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
CDC Injury Center at Risk – What’s Ahead?
This webinar examined the Injury Center’s vital activities, explored potential threats to future capacity, and considers the role of health funders in supporting the Injury Center’s continued ability to track trends, conduct research, raise awareness, and implement prevention programs in partnership with states, localities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations.
Roundtable Discussion for Health Funders’ Policy Staff
Join this informal roundtable discussion to connect with your peers, explore pressing issues, and share your experiences supporting legal advocacy to advance policy change.
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.