GIH Bulletin

In our 35th anniversary survey of GIH board members and board alumni, several identified the social determinants of health as a primary challenge—now and in the future—for health philanthropy.

As part of our 35th anniversary celebration, we reached out to GIH board members and board alumni to share their advice to health funders about the primary challenges that philanthropy should be tackling. As described in my July letter, several pointed out the contributions health funders have made—and can continue to make—to policy change.

As part of our 35th anniversary celebration, we reached out to GIH board members, past and present, for their insights about the road ahead for health philanthropy. They are proud of the sector’s legacy—and they share a strong belief in health funders’ ongoing leadership locally, statewide, and nationally.

As legend has it, GIH began as a conversation among foundation program officers at a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs restaurant in New Jersey, in 1978. At the time, there was no organization dedicated to the needs and concerns of health funders.

Major changes to the landscape of American health care are taking shape before our eyes. Health funders do not always agree about the optimal form these changes should take, but there is a shared commitment to improved population health outcomes, increased access, and reduced costs—and consensus that much work is needed to achieve these goals.

On March 14, GIH announced that Chet Hewitt, President and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation, is the 2017 recipient of the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy, and that Ron Pollack, the Founding Executive Director of Families USA, is the 2017 recipient of the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy.