How Much of Foundations’ Money Is in Impact Investments? Just 5% Is Common, Says Report

How Much of Foundations’ Money Is in Impact Investments? Just 5% Is Common, Says Report

According to a survey by Bridgespan Social Impact, impact investing remains very far from the norm even among those foundations most likely to pursue it. What will it take for more funders to align money with mission?

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How Getty’s Bringing Curators Together After the Disruption of COVID

How Getty’s Bringing Curators Together After the Disruption of COVID

As its seven-year funding initiative for curators of prints and drawings comes to a close, the Getty Foundation is going “all-in” on in-person professional learning and community development.

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“Portraits of Us”: A Celebration of Black Women in Philanthropy

“Portraits of Us”: A Celebration of Black Women in Philanthropy

We connected with philanthropy veteran Toya Nash Randall about her book project exploring the contributions of Black women in philanthropy, the ongoing challenges they still face, and the value of sisterhood.

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The Latest Industry Numbers on DAFs Are Yet Another Example of Selective Transparency

The Latest Industry Numbers on DAFs Are Yet Another Example of Selective Transparency

A new report on donor-advised funds, billed as independent, was another product of the philanthropic establishment. It speaks to a broader issue: overly rosy reporting of giving data by interested parties.

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Post-WeWork, the Neumanns Are Still Billionaires. Whatever Happened to Their Philanthropy?

Post-WeWork, the Neumanns Are Still Billionaires. Whatever Happened to Their Philanthropy?

Before being forced out of the company, Adam and Rebekah Neumann signaled some big philanthropic aspirations. They’re still very wealthy; did they continue giving?

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A Public-Private Cancer Funder Backs Team Science and Targets Inequities in Care and Outcomes

A Public-Private Cancer Funder Backs Team Science and Targets Inequities in Care and Outcomes

Cancer Grand Challenges has announced $125 million across five new grants to take on key questions in cancer research and to better understand causes of poorer health outcomes for certain patient populations.

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Who Is Binaifer Nowrojee, the New President of Open Society Foundations?

Who Is Binaifer Nowrojee, the New President of Open Society Foundations?

OSF announced this week that a human rights lawyer and advocate, and longtime staffer at the massive grantmaker, will take over as president. Here’s what you need to know about Binaifer Nowrojee.

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This Women’s History Month, We Need More Funding – and More Optimism

This Women’s History Month, We Need More Funding – and More Optimism

Despite widespread fears over the impact of the new legal landscape on DEI-focused funding, here’s why guest author Elizabeth Barajas-Román is optimistic about the future for women and girls.

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Nonprofit Boards Remain Predominantly White. Do Funders Care?

Nonprofit Boards Remain Predominantly White. Do Funders Care?

Amid a status quo on nonprofit governance that remains mostly white, are socially conscious funders rewarding board diversity? For insight, we reached out to The New Philanthropists, an organization looking squarely at the issue.

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A Massive Bequest Powers Participatory Giving: What’s New with the Ruth Foundation for the Arts?

A Massive Bequest Powers Participatory Giving: What’s New with the Ruth Foundation for the Arts?

Backed by $440 million from its late founder in 2022, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts takes a “nonhierarchical” approach that puts funding power into artists’ hands. Two years on, it’s hitting its stride.

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Towards Greater Community Safety: The Case for Community-Based Violence Intervention

Towards Greater Community Safety: The Case for Community-Based Violence Intervention

In this guest piece, Ford President Darren Walker and program officer david rogers say funders should lean into community violence prevention strategies — to make policing “both less necessary and more effective.”

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This Public-Private Partnership Is Using Arts and Culture as a Catalyst for Racial Justice in Oakland

This Public-Private Partnership Is Using Arts and Culture as a Catalyst for Racial Justice in Oakland

The City of Oakland is partnering with local foundations to combine organizing and arts and culture work in pursuit of racial justice. The latest round backs BIPOC-led business cooperatives and more.

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Six Questions with Ellen Dorsey, Who Helped Convince Philanthropies to Divest

Six Questions with Ellen Dorsey, Who Helped Convince Philanthropies to Divest

The former head of the Wallace Global Fund has been one of the most successful philanthropic organizers of recent years. Here’s Dorsey on the pace of change in the sector and why “in philanthropy, we're not just any investor.”

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Bill Drayton on Ashoka’s Work to Make “Everyone a Changemaker”

Bill Drayton on Ashoka’s Work to Make “Everyone a Changemaker”

Ideas like “social entrepreneurship” and “changemaking” show up everywhere today, and that has a lot to do with Drayton and the global organization he founded. Here’s a look at Ashoka’s work and backing, and what’s next.

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Melinda French Gates Backs a Funding Challenge to Help Teens Navigate a Tech-Driven World

Melinda French Gates Backs a Funding Challenge to Help Teens Navigate a Tech-Driven World

Pivotal Ventures has teamed up with the Susan Crown Exchange and The Goodness Web to support Young Futures, a new nonprofit hosting funding challenges focused on digital wellbeing for youth. The first is already in progress.

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What Happened to Laurene Powell Jobs' and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Once-Ambitious Green Group?

What Happened to Laurene Powell Jobs' and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Once-Ambitious Green Group?

Launched with fanfare in 2019, Earth Alliance promised to ally billionaire dollars and celebrity clout against the threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. Now, the initiative is virtually defunct. Here’s what we know.

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Have K-12 Funders Stepped Up for Racial Equity and Justice Since 2020? Not According to This Report

Have K-12 Funders Stepped Up for Racial Equity and Justice Since 2020? Not According to This Report

Sobering findings from the Schott Foundation for Public Education show that as 2020 recedes from view, ed philanthropy seems largely uncommitted to carrying on equity and justice funding over the long haul.

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This Nonprofit Is Using DAF Money to Combat Inequities in Venture Capital

This Nonprofit Is Using DAF Money to Combat Inequities in Venture Capital

The $200 billion-plus accumulating in donor-advised funds is mostly invested traditionally. Inspire Access wants to mobilize some of that money to support start-ups founded and led by women and people of color.

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“The Theater Is My Favorite Church.” MAP Fund Supports Artists Through Cash and Coaching

“The Theater Is My Favorite Church.” MAP Fund Supports Artists Through Cash and Coaching

As it backs new performance art, this funder also provides its grantees with something uncommon: personalized coaching through its Scaffolding for Practicing Artists program.

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How the Khyentse Foundation Promotes Buddhist Teaching and Scholarship

How the Khyentse Foundation Promotes Buddhist Teaching and Scholarship

Established by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, this unique charitable organization focuses on Buddhist study and practice around the world. It has markedly increased its spending and grantmaking in recent years.

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