustee Resources
Explore this page to browse resources, publications, and events related to foundation trustees.