VIEWS FROM THE FIELD

Promoting Health Equity and Combating Racism Through Health Policy

David Blumenthal,President, Commonwealth Fund
Laurie Zephyrin, Senior Vice President, Advancing Health Equity, Commonwealth Fund

Not every foundation is comfortable with trying to affect health policy. Policy to achieve health equity is no exception.

Nevertheless, for philanthropies committed to promoting health equity, shaping governmental action at every level is a powerful tool that deserves close examination. No other actor has government’s power—for good and ill—to bring about social change. Put another way, it is hard to imagine achieving an equitable health care system without forceful and consistent government action, as challenging as that may be to bring about.

VIEWS FROM THE FIELD

Funding Health Advocacy in Turbulent Times: Three Practices to Adopt

Deepti Sood, Associate Director, Evaluation & Learning, TCC Group

Effective health advocacy is not an easy endeavor, but when executed correctly, the results can be game-changing. Health advocates, whether operating through organizations, coalitions, campaigns, or movements, are accustomed to spending long periods of time with no outwardly visible activity or tangible progress, followed by an immediate sense of urgency and action to seize a window of opportunity. In many ways COVID-19 was one of those windows with phrases like health disparities becoming crystal clear to many.