Latest Resources

Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

Building the Evidence: Investing in Research Supporting the Need for Healthy and Active Schools

Those leading our education system today face an enormous amount of pressure, from funding issues to curriculum changes, from absenteeism to state assessment scores. With so much to consider and so much to fit into each school day, leaders are often forced to make decisions that de-prioritize an important aspect of a child’s development: physical activity. Following discussions with numerous stakeholders, the Kansas Health Foundation found that a critical missing piece in making the case for the importance of physical activity at school was timely, state-specific data linking student fitness and academics.

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Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

Starting Early: Obesity Prevention in Early Childhood

In late 2009 The Boston Foundation shifted its health grantmaking focus from access to prevention in order to address the rising tide of preventable chronic illness and the escalating health care costs stemming from the obesity epidemic.

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Foundation Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living

Growing recognition of the nation’s obesity epidemic and its profound impact on population health has led an increasing number of health funders to identify the promotion of healthy eating and active living (HEAL) as a strategic priority. Anecdotal reports from Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Funding Partners suggest that as the level of investment committed to HEAL has increased over time, the nature of funded interventions has also changed considerably. In order to test these perceptions, GIH conducted this scan of the field to gain a clearer understanding of health foundations’ strategic approach to HEAL. Funded by The Colorado Health Foundation, the study considers foundations’ history with, current strategies for, and future plans regarding HEAL-related investments, as well as prevailing views on the value and effectiveness of these efforts.

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Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

Working at the Intersection of Healthy Eating, Active Living, and Violence Prevention

This field note describes Kaiser Permanente’s work at the intersection of obesity prevention, violence prevention/reduction, and, increasingly, social and emotional health. It focuses on Kaiser’s experience in advancing multidimensional community-based prevention efforts in Northern California, one of seven regions where it is undertaking this work.

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Start Smart: Healthy Weight in Early Childhood

In October 2012 GIH convened a group of grantmakers, researchers, and practitioners for the Issue Dialogue Start Smart: Healthy Weight in Early Childhood. This Issue Brief synthesizes key points from the day’s discussion with a background paper previously prepared for Issue Dialogue participants.

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Partnering with the Private Sector to Achieve Total Health

Kaiser Permanente has a vision called “Total Health.” Their perspective is that healthy individuals depend on healthy communities, and thriving communities depend on healthy people.

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Using Media to Fight Obesity

Efforts to market foods of minimal nutritional value are believed to have significantly exacerbated the obesity epidemic. This Issue Focus describes research regarding anti-obesity media messaging and provides examples of campaigns that are providing reliable, healthful information to counteract such marketing.

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Food and Health for All: Health Equity for Agricultural Farmworkers

Farmworkers—the hands that grow and supply so much of our daily food—pay a high price with their health and often their lives to provide our nourishment. Living below the U.S. federal poverty level, those who feed our nation are a young workforce facing economic, educational, health, and linguistic challenges.

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Creating Healthier Communities to Reverse Childhood Obesity

Learn how the YMCA’s Healthier Communities Initiatives, which include Pioneering Healthier Communities, Action Communities for Health, Innovation, & Environmental Change, and Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities, are helping to address the obesity epidemic.

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Connect With Funder Peers on Healthy Eating and Active Living

Interested in exchanging strategies, information, and questions with your funder peers? Sign up for GIH E-Forums.