MacKenzie Scott’s debut as a mega-donor earned her a great deal of praise, including here at Inside Philanthropy. But $6 billion in a single year also demands serious scrutiny. Here are some big questions we have about Scott’s giving.
Read MoreCan philanthropy, an institution rooted in concentrated wealth, truly be a force for structural change? Mandy Van Deven recently spoke with donor Kat Taylor and capital advisor Taj James to learn about their radical approach to moving money.
Read MoreWhen Ali came to the L.A.-focused foundation in 1999, it was a nearly all-white institution that steered clear of backing advocacy and organizing. As he steps down from his job, Ali talks to IP Editor David Callahan about Weingart’s transformation.
Read MoreA coalition of 14 California foundations has been working at the nexus of racism, the criminal justice system and poverty. Several of the philanthropy leaders who are part of this collaborative know these challenges first-hand.
Read MoreThe foundation payout debate is more heated than ever, but many funders have been working at giving it all away for years. The Brainerd Foundation recently completed its spend-down, and leaders shared what they learned in the process.
Read MoreA new initiative calls for a series of tax policy reforms that aim to fix what’s broken in philanthropy. Unfortunately, Alan S. Davis and Chuck Collins argue, the proposal isn’t nearly strong enough to stop the mass warehousing of wealth.
Read MoreIn time for the holidays, MacKenzie Scott announced an immense commitment to COVID relief and long-term equity work, spread across 384 grantees. Sustaining this level of giving over many years may actually put Scott on track to spend down.
Read MorePatrick Gaspard is departing the Open Society Foundations, possibly for a role in the Biden cabinet. OSF’s new head is a former U.N. second-in-command with a long history of working in international development and a close bond with George Soros.
Read MoreLong before it was common for foundations to talk about empowering frontline activists, Mary Ann Stein steered her family foundation, the Moriah Fund, to back grassroots organizing work around the U.S.
Read MoreSome of philanthropy’s most influential leaders, donors and scholars have published a set of legislative reforms aimed at unlocking foundation, DAF and individual giving. The plan’s co-creator walks us through some of the key points.
An IP survey earlier this year quantified a well-known dynamic in philanthropy—foundation trustees and staff are not always aligned. We look at two initiatives taking on this contentious topic.
Read MoreEvery year, Goldman Sachs brings wealthy donors together with leading experts from the philanthropy world. Here’s a quick sampling of what those donors heard this time around, during a moment of crisis for nonprofits.
Read MoreSpurred by the NoVo Foundation’s abrupt shift in priorities, a group of consultants and foundation trustees have launched a project asking philanthropic leaders to commit to a set of steps toward racial equity.
Read MoreNPX pairs investments and donations to provide up-front capital to nonprofits that can offer concrete results. The metrics-focused model won’t be a fit for all, but the company points to successful case studies and a new Bay Area fund.
Read MoreTo overcome structural racism and power imbalances in philanthropy, the sector must radically rethink its grantmaking processes. Donna Daniels and Kelley Buhles of RSF Social Finance offer three strategies for doing so.
Read MorePhilanthropy’s grantmaking practices often undermine its goals. In this guest post, Hazen Foundation President Lori Bezahler says Kellogg’s new racial equity challenge, while well-intentioned, is structured in problematic ways.
Read MoreThe debate over increased payout and other modest reforms incorrectly assumes things will “get back to normal” soon. NCRP’s Ryan Schlegel argued in October that we’ve entered a new normal, and foundations must get serious about their role in it.
Read MoreAs millions took to the streets in protest, foundations made long-overdue investments in Black-led nonprofits. Will their support last? Leaders of the Solidaire Network and the Kataly Foundation outline how funders can back lasting change.
Read MoreLatino nonprofits have historically been underfunded by philanthropy. LCF is working to change that by mobilizing a network of Latino philanthropists and directing grants to neglected organizations.
Read MoreCharity Navigator has become a powerful tool for fundraisers and donors, but has always had limitations and critics. With a new merger with ImpactMatters and an expanded rating system, the outfit hopes to round out its evaluations.
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