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
Prioritizing America’s Youngest Children
In this webinar, speakers discussed foundation strategies that address early childhood.
Youth Wellness: Addressing Trauma and Promoting Whole Health
In this webinar, participants heard from experts from two community-based models using trauma-informed care approaches to support wellness in children and caregivers.
Outreach and Enrollment Learning Community – July
On our July call, we discussed outreach to small businesses and employers. Guest speakers included Brooke Bell of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Elisabeth Benjamin of Community Service Society of New York, and Kevin Lewis of Maine Community Health Options. Please read the related…
A Long and Dangerous Road: How Funders Can Respond to the Surge of Unaccompanied Children Migrating to the United States
This webinar discussed the growing humanitarian crisis and the role funders can play in responding to the needs of unaccompanied immigrant children who are being cared for in communities across the country.
Monitoring the Impact of the ACA (Part Two)
This call built further on the recent GIH webinar, Monitoring the Impact of the ACA. Participants took a deeper dive into the work being done and the approaches being taken and explored possibilities for coordinating efforts.
Understanding Pediatric Dental Benefits in the ACA
This webinar provided an overview of the pediatric dental benefit, explored implementation challenges and opportunities for philanthropy.
Optimal Healing Environments: Creating a Culture of Wellness
This webinar featured organizations that have adopted a holistic healing framework and discussed ways philanthropy can help optimize wellness and prevention.
Outreach and Enrollment Learning Community – June
This month’s call was an exchange of ideas on grantmaker roles in outreach and enrollment going forward.
Integrated Care: Building a Skilled Workforce
This webinar discussed the latest research on workforce competencies and shared examples of successful integrated care practices.