Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people. Its mission is to foster communication and collaboration among grantmakers and others, and to help strengthen the grantmaking community's knowledge, skills, and effectiveness. Formally launched in 1982, GIH is known today as the profe
ssional home for health grantmakers, and a resource for grantmakers and others seeking expertise and information on the field of health philanthropy. GIH generates and disseminates information about health issues and grantmaking strategies that work in health by offering issue-focused forums, workshops, and large annual meetings; publications; continuing education and training; technical assistance; consultation on programmatic and operational issues; and by conducting studies of health philanthropy. Additionally, the organization brokers professional relationships and connects health grantmakers with each other as well as with grantmakers in other fields whose work has important implications for health. It also develops targeted programs and activities, and provides customized services on request to individual funders. GIH is committed to promoting diversity and cultural competency in its programming, personnel and employment practices, and governance. It views diversity as a fundamental element of social justice and integral to its mission of helping grantmakers improve the health of all people. Diverse voices and viewpoints deepen our understanding of differences in health outcomes and health care delivery, and strengthen our ability to fashion just solutions. GIH uses the term, diversity, broadly to encompass differences in the attributes of both individuals (such as race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, and socioeconomic status) and organizations (foundations and giving programs of differing sizes, missions, geographic locations, and approaches to grantmaking).
