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.).
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.
GIH Webinar Recordings and Resources
Investing in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
This webinar described the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ “Partnership for Patients” Campaign and the Michigan Keystone Intensive Care Unit Project (recently evaluated in both the Archives of Internal Medicine and the British Medical Journal).
A Health Spending Cap: Implications for Medicaid, CHIP, & ACA Implementation
On this call, Robert Greenstein, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, discussed the various budget plans before Congress, and their possible impact on Medicaid and other social programs.
Mental Health Financing in the United States
This webinar reviewed the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured’s recent publication Mental Health Financing in the United States: A Primer.
Backseat Budgeter
This webinar featured a demonstration of Backseat Budgeter® and a discussion of how and why it can be a useful tool for health funders.
Know Your Care
On this webinar, funders discussed Know Your Care, a 501(c)(3) organization launching a communications campaign to educate key constituencies about the Affordable Care Act’s consumer and patient protections, using research-based messaging and real stories to ensure understanding of the law.
CLASS: Exploring the Program and Role of Foundations
This webinar explored the features of CLASS, describe recent polling data about public opinion on the program, and demonstrate how funders can get involved by building continued support for the program.
Child and Adolescent Health and Health Care Quality: Measuring What Matters
On this call, funders heard about IOM’s recommendations to standardize and make improvements to data sources and measures of health and health care quality for children and adolescents.
“Aligning Forces for Quality” and Supporting Payment Reform
This audioconference was designed for funders within the Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) regions (an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) and described ways local funders can partner with their local AF4Q alliance around payment reform and improving health care quality.
