The path to policy change: practical steps and lessons from health funders.

As part of its continuing mission to serve trustees and staff of health foundations and corporate giving programs, on November 3, 2005, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) convened nearly 80 grantmakers and a diverse group of individuals with expertise in different types of public policy work to discuss the challenges and opportunities for health funders who seek to bring about change in federal, state, and local public policies. The program was designed to address funders' desire to go beyond the basics of funding public policy work and to learn from peers and others about how to improve the effectiveness of their public policy efforts. It was structured as a series of small-group discussions on key topics including advocacy infrastructure, communications, community organizing, data development and analysis, evaluation, working with foundation boards, and working with policymakers.