Upcoming Webinars
Values, Voice, and H.R. 1: When Should Foundations Speak Out?
The stakes for health remain high in 2026 as implementation of H.R. 1 ushers in harmful changes to health and social safety net programs. Foundations are increasingly speaking publicly about the damaging effects of these and other federal actions on the health of communities. This webinar will explore when and how to issue a public statement. Chrystal Okonta, Director of FGS Global’s Health team, will discuss key factors when crafting a public statement such as urgency, mission alignment, and organizational capacity. Kerry Jones Waring, Vice President for Communications at the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, will share the foundation’s decision process, advice for crafting messages, and managing feedback.
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.
GIH Webinar Recordings and Resources
Making a Difference in Addressing the Graying of HIV and AIDS
This webinar provided an overview of the changing face of HIV and aging, including how HIV manifests among older adults, with a particular emphasis on diverse racial, ethnic, and geographical communities across the country.
Improving Integrated Care with Digital Technology Tools
This webinar discussed the opportunities and challenges health systems face when incorporating new technology in integrated care programs.
Beyond Medicine: Strengthening Community Wellness Approaches
This webinar discussed foundation roles in strengthening prevention and disease management by addressing often overlooked factors such as stress, sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle.
Provider Perspectives on Improving Health Care
As the health care landscape shifts with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health care providers are being asked to experiment with new ways to improve access to care, fix the delivery system, and help build a healthier society. This webinar explored a variety of health care provider perspectives on what it will take…
Conversation with the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
This webinar addressed children’s access to health care, and featured Anne Marie Costello, Acting Director, Children and Adults Health Programs Group at the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.