With the housing crisis accelerating and federal support shrinking, the Orcas Island Community Foundation in Washington State is the latest local funder undertaking new work in this space—including an advocacy role.
Read MoreMore anti-poverty funders are looking beyond major cities to struggling rural communities. The latest example of grantmakers casting a wider net is the Communities Thrive Challenge, from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Rockefeller Foundation.
Read MoreLast month after a contentious campaign, San Francisoc voters approved a ballot measure to tax the city’s richest companies to help the homeless. Now one of the measure’s biggest supporters is putting millions of his own money where his mouth is.
Read MoreDetroit has become a test case for philanthropy’s growing push against urban poverty. We look at how the latest philanthropists on the scene, Steve and Connie Ballmer, are approaching the city’s entrenched challenges.
Read MoreWith backing from Knight and other funders, Philadelphia has been engaged in a unique experiment to strengthen the city’s civic engagement ecosystem. This initiative has had to overcome a number of challenges.
Read MoreWells Fargo is the latest bank to make a big bet on urban community development, with a focus on Washington, D.C. The move comes amid multiple scandals around the bank, which badly needs some good publicity.
Read MoreThe Surdna Foundation is known for being a trailblazer among progressive foundations. But how does that role play out in terms of where grants actually go? Here’s a quick peak.
Read MoreA growing range of foundations is giving to build housing for the homeless, looking for a more permanent solution to a chronic problem. Here’s the latest example of how these capital projects come together.
Read MoreA couple of years ago, Detroit's Marygrove College was running out of cash. Now, it's the fulcrum of a big push by the Kresge Foundation to use a higher ed institution to drive place-based development.
Read MoreJPMorgan Chase has been blazing a more sophisticated trail for corporate philanthropy. But as the bank giant rolls out its newest program of grants and investments, can it really claim it’s engaged in “systems change?”
Read MoreThe Gates Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative have both been ramping up anti-poverty work. Now, they’re teaming up to back a policy shop founded by one of the hottest scholars in this space: Raj Chetty.
Read MoreSelf-driving vehicles stand to change cities radically, for better or worse, with big implications for equity and the environment. One foundation is trying to give residents more say in how this plays out.
Read MoreThe San Francisco Foundation shifted to an equity grantmaking strategy over two years ago, an early adopter of a focus that’s become a driving force in philanthropy. How’s that been working out? And what are key takeaways for other funders?
Read MoreAs Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos turn to large-scale giving, they’re targeting two urgent but neglected areas. That’s smart. But if Jeff is really worried about inequality, his real power lies in changing how Amazon operates.
Read MoreAs a prominent smart growth advocate and program director at Ford, Don Chen worked alongside Surdna as it evolved into an influential social justice funder. We talk to Chen about his future role leading it into its next phase.
Read MoreKresge released an outside assessment of its giving at the intersection of climate, equity and urban water. It identified needs in the sector for more education and funding—especially of community-based leaders.
Read MoreSince its restructuring, the iconic Ford Foundation has been tackling key drivers of inequality. Xavier de Souza Briggs, who leads Ford’s economic grantmaking, gives us an in-depth look at what that means.
Read MoreFreshwater management has lately emerged as a major philanthropic issue. The Surdna Foundation is a leader in this space, as part of its broader work in backing green infrastructure for sustainability and equity.
Read MoreRational policymaking may not always win out in D.C., but funders like Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Arnold Foundation want to make it easier on the local level. Success may depend on targeting the right issue areas.
Read MoreCities nationwide are mixing public and private funds to upgrade shared spaces. But what are the social, economic and civic effects? A funder-backed initiative is developing the metrics and data to find out.
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