Calling itself “the community foundation for liberty,” DonorsTrust channels hundreds of millions from anonymous donors to conservative policy groups. We take a deep dive into how it works and its influence in the sector.
Read MoreIf neoliberalism is on its way out, what will replace it? At the end of a year of immense change, Hewlett brings its resources to bear on the question with a new five-year, $50 million initiative to succeed its Beyond Neoliberalism program.
Read MorePhilanthropy has been largely passive as endless wars and soaring defense spending have diverted resources away from pressing domestic challenges. Now, in a striking collaboration, George Soros and Charles Koch aim to disrupt the status quo.
Read MoreDespite the devastation caused by the 2008 crash, financial sector reform isn’t a priority for most funders. Michael Masters has bucked that trend, bankrolling one of the few policy shops in D.C. able to go toe-to-toe with industry lobbyists.
Read MoreWhile it’s no secret that corporations see their giving as a way to both have social impact and burnish their reputations. Research has revealed a more troubling picture of how business philanthropy may be used as a tool to sway public policy.
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 MoreIn recent years, many foundations have put equity front and center in their work. But economic stratification only seems to be getting worse in America. Here's where funders have gone wrong.
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 MoreRichard and Elizabeth Uihlein have drawn attention as leading mega-donors to the GOP. But they’ve been equally energetic in pushing their views through philanthropy. Here’s a quick primer.
Read MoreThe Aspen Institute and a trustee’s family foundation have been backing leaders across social issues through an annual prize. They just raised a new $1.2 million fund to increase their support, focusing on growth opportunities in a wide range of fields.
Read MoreThe Bradley Foundation funds many elements of the conservative infrastructure. But most notable is its investments in ideas. Its Bradley Prizes, awarded annually, stand as something of a flagship of this grantmaking.
Read MoreToo often, social science research doesn't make it out of academia and into the hands of decision-makers. The William T. Grant Foundation wanted to know why. Now, it has some answers—and two new grant programs.
Read MoreAs a mega-donor, Peterson—who died yesterday—made all the right moves: staying laser-focused on just a few causes and investing in high-leverage public policy work. But the results were decidedly mixed.
Read MoreIn this 2018 post, IP founder David Callahan called out the abject failure of mainstream foundations to fight back against a decades-long attack on everything they cherish and urged funders to move away from a dated technocratic mindset.
Read MoreLast week, we looked at what foundations are doing wrong in the fight against rising economic stratification. Now, we turn the spotlight on a foundation that's been doing everything right.
Read MoreWall Street veteran Steve Rattner tells us why he and his wife Maureen White believe that backing think tanks and advocacy groups delivers the most bang for the buck.
Read MoreThe Arca Foundation sees the "financialization" of American life as a key driver of inequality. How does this view translate into day-to-day grantmaking to advance structural reforms?
Read MoreAmid a rising debate over how to think about U.S. history, a $1 million grant will support the National Park Service’s efforts to expand recognition of America’s diversity and struggles for equality.
Read MoreSix weeks after the New America Foundation ousted a project that criticized Google, it's an open question whether dissenting voices that challenge the power of big tech can find the funding they need.
Read MoreA large country like the U.S. will always have people with fringe viewpoints. But given the way that money can now buy influence and access, it's easier for extremists to shape public life. Robert Mercer is Exhibit A.
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