Upcoming Webinars
Roundtable Discussion: Health Funders Communication and Policy Staff
Grantmakers in Health is pleased to host a second joint call for the GIH Policy Staff Learning Community and the GIH Communications Staff Learning Community. We will discuss the importance of communicating about policy changes in meaningful ways that engage communities and partners. In this informal conversation, we will swap strategies, illuminate solutions, and make connections. We will also use the time to dig in on a topic that was raised during the January 27 call: supporting policy, messaging, or other work related to the upcoming elections (such as governors’ races, mid-terms, ballot initiatives, etc.).
SNAP Funder Working Group: Food Restriction Waivers
This Working Group Call will examine the rise of state waivers restricting the type of food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits, how retailers are navigating these changes, and what we might learn from the evaluations. To date, USDA has approved food restriction waivers in 22 states and incentivized waiver applications by tying them to increased funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. USDA claims that these waivers are meant to “restore nutritional value in SNAP.” However, five SNAP recipients in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia sued the department in March, challenging these restrictions as harmful, unlawful, and burdensome.
Speakers from the National Governors Association, the National Grocers Association, and the University of Illinois Chicago will discuss the state-level decision-making process to apply for a waiver, the impact of these waivers on retailer participation in SNAP, and the public and private evaluation methods being used to assess whether the restrictions have any meaningful impact on nutrition for participants. The Center for Science in the Public Interest will also share strategic thinking about how they are exploring opportunities to engage in this continuously evolving political climate.
CEO Working Group Webinar
Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group to discuss challenges in our work and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, or Executive Directors. During these candid, confidential conversations, philanthropic leaders share information, swap strategies, raise concerns, and ask for one another’s advice. Reach out to Ann Rodgers to learn more.
Passed in July 2025, H.R. 1 is now entering its implementation phase, with significant implications on state operations and budgets—particularly related to changes in Medicaid and SNAP programs. In this webinar, we will explore H.R. 1 implementation with two organizations that are dedicating resources to tracking its impact and supporting states as they respond. Speakers include: Alison Betty of alignco, Patti Boozang of Manatt Health, and Timothy Shaw of Aspen Institute.
Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff
A growing number of health funders employ staff whose responsibilities focus exclusively or predominantly on public policy engagement. Do you lead your organization’s policy or government affairs work? During our roundtable discussion we connected with peers, explored pressing issues, and shared experiences to engage communities in setting funders’ policy priorities. Between calls, members interact with one another in GIH’s online learning community for policy staff.
GIH Webinar Recordings and Resources
Funders Census Initiative Briefing Series: Census 2020 Messaging Testing Results – Part 5
This webinar featured results of messaging research conducted by the National Congress of American Indians. During this webinar, attendees learned about:
the methodology used by the National Congress of American Indians, the findings of their message testing, and recommended messengers and messages.
Is the Number of Uninsured Children Rising?
The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families released a new report, Nation’s Progress on Children’s Health Coverage Reverses Course. This webinar was a robust discussion of the report’s findings, including key federal and state policy updates.
Engaging the Public in Assessing Health Care Value
How can foundations best support health care delivery system transformation? Funders discussed how pairing evidence analysis with public deliberation can help stakeholders understand the relative value of care options and take actions that will improve access for patients while reducing costs throughout the system.
Funders Census Initiative Briefing Series: Census 2020 Messaging Testing Results—Part 4
The Funders Census Initiative presented the latest briefing in its series on census messaging results, in partnership with the Democracy Funders Collaborative Census Subgroup.
LIVESTREAM RECORDING: Count Us In! Roles for Health Funders in Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census
This recording of the webcast from the first day of the 2018 GIH Fall Forum reviews upcoming census activities and shares practical strategies for philanthropic involvement.
What Funders Need to Know About “Public Charge”: An Analysis of the Published Rule
In this webinar, participants discussed the recently proposed “public charge” rule would allow federal officials to consider immigrants’ use of Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program, and several housing programs in determining whether to deny entry into the United States or make adjustments to legal permanent resident status. Listeners learned more about the proposed rule and discussed ways that funders can take action.
Medicaid Waivers: An Update
On this webinar, funders learned about approved and pending Medicaid waivers, explored the response to flexibilities such as work requirements and managed care contracting, and discussed how foundations might work within these processes to promote health outcomes and protect consumers.
Funders Census Initiative Briefing Series: Census 2020 Messaging Testing Results – Part 3
The Funders Census Initiative presented the second in a series of briefings on census messaging results developed in partnership with the Democracy Funders Collaborative Census Subgroup.
Capturing Election Momentum for Building Power
In this final webinar in the FCCP Election Series Discussion listeners explored practical pathways that can capture election momentum to build long-term power for communities of interest. Together participants crafted potential solutions to help bridge the post-election decline in funding and retain grantee capacities at a time when that will be critical.
