Protecting the Freedom to Give
November 18 – 21, 2025 • Arlington, VA
The GIH Health Policy Exchange provides policy-engaged funders with information on current issues, access to leading thinkers, and connections with grantmaking peers. This year’s theme is Protecting the Freedom to Give. Against a backdrop of recent federal funding cuts, executive orders, and threats to philanthropy, it is more important than ever for health funders to educate, advocate, and collaborate to support the people, places, and things that are important to us.
Crisis Communications Resources
Crisis and Issues Management Playbook for Funders
This Crisis and Issues Management Playbook is intended as a guide to support Grantmakers In Health Funding Partners in both individual and collective approaches to crisis moments.
Policy and Advocacy Resources
GIH maintains a library of policy resources for its Funding Partners.
Recent resources include:
• Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report
September 17, 2025• Department of Health and Human Services Reorganization and Reductions: Explaining the State of Play
September 17, 2025• The Final Reconciliation Package: Implementation of Key Provisions
August 15, 2025GIH Bulletin + News
Stay Informed!
Sign up to receive the GIH Bulletin and other announcements
Behavioral Health Strategies
GIH conducted a survey in late 2024 on funder engagement in behavioral health. This fact sheet, based on a sample of 139 health funders, summarizes the current trends, gaps, successes and challenges for funders. It also highlights philanthropy’s continued commitment to behavioral health while also signaling concern about the upcoming funding environment.
Deaconess Foundation
“Action is where philanthropy demonstrates its true value. At the Children’s Foundation, this means supporting community-led solutions, participating in collaborative funding efforts, and advocating for policies that strengthen public health, uplift nonprofit partners, and reinforce the philanthropic sector. Action requires transparency, trust, and long-term commitment.”
Connect and collaborate with peers, learn about opportunities to develop your staff, browse professional growth opportunities, and more.
Staff and trustees of foundations and corporate giving programs may receive strategic guidance from program staff, experts, and peers.
Learning Communities
GIH provides ongoing opportunities for sharing, networking, and collaborating around specific topics or functions in health philanthropy. Each Learning Community uses an online platform plus a mix of webinars, in-person meetings, resource sharing, and surveys to provide an in-depth look at its subject.
Trustee Tools and Resources
Browse trustee-tailored content related to governance, strategy, and effectiveness.
Upcoming Webinars
Developing a Funding Strategy In Response to SNAP Cuts
The scale and scope of the $186 billion in SNAP cuts included in the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) are staggering and could force millions to lose their benefits. There is a need to identify clear national, state, and local strategies for diverse capital partners to address the structural harm to SNAP and widespread negative impacts on hunger, health, nutrition and economic security posed by this legislation.
For the first 45 minutes of this call, speakers will share insights into emerging needs for advocacy, technical assistance, strategic communications, and other areas, in both the short and long term. Following Q&A with our panel, there will be a funder-only conversation to reflect on how organizations are responding, what is being funded, and how we could collaborate.
The Future of Rural Health and Well-Being: Findings from a Landscape Analysis and Listening Sessions
Grantmakers In Health and the National Rural Health Association, with support from the Georgia Health Policy Center, are leading an initiative to reimagine rural health and well-being by aligning systems and resources to achieve optimal health for all individuals living in rural America. As part of this effort, the Georgia Health Policy Center conducted a landscape analysis highlighting a sampling of a cross-section of organizations and leaders in rural health and hosted two national listening sessions of key stakeholders.
Please join us for a discussion of our key findings, the impact of the rapidly changing federal policy landscape, and recommendations for where we go from here in building a shared vision and roadmap for sustainable, community-driven change in rural communities across the country.