After More Than $1 Billion in Funding, MacArthur’s Big Bets Are Winding Down. What Happens Now?

After More Than $1 Billion in Funding, MacArthur’s Big Bets Are Winding Down. What Happens Now?

Over the next few years, the MacArthur Foundation is bringing to a close four “Big Bets” on issues ranging from criminal justice to climate change. What impact did these programs have? And how will the shift affect grantees?

Read More

Where is MacKenzie Scott’s Global Giving Headed? Here’s What the Latest Data Tells Us

Where is MacKenzie Scott’s Global Giving Headed? Here’s What the Latest Data Tells Us

While the U.S. remains the primary focus, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving has been moving huge sums toward global philanthropy, including hundreds of millions last year. Here are the top issues and geographies.

Read More

From Anti-Apartheid to Land Back, Deborah Santana Reflects on Years of Social Justice Giving

From Anti-Apartheid to Land Back, Deborah Santana Reflects on Years of Social Justice Giving

Deborah Santana is a lifelong activist and donor, including work at the Milagro Foundation with former husband Carlos Santana, and her own charitable fund Do A Little. Santana talks with IP about her past work and future plans.

Read More

“Central to a Just Economy.” How a Collaborative Fund is Supporting Labor Rights in Brazil

“Central to a Just Economy.” How a Collaborative Fund is Supporting Labor Rights in Brazil

Backed by the Ford Foundation, Laudes Foundation and Open Society Foundations, the Labora Fund is working to advance workers’ rights in Brazil, where nearly half of the labor force is made up of informal workers.

Read More

How Philanthropic Funds Helped Mobilize Over $1 Billion in Investments for Sustainable Development

How Philanthropic Funds Helped Mobilize Over $1 Billion in Investments for Sustainable Development

There are enormous shortfalls in funding to advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. As part of its commitment to impact investing, MacArthur Foundation seeded a $1.1 billion fund for the cause.

Read More

With Housing a Growing Global Concern, Habitat for Humanity Targets Informal Settlements

With Housing a Growing Global Concern, Habitat for Humanity Targets Informal Settlements

Housing has become a huge philanthropic priority, globally and domestically, and one of the largest charities in the space is Habitat for Humanity. We take a look at its latest global program targeting slums, barrios and favelas.

Read More

Eyes on the Prize: A Two-Time Winner’s Insights on Navigating Prize Philanthropy

Eyes on the Prize: A Two-Time Winner’s Insights on Navigating Prize Philanthropy

High-dollar philanthropic prizes are increasingly popular, but just how hard is it to land one? And how does winning impact recipients? Repeat winner Kaushik Kappagantulu recounts his experience.

Read More

This Year at the UNGA, Philanthropies Unite Behind Democracy and Locally Led Development

This Year at the UNGA, Philanthropies Unite Behind Democracy and Locally Led Development

Reflecting sector-wide trends, philanthropies threw their weight behind two collaborative global development efforts, seeking to bolster citizen engagement and shift power to those close to the ground.

Read More

This Bespoke Funding Intermediary Focuses Donors on a Dozen Highly Vetted Global Grantees

This Bespoke Funding Intermediary Focuses Donors on a Dozen Highly Vetted Global Grantees

Founded by a private equity veteran, Focusing Philanthropy brings a venture-capital-informed approach to the role of philanthropic go-between, routing donor dollars to a carefully curated set of nonprofits.

Read More

How the India Philanthropy Alliance Engages a Growing Donor Base

How the India Philanthropy Alliance Engages a Growing Donor Base

As the number of Indian Americans soars — along with their philanthropic potential — this network has been ramping up its efforts to mobilize support for poverty reduction and development back in the mother country.

Read More

Beyond Borders: A Regional Look at MacKenzie Scott’s Global Giving

Beyond Borders: A Regional Look at MacKenzie Scott’s Global Giving

Though most of Scott’s giving so far has taken place in the U.S., her global philanthropy is also expansive. Three regions in particular have received lots of attention: Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and South Asia.

Read More

Research Is Critical for Effective Aid. So Why Aren't Researchers from the Global South Getting Funded?

Research Is Critical for Effective Aid. So Why Aren't Researchers from the Global South Getting Funded?

Despite their insight into affected populations, humanitarian researchers from the Global South remain vastly under-resourced next to their Global North peers. Guest author Isabella Cordua outlines what funders can do to fix that.

Read More

Why Philanthropists Should Shoot for the Moon

Why Philanthropists Should Shoot for the Moon

Opinions on the “big bets” school of philanthropy vary, but guest contributor James Chen is all in. In this piece, he argues that wealthy donors should go big on high-risk, early-stage ideas.

Read More

With Big Backing From MacKenzie Scott and More, Co-Impact Targets Global Gender Inequality

With Big Backing From MacKenzie Scott and More, Co-Impact Targets Global Gender Inequality

Co-Impact seeks to improve health, education and economic outcomes for women across the Global South by tackling underlying forces at play. Here’s why the philanthropic collaborative has been a big draw for funders.

Read More

A Matter of Trust: With a Big Boost from MacKenzie Scott, GiveDirectly is on the Rise

A Matter of Trust: With a Big Boost from MacKenzie Scott, GiveDirectly is on the Rise

GiveDirectly, a leader in the push to give unconditional cash donations to those in need, has grown significantly since the pandemic hit. Part of that growth is a result of some huge gifts from MacKenzie Scott.

Read More

MacKenzie Scott Is Funding to Empower People Globally. Here’s What We Know About Her Priorities

MacKenzie Scott Is Funding to Empower People Globally. Here’s What We Know About Her Priorities

At the end of the year, we gained a lot of new data about what MacKenzie Scott is funding, including a growing international portfolio. Here’s what we’re learning based on the latest donations and a new database.

Read More

MacKenzie Scott’s Far-Reaching Giving Continues to Grow. What Impact Is She Having?

MacKenzie Scott’s Far-Reaching Giving Continues to Grow. What Impact Is She Having?

Another update from America’s most exciting mega-donor shows an ever-evolving set of focus areas, which now include charter schools and lots of global giving. One question we still have: How does it all fit together?

Read More

Global Gender Equity Requires Access to the Online Economy. Who’s Backing Digital Financial Inclusion?

Global Gender Equity Requires Access to the Online Economy. Who’s Backing Digital Financial Inclusion?

Entrepreneurship among women is on the rise globally, but lack of digital financial tools is holding many of them back. Some heavy hitters are rallying around an effort to bring about greater digital financial equity.

Read More

Philanthropy Made a Flurry of Commitments During the UN Meeting. Here’s Where the Money is Headed

Philanthropy Made a Flurry of Commitments During the UN Meeting. Here’s Where the Money is Headed

Philanthropy was more active than usual in last week’s United Nations General Assembly, as the secretary general called for a “rescue mission” to get Sustainable Development Goals on track. Here’s a rundown of the big pledges.

Read More

Does Global Philanthropy Have a Colonialism Problem?

Does Global Philanthropy Have a Colonialism Problem?

Efforts such as Bill Gates’ support for a Green Revolution in Africa are frequently criticized as neo-colonialism. That may be overstating things, but parachuting in with big money and big ideas remains common in global giving.

Read More