OVERVIEW: The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a large, Flint-based philanthropy supporting civil society, environmental sustainability, young people and the long-term revitalization of its Michigan hometown. IP TAKE: The Charles Stewart Mott … [Read more...] about Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Dells Gave Big. How Are Other Funders Aiming to Build Americans’ Intergenerational Wealth?
How the Monarch Foundation Is Making the Case for Unrestricted Cash
Philanthropy’s 40 Most Powerful Families
Funders Pitch in for Rx Kids, a Unique “Cash Prescription” Program in Michigan
With a New Initiative, This Foundation Is Putting Its Own Spin on Guaranteed Basic Income
“Escape Pod.” Fraudster Bill Hwang’s Foundation Hired Co-Defendant, Paid Enormous Salaries
Rising From the Ashes: A Consulting Firm’s Case for Optimism in the Motor City
It’s had a rough few decades, but once again, Detroit is a city on the rise. Known as the birthplace of Motown and for headquartering the “big three” automakers (General Motors, Chrysler and Ford), Detroit has faced a number of issues in recent … [Read more...] about Rising From the Ashes: A Consulting Firm’s Case for Optimism in the Motor City
Many Large Private Foundations Fail to Pay Out 5% of Assets. Here’s Why
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on June 18, 2024. In a March piece in the New York Times, David A. Fahrenthold and Ryan Mac reported that Elon Musk’s Musk Foundation did not meet the IRS requirement to distribute 5% of the fair … [Read more...] about Many Large Private Foundations Fail to Pay Out 5% of Assets. Here’s Why
One Organization’s Quest to Forge a Civic Path Out of the Culture Wars, and Rally Funders
Google Gets Behind Guaranteed Income to Relieve Homelessness on Its Home Turf
There is growing momentum behind the concept of guaranteed income — that is, programs that provide recurring direct cash payments to ease poverty. Pilots have been rolled out around the country — more than 150 to date — and preliminary analyses show … [Read more...] about Google Gets Behind Guaranteed Income to Relieve Homelessness on Its Home Turf
Decades in the Making, a New Alliance Is Bringing Together Funds from the Global South
Maria Amália Souza kicked off the December 9, 2021 video conference with a chuckle and a beaming smile. She had waited decades for this moment, but with the pandemic upending everyone’s schedules, she thought no one would show up. She need not have … [Read more...] about Decades in the Making, a New Alliance Is Bringing Together Funds from the Global South
Green Funders Show Improvement on Diversity, But More Than Half Still Don’t Share Data
More environmental grantmakers than ever shared their demographic data this year with the leading project tracking diversity in the field, but green philanthropy still gets a failing grade for participation.Over half — 26 of 50 — of the foundations … [Read more...] about Green Funders Show Improvement on Diversity, But More Than Half Still Don’t Share Data
This Year at the UNGA, Philanthropies Unite Behind Democracy and Locally Led Development
The U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, were a top focus at the U.N. General Assembly’s 78th Session this year. The SDG summit, which is mandated to occur every four years at the beginning of UNGA proceedings, came at an important time. … [Read more...] about This Year at the UNGA, Philanthropies Unite Behind Democracy and Locally Led Development
The Philanthropy Whisperer: Aspen Institute’s Jane Wales
The Aspen Institute, founded in 1949 and dedicated to solving the world’s biggest problems by “driving change through dialogue, leadership and action,” offers lectures, fellowships and gatherings, including, perhaps most notably, its Aspen Ideas … [Read more...] about The Philanthropy Whisperer: Aspen Institute’s Jane Wales
“This is How We’re Supposed to Care for Each Other.” Direct Giving Initiative Tackles Poverty in Flint
You may not recognize the name Mona Hanna-Attisha, but you’ve certainly heard of her work. Hanna-Attisha is the pediatrician who first identified the Flint water crisis and brought it to the attention of the Flint community and the world.Now … [Read more...] about “This is How We’re Supposed to Care for Each Other.” Direct Giving Initiative Tackles Poverty in Flint
Collaborative Green Movement Funding Initiative Grows, Looks to Harness Federal Climate Investment
Last year, a group of green funders joined forces to ensure that the torrent of federal dollars from the freshly passed Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would flow in part to the nation’s water systems — and … [Read more...] about Collaborative Green Movement Funding Initiative Grows, Looks to Harness Federal Climate Investment
New Study Underscores Longstanding, Persistent Biases in Green Grantmaking
A major new study of environmental funding is perhaps the most exhaustive examination to date of the overwhelming preference in green philanthropy for big, coastal nonprofits led by white men and focused on conservation. “Examining Disparities in … [Read more...] about New Study Underscores Longstanding, Persistent Biases in Green Grantmaking
A Top Science Funder Wants to Keep Ukraine’s Scientists at the Blackboard
In the year since Russia sharply escalated its nearly decade-long war with Ukraine, staging an all-out invasion of the country, philanthropic responses have been a valuable adjunct to military aid and other assistance coming from the U.S., the United … [Read more...] about A Top Science Funder Wants to Keep Ukraine’s Scientists at the Blackboard
Green Middleweights: 25 Prominent, Mid-Sized Environmental Grantmakers
Billionaires now dominate the summit of environmental philanthropy, as I covered in a piece yesterday on the top 25 U.S. green grantmakers. But you might say that legacy foundations still control the slopes. A medley of regional funders, … [Read more...] about Green Middleweights: 25 Prominent, Mid-Sized Environmental Grantmakers
In the Climate Fight, Who’s Funding the Eco-Right? More Big Names Than You Might Expect
Recently, two prominent, pro-climate-action Republicans — Carlos Curbelo, former U.S. representative for Florida, and Neil Chatterjee, former commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — were in the pages of the Chronicle of … [Read more...] about In the Climate Fight, Who’s Funding the Eco-Right? More Big Names Than You Might Expect
Responding to Displacement from Ukraine: Reflections on Funding in an Emergency
Most foundations or donors active within the migration sphere in Europe rarely work on emergency support. EPIM is no different in this regard. The European Programme for Integration and Migration was founded in 2005 with a mandate for structural … [Read more...] about Responding to Displacement from Ukraine: Reflections on Funding in an Emergency
Philanthropy’s Role in the Growing Community Schools Movement
Community schools have been around for over a century, but they’ve finally taken the spotlight. The educational model has picked up powerful backers in recent years — and some of its earliest and steadiest supporters come from the world of … [Read more...] about Philanthropy’s Role in the Growing Community Schools Movement
Eight Leading Foundations Working to Keep Forests Green, Water Pure and Farms Fertile
Earlier this week, I put together a list of billionaires who are among the biggest backers of U.S. efforts to keep our forests standing, our air and water clean, and our crops growing. But they are not alone at the top.Many venerable foundations have … [Read more...] about Eight Leading Foundations Working to Keep Forests Green, Water Pure and Farms Fertile
“Make Their Voices Heard.” Behind a Funder’s Efforts to Boost College Student Civic Engagement
After years of covering higher ed philanthropy and funders’ efforts to address financial barriers to entry, I consider myself fortunate to have attended a four-year university at a reasonable cost. I suspect many readers over the age of 40 feel the … [Read more...] about “Make Their Voices Heard.” Behind a Funder’s Efforts to Boost College Student Civic Engagement
MacKenzie Scott’s Green Giving Expands, Sending Millions to the Front Lines of Climate Change
This article originally published on March 29, 2022.When MacKenzie Scott revealed in the summer of 2020 that she had given away $1.7 billion over the past year-plus and billions more were on the way, it seemed one major beneficiary would be the … [Read more...] about MacKenzie Scott’s Green Giving Expands, Sending Millions to the Front Lines of Climate Change
Mott’s Been Funding in Ukraine for Nearly 30 Years — Here Are Four Things to Know
In peacetime, civil society — educational and cultural institutions, professional and religious associations, foundations, professional associations and more — sit outside government. But in times of war, the “third sector” can provide a critical … [Read more...] about Mott’s Been Funding in Ukraine for Nearly 30 Years — Here Are Four Things to Know
For Fundraisers in STEM Education, Both New and Familiar Challenges
Education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is a key interest for many philanthropic funders, including corporations, foundations and public sources such as the National Science Foundation. Nevertheless, a number of … [Read more...] about For Fundraisers in STEM Education, Both New and Familiar Challenges
Philanthropy Responds: A Round-up of Efforts to Support Ukraine
It has only been a dozen days since an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation tested global alliances that have stood since World War II, driving more than a million Ukrainians from their homes, and putting those who stay in harm’s way. As the world … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Responds: A Round-up of Efforts to Support Ukraine
An Ambitious New Commission Sets Out to Diagnose Civil Society’s Ills. But Will It Make a Difference?
If I told you that charitable giving from middle- and lower-income Americans was down right now, you’d probably say something like, yeah, no kidding. There’s a pandemic going on, one that has wreaked massive disruption on Main Street and thrown … [Read more...] about An Ambitious New Commission Sets Out to Diagnose Civil Society’s Ills. But Will It Make a Difference?
