40 Years and Future-Focused: Announcing GIH’s New Strategic Plan
As we approach our 40th year of supporting philanthropy—we at GIH have been reflecting on how the field is evolving, what is needed to achieve better health, and what our role in this work can be. We’ve asked for guidance on what we do well and where we can improve. And we’ve reflected on your feedback, reaffirmed our mission and values, and identified intended outcomes. The result is our new five-year strategic plan.
Moving the Needle on Black Birth Equity – A Call to Action
Philanthropy has an urgent responsibility and opportunity to address the structural factors leading to birth inequities. Healthier pregnancies, labors, and postpartum recoveries not only benefit birthing individuals, but also result in healthier children and families. Focusing attention on those who need it most could have positive implications for entire communities harmed by systemic racism for future generations. There is much work to do, but not enough philanthropic organizations are supporting these issues to tackle them at scale. We need all hands-on deck to truly move the needle. We five funders— from different states and coming to this issue from different angles—are reaching out to our fellow funders with a call to action to join us to in this work.
Understanding Power Building Ecosystems
This study offers analysis of the conditions and strategies that enhance or stymie power-building in relation to three ballot initiative issues, each of which has the potential to improve community health outcomes: Affordable Housing, Medicaid Expansion, Criminal Justice Reform.
The Path to Achieving Health Equity Begins with The Data
As we work towards a more just and equitable future, we must ensure that we have the data needed to measure the things we are trying to improve. It is no longer acceptable to say we do not know.
Addressing Gaps in Firearm Violence Prevention Research – Lessons from a National Partnership
Whether by directly funding new research or calling on Congress to increase funding, philanthropic institutions can help build the evidence that leads to more effective gun policies and invest in initiatives for improved firearm data at the local, state, and federal levels.
New Resources for Investing in Farm to Early Care and Education
Farm to early care and education initiatives work across systems, linking health, education, and agriculture to support young children’s cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development; improve community nutrition; and build sustainable local food systems. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has released a set of new resources based on the learnings from their five-year, five-state (Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) investment in farm to early care and education.
Moving from Intention to Impact: Funding Racial Equity to Win
In a joint report, Moving from Intention to Impact: Funding Racial Equity to Win, PolicyLink and The Bridgespan Group examines commitment to funding for racial equity work in the US. In the last year, donors across the spectrum from foundations to corporations have made unprecedented commitments to advancing racial equity. Two key takeaways from the report to encourage funders to make real impact in racial equity is the need for transparent reporting and being responsive to the needs of movement leaders.
GIH Bulletin: September 2021
The need to develop and implement a comprehensive integrated plan to address our health workforce grows stronger every day. As some communities experience their highest COVID-19 case rate since the start of the pandemic, with providers and public health workers stretched to the breaking point, we must also devote time and resources to ensure that we have a highly trained, diverse health care and public health workforce to meet our future health needs.
Now is the Time: Acting Today Will Ensure We Have A Strong Health Workforce Tomorrow
The need to develop and implement a comprehensive integrated plan to address our health workforce grows stronger every day. As some communities experience their highest COVID-19 case rate since the start of the pandemic, with providers and public health workers stretched to the breaking point, we must also devote time and resources to ensure that we have a highly trained, diverse health care and public health workforce to meet our future health needs.
The Unseen Provider: COVID-19 Reveals the Hidden Link between Correctional and Community Care
COVID-19 has had disproportionate impact on justice-involved people because health and justice systems maintain discrete siloes due to longstanding policies. These policies create structural barriers to an integrated response to people living at the intersection of these two systems. Focusing resources in this overlooked area provides an excellent opportunity for a return on investment for grantmakers seeking to make impactful change.