Cara V. James, President and CEO, Grantmakers In Health
As is our democratic tradition, we held an election to choose the next president of the United States and members of Congress. We know that some votes are still being counted, but we also know there will be a new administration. This election and the last few years have been characterized by intense political polarization, with Americans seemingly more divided than ever before on many important issues—including health.
It is important to acknowledge that the pressing health challenges we face remain the same as they were before the election, including access to affordable health care, our continuing mental health crisis, health workforce shortages and burnout, persistent health inequities, and so much more. These pervasive challenges do not care about politics—they impact all of us regardless of where we live or who leads the country, and they are not going away unless we find ways to work together.
Given the road ahead and the work we need to do, I hope those who wished for a different outcome can do as Governor Tim Walz said during the Vice-Presidential debate and shake hands with the other side and “let the winner be the winner.” We need to agree to work together for the good of the country—not as adversaries, but as fellow citizens—and we need to find a way to bridge the divide.
For more than four decades, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) has been a nonpartisan organization that has supported health funders of all sizes and interests through education, networking, and leadership to advance better health for all through better philanthropy. Throughout our history, GIH has found opportunities to work with colleagues across the political divide to further that goal. As the new administration prepares to take office in January, we remain committed to our mission, vision, and the priorities of our strategic plan.
We will continue working with health funders and other stakeholders to improve health and well-being across our five focus areas: 1) access and quality, 2) community engagement and empowerment, 3) health equity and social justice, 4) population health, and 5) philanthropic growth and impact, and we will continue to advocate for the policies, programs, and systemic changes needed to promote better health across these domains. Examples include our partnership with Grantmakers In Aging to support the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act; our gun violence prevention learning community; our efforts to track health funder efforts in critical areas like behavioral health, climate change, and health equity; and the annual rural philanthropy meeting hosted in collaboration with the Federal Office on Rural Health Policy, National Rural Health Association, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
GIH stands ready to work with Congress and the new administration to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health. The challenges we face are tremendous, and they touch everyone regardless of political affiliation. They cannot be fixed in a day, but we can make progress by working together to improve health and well-being in the communities we all care about.