Scan of the Field: Funder Approaches to Health Equity
Philanthropic investments in health equity are growing in response to increased national attention. In an effort to document and learn from this moment, GIH surveyed its Funding Partners at the end of 2020 to identify whether and how foundations altered their health equity programming and pivoted internally to foster more diverse and inclusive environments.
Transforming Communities Through the Social Determinants of Health
Six years ago, Palm Health Foundation made a risky decision. Dissatisfied with the short-term gains of traditional responsive grantmaking, we launched the Healthier Together initiative in an effort to forge a deeper connection to community through the social determinants of health.
GIH Bulletin: November/December 2020
GIH is continuing to organize several post-election calls for health funders, as we have done in previous years. Join us on November 30 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern for Post-Election Discussion: Moving Forward on Health Care to gain key insights into the prospects for increasing health care access, advancing health equity, and improving the delivery system. In addition, check out these resources from our Philanthropy Support Partners…
Maximizing Impact in a Limited Time: Time-Limited Programs and Foundations
Some foundations institute time-limited initiatives to maximize resources. Others adopt a spend-down approach to have impact within a short organizational lifespan. Both situations provide opportunity for a health-focused foundation to accomplish goals with urgency, but pose the challenge of doing so without the luxury of time. ClearWay Minnesota and Missouri Foundation for Health have embraced strategic and tactical advantages of being life-limited and having time-limited programs, respectively, to address persistent health issues.
Pioneering Health-Wealth Solutions for Children
Today, as we navigate the pandemic, deep racial and economic inequities in health and wealth outcomes have been revealed and amplified for children—especially children of color. Health and wealth are inextricably linked. Investments to improve health outcomes using the social determinants of health and to promote financial well-being across families are mutually supportive. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all children are healthy, financially secure, and live in families without daily financial stressors because of assets and wealth.
2020 Fall Forum: Better Health, Stronger Democracy
Better Health, Stronger Democracy explored how health funders are promoting civic engagement, protecting voter rights, and engaging in post-census electoral redistricting.
Quick Poll Results: Voter Engagement Efforts
GIH’s August/September 2020 Quick Poll asked foundations if they fund voter engagement efforts.
Managing America’s Crises Means Addressing the Political Determinants of Health
Too often we stop at these social drivers of inequities, however, and miss the link between social determinants of health and their political roots. Every social determinant of health is preceded by a political action, inaction, or impetus. Political determinants of health create the social drivers—including poor environmental conditions, inadequate transportation, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of healthy food options—that affect all other dynamics of health.
COVID-19: Foundations Help Rural Communities Respond and Recover
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing disparities in vulnerable rural communities, which place the 46 million Americans in rural geographies in a particularly precarious situation. In the spring of 2020, Grantmakers In Health reached out to several funders engaged in this work to better understand their perspectives on rural response and recovery and to share those examples with the broader field to assist funders as they determine future needs and strategies in rural areas.