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.
Convenings
Learn, connect, and grow with thought leaders and peers at GIH meetings.
Webinars
Interact with leading experts and peers on issues that impact your work most.
Calendar
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Upcoming GIH Events
CEO Discussion on Emerging Challenges
Health funder CEOs are grappling with a fast-changing operating environment affecting many aspects of their work. As a response, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is convening a special webinar on Monday, October 6 at 4:30pm ET to help CEOs navigate philanthropy’s emerging challenges and share resources GIH has created to assist in meeting the moment. We will be joined by GIH’s legal advisors, who will provide a rundown of the current legal landscape, as well as representatives from FGS Global, GIH’s crisis communications consultants. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and provide insights.
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.
2025 Rural Health Philanthropy Partnership Meeting
10/2/2025 Update: Due to the federal government shutdown, our federal government colleagues may be unable to attend this meeting. GIH and NRHA will co-host the Tribal Health Funders Workshop and Annual Meeting, and the meetings will proceed as scheduled. Thank you for your patience as GIH and NRHA works to update the meeting to reflect…
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.
Steady Voices in Unsteady Times: Strategies for Communicating in Crisis
Communicating effectively in times of crisis is essential for maintaining public trust and organizational reputation. It can also minimize the spread of false or misleading information. This virtual workshop is designed to support health funders’ efforts to effectively communicate while managing potential risks of ideologically- and politically-driven threats. Beth Tritter and Chrystal Okonta from FGS Global will lead the program. Participants will learn how to prepare for a communications crisis and test drive practical tools for managing and responding. Working in groups, participants will also work to address a plausible and timely challenge using best practices and core principles of effective crisis response.
CEO Working Group Webinar: New CEOs
It is a difficult time for many, but especially for those who are new to their role. Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group in October, to offer foundation leaders who have been in their position for less than five years the opportunity to discuss the challenges they are facing as new CEOs with one another and seasoned leaders in the field. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations. During these candid, confidential conversations, philanthropic leaders share information, swap strategies, raise concerns, and ask for one another’s advice.
Funder Collaborations to Protect Science
Scientific research is the foundation of public health, driving innovation, policy, and life-saving interventions. But deep federal cuts and workforce reductions threaten to unravel decades of progress. In response, funders are organizing and taking action to protect the scientific enterprise. This webinar spotlights two funder collaborations: FACTS—a table for learning and discussion and the Portfolio to Protect Science—a coordinated effort to secure key parts of scientific research. Speakers will share how these collaborations emerged and opportunities for funders to engage.
Speakers include Caroline Montojo, President and CEO, Dana Foundation, Sam Gill, President and CEO, Doris Duke Foundation and Julie Morita, President and CEO, The Joyce Foundation. The conversation will be moderated by Cara James, President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health.
CEO Working Group Webinar: December Convening
Grantmakers In Health is pleased to convene the CEO Working Group to discuss challenges in our work and opportunities for collaboration as we move forward to achieve our health missions under the new administration. These calls are open to GIH Funding Partner CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, or the highest-ranking health staff at multi-issue foundations.
Past Events
Funding Partner staff and trustees may access resources from past events including video recordings, slides, agendas, and supplemental materials provided to participants.