Upcoming Webinars
The Future of Rural Health and Well-Being: Findings from a Landscape Analysis and Listening Sessions
Grantmakers In Health and the National Rural Health Association, with support from the Georgia Health Policy Center, are leading an initiative to reimagine rural health and well-being by aligning systems and resources to achieve optimal health for all individuals living in rural America. As part of this effort, the Georgia Health Policy Center conducted a landscape analysis highlighting a sampling of a cross-section of organizations and leaders in rural health and hosted two national listening sessions of key stakeholders.
Please join us for a discussion of our key findings, the impact of the rapidly changing federal policy landscape, and recommendations for where we go from here in building a shared vision and roadmap for sustainable, community-driven change in rural communities across the country.
Steady Voices in Unsteady Times: Strategies for Communicating in Crisis
Communicating effectively in times of crisis is essential for maintaining public trust and organizational reputation. It can also minimize the spread of false or misleading information. This virtual workshop is designed to support health funders’ efforts to effectively communicate while managing potential risks of ideologically- and politically-driven threats. Beth Tritter and Chrystal Okonta from FGS Global will lead the program. Participants will learn how to prepare for a communications crisis and test drive practical tools for managing and responding. Working in groups, participants will also work to address a plausible and timely challenge using best practices and core principles of effective crisis response.
Behavioral Health in the Balance: Navigating the Impact of the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act
Medicaid is the single largest payer for behavioral health services and is increasingly responsible for substance use disorder reimbursements. In July 2025, H.R.1 was signed into law containing an estimated $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years, resulting in almost 15 million people losing health coverage, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. The pressure on states to cut spending is immense, and behavioral health services will not be immune. Join GIH for a discussion on the behavioral health implications of H.R.1 and opportunities for funders to get involved now. Bill Smith and Angela Kimball from Inseparable will summarize H.R.1 from a behavioral health perspective. Neel Harja and Sarah Wasil from Michigan Health Endowment Fund and Itai Dinour and Hazel Guzman from Carmel Hill Fund will provide examples of how funders are responding to this challenging situation. Funders will leave the webinar with actionable ideas to protect access to behavioral health services in their states.
CEO Working Group Webinar: New CEOs
It is a difficult time for many, but especially for those who are new to their role. Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group in October, to offer foundation leaders who have been in their position for less than five years the opportunity to discuss the challenges they are facing as new CEOs with one another and seasoned leaders in the field. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations. During these candid, confidential conversations, philanthropic leaders share information, swap strategies, raise concerns, and ask for one another’s advice.
Funder Collaborations to Protect Science
Scientific research is the foundation of public health, driving innovation, policy, and life-saving interventions. But deep federal cuts and workforce reductions threaten to unravel decades of progress. In response, funders are organizing and taking action to protect the scientific enterprise. This webinar spotlights two funder collaborations: FACTS—a table for learning and discussion and the Portfolio to Protect Science—a coordinated effort to secure key parts of scientific research. Speakers will share how these collaborations emerged and opportunities for funders to engage.
Speakers include Caroline Montojo, President and CEO, Dana Foundation, Sam Gill, President and CEO, Doris Duke Foundation and Julie Morita, President and CEO, The Joyce Foundation. The conversation will be moderated by Cara James, President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health.
Foundations Take Action on Medicaid
Congress is considering significant cuts to Medicaid as part of the budget reconciliation process being used to advance the new administration’s legislative priorities. Cuts to Medicaid funding would dramatically impact the 80 million people served by the program today. This webinar provided an overview of potential federal policy changes to Medicaid and considerations for foundations and corporate giving programs as they consider how to take action in their communities. The webinar featured a panel discussion with the leadership of state foundations to highlight their key initiatives and collaborations on Medicaid defense. Speakers included Patti Boozang of Manatt Health, Heather Howard of State Health and Value Strategies, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, Sheldon Weisgrau of Missouri Foundation for Health, and Aaron Wernham of Montana Healthcare Foundation.
Social Security is for Everyone – And Philanthropy Plays An Important Role
Social Security turns 90 this year with nearly four generations of Americans rightfully counting on social security as a part of their economic plan. It is not just for older adults but also supports children and families in the event of disability and death. However, the program currently faces a long-term financing gap which, if unaddressed, will result in across-the-board benefit cuts of approximately 15 percent. There are workable solutions and this new survey from National Academy of Social Insurance, supported by RRF Foundation on Aging, tested vetted options to understand what components people most value, would like increased and could be decreased.
Policy Briefing: Threats to Food and Nutrition Programs in Budget Reconciliation
The House and Senate continue to work on a budget reconciliation. On April 10, the House narrowly passed the Senate’s version of a budget blueprint, calling on Congressional committees to slash billions of dollars from programs within their jurisdictions including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meal supports like the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and Medicaid in exchange for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. The House and Senate will determine the final tax and spending levels by agency and program in committee debates in coming months. In this session, experts from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) will provide an up to the moment analysis of how federal budget reconciliation impacts food and nutrition programs, the tie into Farm Bill negotiations, and ultimately, what these policy decisions mean for the health and well-being of children, families, and communities across the country. Experts will also highlight how advocates are organizing in support of these crucial programs, FRAC’s advocacy resources, and how funders can support this work. Please note this session will not be recorded. Notes and key takeaways will be shared with registrants.
CEO Working Group Webinar
Grantmakers In Health is pleased to have convened the CEO Working Group on April 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss challenges in our work and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions under the new administration. These calls were open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations.
On this webinar, we were joined by Dr. Rich Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, on the topic of funders communicating their values and using their voice during these critical times. We were also joined by a strategic communications firm to discuss approaches and resources for that work. Philanthropic leaders then had the opportunity to share information, swap strategies, raise concerns, and ask for one another’s advice.
Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff
This informal roundtable discussion provided participants a platform to connect with peers, explore pressing issues, and share experiences to advance policy change.
Medicaid: Threats and Responses
As Congress deliberates federal spending cuts, Medicaid is under imminent threat. Legislative proposals are being discussed that may severely cap or cut Medicaid, particularly affecting children, seniors, and the disabled population. On this webinar, participants learned about current threats to the program, including renewed interest in Medicaid work requirement policies. Funders had the opportunity to hear about the latest research and discuss how philanthropy is responding in this moment. Speakers included Stephen Kaye of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund; Larry Levitt of KFF; and Mona Shah of Community Catalyst.
Health Care Policy in 2025: Appropriations, Budget Reconciliation, and More
During this webinar, experts from Leavitt Partners will explain the distinction between the appropriations and budget processes and recent developments, including FY2025 appropriations and possible changes to mandatory funding, such as Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Leavitt Partners will discuss how these changes may impact health funders’ work and possible opportunities to engage.
Democracy and Philanthropy in These Times
What do attacks on trans rights have to do with voting rights for Black communities? How is birthright citizenship linked to the unfinished work of Reconstruction and equality under the law? And why are laws and practices protecting reproductive justice central to all of it? These aren’t just academic questions—they’re the battle lines of our…