Grantmakers In Health

A Sector in Crisis: How U.S. Nonprofits and Foundations Are Responding to Threats | The Center for Effective Philanthropy New CEP data reveals a U.S. nonprofit sector in crisis and offers insight into how foundation are responding to a challenging context.

New data from the Center for Effective Philanthropy shows that nearly 70% of nonprofits experienced funding cuts in 2025.

How are funders responding? What can the philanthropic field do to support nonprofits and those they serve? Read “A Sector in Crisis” now 👇

When communities control their own data, it becomes a tool for learning, accountability, and action. Join Build Healthy Places Network on Feb 26 at 1 PM ET to hear how practitioners are advancing community-led data strategies. Register here: buff.ly/xHDagDH

As we look ahead to the 2026 midterms, the link between health and civic participation is critical. Join Vot-ER on Feb 26 at 2 PM ET with leaders from New Profit, The Joyce Foundation & The Commonwealth Fund to discuss priorities for the year ahead. Register here: buff.ly/aO4dVTy

Call for Nominations: 2026 Terrance Keenan Institute

Nominations are open for GIH’s Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy. This leadership program connects rising leaders with seasoned experts to explore critical issues and build lasting professional relationships.

Learn more and nominate a colleague by March 26 👇

A recent analysis from @kff.org details the initial awards to states under the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. Total awards across states vary modestly, but the amount received per rural resident varies greatly.

Learn more: buff.ly/sEB5vbL

Medicaid and Community Violence: Pathways to Sustainable Care - Grantmakers In Health American cities are witnessing historic declines in gun violence. In recent years, cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Chicago have all seen precipitous drops in homicides, with some reaching…

Community violence intervention (CVI) has helped reduce gun violence nationwide, but shifting funding puts its future at risk. A new Views from the Field article from the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention explores Medicaid as a promising funding source for CVI. Read more 👇

APHA Public Health Funder Network APHA Public Health Funder Network

The Public Health Funder Network of @apha.org is now accepting full session abstracts for the 2026 APHA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Donors that fund in public health are encouraged to submit around the meeting theme, "Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan.”

Deadline: March 31

Fellowships - The New York Community Trust Our fellows leave with an understanding of how grantmaking is done, an appreciation of the complexities of grantor and grantee relationships, and perhaps most importantly, a better sense of the…

GIH Funding Partner The New York Community Trust is seeking its next class of Philanthropy Fellows!

Fellows are full-time graduate students who will spend a year working on a range of philanthropic issues. Learn more and apply today!

Healthy Communities Foundation - Grantmakers In Health “We are deepening our trust-based grantmaking, further aligning our strategy with the learnings and relationships built over years of partnership with community and grantees. Our approach reflects a…

A new Grantmaker Profile features Healthy Communities Foundation, a health conversion foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in the Greater Chicago region.

Learn more about their work to promote health equity, quality, and access 👇

Reimagining Rural Health and Well-being - Grantmakers In Health To inform positive change, Grantmakers in Health (GIH) and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) are partnering to reimagine a unified vision for health and well-being in rural America. The…

Despite challenges in accessing care, rural communities continue to show resilience and innovation to strengthen health systems.

A new Views from the Field article from @ruralhealth.bsky.social & Georgia Health Policy Center highlights learnings to advance rural health. Read more:

Tune in as Cara James @gihealth.bsky.social and @mrbimpact.bsky.social illuminate the importance of advocacy, community engagement, and strategic investment in infrastructure to foster better health outcomes for rural populations. https://tinyurl.com/yhhtncry

GIH is pleased to announce the elections of David Jordan, President and CEO of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund; and Regan Gruber Moffitt, Vice President of Community Investments at St. David’s Foundation; to its Board of Directors. Read the press release: buff.ly/GMaXwca

Communities Fighting Back to Prevent Firearm Violence - Grantmakers In Health Can communities sustain the fight against firearm violence amid shrinking federal support? In Newark, New Jersey, local funders and advocates are showing what’s possible. This panel brings together…

How can communities sustain the fight against firearm violence amid shrinking federal support?

Join this webinar on Jan 14 at 2 pm to learn how democratizing data empowers community groups to advance public safety, and how funders can sustain this work. Register here 👇

The Health Foundation awards $250K in emergency financial assistance grants to Central Massachusetts community action agencies $250,000 in Year-End Funding Will Help Families Across Central Massachusetts as Community Needs Intensify

GIH Funding Partner The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts announced $250,000 in emergency financial assistance to three Central Massachusetts community agencies for basic needs such as housing, utilities, and food. Read the press release for more information 👇

The National Indian Health Board is hosting a kickoff webinar, “Indian Health 101,” as part of its 2026 Tribal Public Health Webinar Series.

Register here to join the discussion on Jan 8, 2026 at 3 pm ET: buff.ly/QGBhMPI

Promoting Policy Tools That Advance Health and Racial Equity RWJF is committed to promoting and protecting inclusive policymaking and ballot measure access, two democratic tools that are critical to achieving a world where health is no longer a privilege, but…

Ballot measures are one of few tools voters have to enact policy changes on issues that matter to them. Many advances were made in 2025, but there is still much to do. This landing page from GIH Funding Partner @rwjf.org contains helpful research and tools to protect the ballot measure process 👇

The Beat Executive Video Series: Cara James The Beat Executive Video Series: Cara James

GIH President & CEO Cara V. James recently spoke with Leana Wen as part of HLTH Inc.’s The Beat Executive Video Series. They discussed the rapidly evolving health policy landscape, how philanthropy is responding, and how to move forward with health equity at the forefront. Watch the interview 👇

Happy holidays from Grantmakers In Health!

This has been a challenging year for many, but we have never been more united in our shared vision of better health for all. We are so inspired by all you do for the communities you serve, and hope your holidays are full of joy!

Practicing What We Preach: Three Tips for Putting Equity at the Heart of a Successful Application Process - Grantmakers In Health Every step of the grant application process— from initial outreach to final award notification — provides opportunities for funders to either reinforce inequities or dismantle them. The grant…

Every step of a grant application provides an opportunity for funders to reinforce inequities or dismantle them. In this Views from the Field article, the @debeaumontfndtn.bsky.social, @academyhealth.bsky.social, and @rwjf.org offer tips to ensure equity is at the heart of grant applications.

Annabella R. Jenkins Foundation - Grantmakers In Health “Health equity is not achieved by philanthropy alone. Guided by the vision of our all-female volunteer Board, the Jenkins Foundation is proud to collaborate with community partners and grantees by…

A new GIH Grantmaker Profile features the @Annabella R. Jenkins Foundation, whose mission is to improve the well-being of all people in the greater Richmond, Virginia region and reduce health disparities through informed, strategic, and impactful philanthropy. Read the full profile 👇

Protecting Children’s Access to Health Care in Schools: The Impact of Medicaid Cuts on School Health Services - Grantmakers In Health “Due to the remote area we serve, our students have little to no access to medical services otherthan those provided in schools.”—Superintendent from a rural school district in Michigan. Schools are…

Schools are essential for children's access to health services, and Medicaid plays a key role. However, the 2025 federal reconciliation law puts the school Medicaid program at risk. In a new Views from the Field article, Jessie Mandle of @healthyschoolscampaign.org outlines the risks of these cuts:

🚨 Last chance to nominate for GIH’s 2026 Andy Hyman Advocacy Award and Terrance Keenan Leadership Award! Nominations due Dec 17. Winners will be announced in April 2026 and honored at the 2026 GIH Annual Conference.

Advocacy Award: buff.ly/zXekGwM

Leadership Award: buff.ly/gv0ux2I

Fund managers from diverse backgrounds are delivering standout returns and the smart money is slowly starting to pay attention | Fortune And the smart money is (slowly) starting to pay attention.

In a new @fortune.com article, Rochelle Witharana, Chief Financial and Investment Officer at @calwellness.bsky.social, encourages more investment through racially- and gender-diverse fund managers to deliver standout returns. Read the article to learn more:

Acting with Urgency: Stupski Foundation Accelerates Its Spend-Down Grantmaking - Grantmakers In Health In this interview, Grantmakers In Health’s Maya Schane spoke with Dan Tuttle and Sulma Gandhi of the Stupski Foundation about the foundation’s spend-down strategy and acceleration of grantmaking in…

In a new Views from the Field article, Dan Tuttle and Sulma Gandhi of @stupskifoundation.bsky.social spoke with GIH about the foundation’s decision to accelerate its spend-down grantmaking in response to federal funding cuts and threats to the well-being of communities over the past year. Read more:

A Conversation about the Intersections of Policy and Philanthropy with Cara V. James, PhD In this episode, 'A Conversation About the Intersections of Policy and Philanthropy,' Cara V. James, PhD, President and CEO of Grantmakers in Health (GIH), joins Michelle to explore key topics like…

GIH President and CEO Cara V. James recently joined Michelle Rathman on the Rural Impact podcast for an episode on the intersections of policy and philanthropy, challenges with rural health funding, and more. Listen here 👇

Roles for Philanthropy as Medicaid Changes Take Effect - Grantmakers In Health For those of us who have worked toward health equity, who have spent the past few years building toward incremental gains and pushing for larger change, the events of this year can feel like one big…

As Medicaid changes soon begin to take effect due to H.R.1 and other recent federal policy changes, Tiffany Donelson, President and CEO of @cthealth.org, wrote a Views from the Field article about roles for philanthropy. Read more 👇

America’s Food System is in Trouble. This Funder Collaborative is Tackling the Issues Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders (SAFSF) has grown during a time of increased stresses on the country’s food system and rising food costs.

GIH and SAFSF formed a funder working group to coordinate philanthropy’s response to SNAP cuts and shutdown-related disruptions. This partnership and SAFSF’s work on equitable, sustainable food systems were recently highlighted by Inside Philanthropy 👇

GIH President & CEO Cara James closed the 2025 Health Policy Exchange with a call to reimagine a more equitable, person-centered health system. Thank you to all attendees and sponsors for joining us this week, and we look forward to seeing everyone in Baltimore next June!

On the final day of #HPX25, Laleh Ispahani of @open-society.bsky.social spoke about the unbreakable link between health and democracy.

“Funding democracy is not funding a separate issue; it’s funding the infrastructure that supports the work you do in health.”

The final day of the 2025 Health Policy Exchange opened with The Law as a Lever: Legal Strategies for Health Funders. Susan Vignola and Harry Sandick, both partners at the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, spoke about the legal landscape for funders.