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.
GIA & GIH Funder Briefing on the Older Americans Act Reauthorization
Despite bipartisan attempts until the 11th hour, the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 was not passed. With a new Congress and Administration, there is a new landscape for what may come next for the OAA and other important health and aging policies. Join us for an update on OAA reauthorization, a discussion of national aging policy and funding, and GIH and GIA’s plans for supporting OAA reauthorization and other important aging policies in 2025. Speakers include Amy Gotwals of USAging and Marci Phillips of National Council on Aging.
Health Care Policy in 2025: What to Expect from Congress and the Trump Administration
In this timely webinar, experts from Leavitt Partners provided an overview of what to expect from Congress and the Administration, focusing on key legislative priorities and executive actions, and shared their predictions for what to watch over the first 100 days. Speakers addressed the role that budget reconciliation could play in shaping the nation’s policy landscape, the implications for funders, and the challenges and opportunities presented while navigating this expedited process.
CEO Working Group Webinar
Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group to share election reflections and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations.
Medicaid: Protect and Defend
Participants learned about what policy changes and funding cuts are possible with the incoming presidential administration and the 119th U.S. Congress. Presenters shared reflections and suggested opportunities for funders to protect and defend this vital program.
Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff
Join this informal roundtable discussion to connect with your peers, explore pressing issues, and share your perspectives on how election results are likely to influence your organization’s approach to policy change.
Connecting Pediatricians, Families, and Schools for Thriving Youth
Leaders from the field explored how EdNavigator connected across systems to solve education challenges for children and youth in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, DC, and how this cross-systems approach was a game changer in enabling children and youth to access the services they needed to thrive in school.