This Michigan-Based Donor Advisor is Building a Firm Foundation for the Progressive Movement

This Michigan-Based Donor Advisor is Building a Firm Foundation for the Progressive Movement

Jason Franklin is founder of Ktisis Capital, a progressive philanthropic advisor serving individuals and foundations. Here, Franklin talks about the firm’s approach to social change — and the importance of standing on solid ground.

Read More

This Detroit-Based Funder Has Gone All-In on Trust-Based Practices to Advance Equity

This Detroit-Based Funder Has Gone All-In on Trust-Based Practices to Advance Equity

The Transforming Power Fund embeds trust-based practices throughout its operations. Here’s how the fund works, and why its leaders are optimistic about the future of such practices and funding for racial justice.

Read More

Seven Questions for McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen

Seven Questions for McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen

Tony Allen led Detroit’s Skillman Foundation before taking the helm of Minneapolis-based McKnight. Allen shares her thoughts on cross-sector work, criticisms of philanthropy, and what she misses most about Detroit.

Read More

Meet the Song Foundation: A Michigan Take on Silicon Valley Philanthropy

Meet the Song Foundation: A Michigan Take on Silicon Valley Philanthropy

Founded in 2019 from the cybersecurity fortune of Dug and Linh Song, this multipurpose grantmaker is poised for growth on its home turf of southeastern Michigan. Here’s why this is a regional funder worth keeping an eye on.

Read More

A Cross-Sector Coalition Raises Nearly $1 Billion to Tackle Racial Wealth Inequality in the Twin Cities

A Cross-Sector Coalition Raises Nearly $1 Billion to Tackle Racial Wealth Inequality in the Twin Cities

In its mission to take on stubborn racial wealth divides in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the GroundBreak initiative has the backing of partners spanning philanthropy, the private sector and government. Here’s a closer look.

Read More

A Closer Look at the Philanthropy of First Wave Tech Billionaire John Morgridge and His Family

A Closer Look at the Philanthropy of First Wave Tech Billionaire John Morgridge and His Family

The former Cisco CEO hails from the generation of givers who made their fortunes in tech’s first wave. We dig into his family’s grantmaking and meet the heirs who’ll carry that philanthropy forward.

Read More

Five Takeaways From IP’s New Report on Giving for Rural Communities

Five Takeaways From IP’s New Report on Giving for Rural Communities

Our new deep dive report on rural philanthropy covers a distinct, emerging field of giving. Despite misunderstandings and a lack of good data, rural places present ample opportunity for equity-forward funding.

Read More

Funders Get Behind a New Plan for School-Based "Health Hubs" in Detroit

Funders Get Behind a New Plan for School-Based "Health Hubs" in Detroit

Located at school sites and offering free health care for students and other resources for families, the health hubs have secured philanthropic backing from the Kresge Foundation, the Ballmer Group and others.

Read More

This Megadonor’s Attempt to Curtail Ohio Voters’ Rights Is a Symptom of Our Larger Problem

This Megadonor’s Attempt to Curtail Ohio Voters’ Rights Is a Symptom of Our Larger Problem

An effort in Ohio to raise the vote threshold needed for a state constitutional amendment failed, despite a big push from a wealthy conservative donor. It’s yet another reminder of the inescapable influence of wealthy donors.

Read More

Is the Cleveland Foundation’s New Headquarters the Future of Place-Based Philanthropy?

Is the Cleveland Foundation’s New Headquarters the Future of Place-Based Philanthropy?

The Cleveland Foundation’s new building is anchoring a developing innovation district in an underserved part of the city. Lililan Kuri, the new president and CEO, explains how it could redefine the role of institutional philanthropy.

Read More

This Billionaire Heiress and Her Husband Have a Huge Philanthropic Footprint in Their Hometown

This Billionaire Heiress and Her Husband Have a Huge Philanthropic Footprint in Their Hometown

Ronda Stryker and William Johnston are frequent mega-donors with a foundation that’s laser-focused on Kalamazoo, Michigan. Big as the numbers are on paper, there’s reason to think their local support extends far further.

Read More

Nine Questions for Gloria Perez, CEO and President of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota

Nine Questions for Gloria Perez, CEO and President of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and Perez is entering her fourth year at the helm. We spoke about her personal and career journey, and where the foundation is headed next.

Read More

How the American Century Investments Foundation Supports Kansas City, Missouri

How the American Century Investments Foundation Supports Kansas City, Missouri

America Century Investments is a financial company with a charitable foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Here are some details to know about this corporate funder and its approach to grantmaking.

Read More

How One Funder Is Seeking to Bolster Mental Healthcare in Rural America

How One Funder Is Seeking to Bolster Mental Healthcare in Rural America

While better mental healthcare is needed across the U.S., there are stark disparities in care between urban and rural areas. Here’s how the Helmsley Charitable Trust is tackling the problem in the Midwest and elsewhere.

Read More

What It Looks Like When a Multigenerational Family Foundation Makes All Voices Equal

What It Looks Like When a Multigenerational Family Foundation Makes All Voices Equal

When David and Georgia Welles launched the family’s Cricket Island Foundation, they prioritized family participation across generations. That continues today, and has led the funder to its current focus on youth organizing.

Read More

Here Are Five Grantmakers Funding the Rural Midwest

Here Are Five Grantmakers Funding the Rural Midwest

Over 25% of the Midwest’s population lives in rural areas. These funders focus their efforts there, despite the fact that philanthropy at large chronically underfunds rural America.

Read More

The Lilly Endowment’s Assets Are Surging, Making it Among the Nation’s Largest. Can It Keep Up?

The Lilly Endowment’s Assets Are Surging, Making it Among the Nation’s Largest. Can It Keep Up?

Its founders are long gone, but this 85-year-old, Indiana-based foundation keeps getting bigger — now likely the second-largest in the U.S. Can Lilly’s grantmaking keep up with its explosive growth?

Read More

This Foundation Keeps a Huge Extended Family United While Helping Other Families Thrive

This Foundation Keeps a Huge Extended Family United While Helping Other Families Thrive

From the very start, the secret to the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation’s success has been an unwavering emphasis on family — both engaging its own far-reaching family tree, and moving money to help others. 

Read More

Backed by a Huge Bequest, a New Arts Funder’s Grantmaking Strategy Begins to Takes Shape

Backed by a Huge Bequest, a New Arts Funder’s Grantmaking Strategy Begins to Takes Shape

The Ruth Foundation for the Arts has made a big splash in the arts world thanks to its penchant for flexible funding and a $440 endowment. We check in with executive director Karen Patterson on the foundation’s inaugural year.

Read More

“You Are Worthy; Let’s Go.” A Racial Justice Fund in St. Louis Plans a 100-Year Commitment to Change

“You Are Worthy; Let’s Go.” A Racial Justice Fund in St. Louis Plans a 100-Year Commitment to Change

When the participatory Racial Healing + Justice Fund in St. Louis got started, it was intended as a three-year pilot program. Now, its founders are committed to a long-term vision of change.

Read More