It’s springtime, summer is around the corner, and folks everywhere can’t wait to get outside. Unfortunately, outside is where ticks live.Back in 2019, we spoke to people at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation about their work to combat Lyme and … [Read more...] about Philanthropy’s Leader in the Fight Against Lyme Disease Launches a Dedicated Treatment Center
Effective Altruism
The Funders Behind a Push to Reimagine Animal Shelters
When COVID-19 forced people across the United States to shelter in place earlier this year, many decided to share their sudden isolation with a new pet.Applications for adoptions and foster placements spiked 10-fold or more at animal shelters from … [Read more...] about The Funders Behind a Push to Reimagine Animal Shelters
Whatever About the World: Top Donors Move Slowly to Engage Global Issues
Australia is on fire and the Middle East is in chaos. Fears are rising about the coronavirus. Venezuela has collapsed.Welcome to the new decade! Regardless of where you stand on these issues, it’s clear that global threats are occupying significant … [Read more...] about Whatever About the World: Top Donors Move Slowly to Engage Global Issues
The Pride of Chicago: A Big Gift for Big Cats
Lions, the second biggest cats in the world (after tigers), will be getting a new home at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, thanks in part to a recent gift of $15 million from Windy City philanthropists Richard and Roxelyn Pepper. The Pepper family has … [Read more...] about The Pride of Chicago: A Big Gift for Big Cats
Tapping Billions, a Young Donor and Her New Foundation Focus on Equity
Raised in Oakland in a low-income Chinese-immigrant household, Nicole Shanahan graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2007 and earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. She worked as an intellectual property paralegal and … [Read more...] about Tapping Billions, a Young Donor and Her New Foundation Focus on Equity
Who Are America’s Most—and Least—Generous Young Billionaires?
In a recent post, we highlighted the latest Forbes 400 richest Americans list. For the second year in a row, Forbes ranked each individual with a “Philanthropy Score.” The score is based on the entrant’s lifetime giving, and is assessed along a scale … [Read more...] about Who Are America’s Most—and Least—Generous Young Billionaires?
When the Unicorn Gives: A Quick Look at How Five Hot Companies Approach Philanthropy
We recently covered WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann’s pledge to donate $1 billion over the next 10 years, or risk losing nearly half the voting rights in the company he founded. In our article, we linked Neumann’s pledge to tech’s “third wave” of … [Read more...] about When the Unicorn Gives: A Quick Look at How Five Hot Companies Approach Philanthropy
What We Know and Don’t Know About the Philanthropy of Apple CEO Tim Cook
According to a recent SEC filing, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently donated 23,700 Apple shares—or nearly $5 million at the current valuation—to an unidentified charity. This is not the first time Cook has given to an anonymous cause. In 2015, Steve Jobs’ … [Read more...] about What We Know and Don’t Know About the Philanthropy of Apple CEO Tim Cook
Thou Shalt Give: A WeWork Billionaire’s Unusual Commitment to Big League Philanthropy
Call it the philanthropic equivalent of a swear jar. WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann is stipulating in his company’s IPO filing that he and wife Rebekah—who serves as chief brand and impact officer—must give at least $1 billion to charity over the … [Read more...] about Thou Shalt Give: A WeWork Billionaire’s Unusual Commitment to Big League Philanthropy
Quantitative Advocacy: How an Effective Altruist Funder Backs Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform is a growing priority among funders these days, and strategies abound. But one common thread is backing rational assessment and evidence-based solutions to improve a flawed system that causes enormous societal harm. In that … [Read more...] about Quantitative Advocacy: How an Effective Altruist Funder Backs Criminal Justice Reform
Why a Foundation is Doubling Down on Stem Cell Research
Stem cells hold the potential to be the proverbial medical magic bullet. For years, researchers have been attempting to turn these cells into viable treatments for some of society’s most vexing medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, … [Read more...] about Why a Foundation is Doubling Down on Stem Cell Research
Tapping Tech Wealth in the Northwest to Support Writers and More
The Breneman Jaech Foundation describes itself as a family foundation based in Seattle, which, over the past two decades, has funded programs and organizations working in “medical research, social programs and the arts, with an emphasis on literary … [Read more...] about Tapping Tech Wealth in the Northwest to Support Writers and More
Pay It Forward: A Tech Chairman Steps Down to Ramp Up His Giving, With a Focus on Mentorship
In the new year, Keith Krach will step down as chairman of Docusign. As he moves on to the next phase of his career, Krach says he will focus increasingly on giving back and paying forward the support that allowed him to flourish.A recent $1 million … [Read more...] about Pay It Forward: A Tech Chairman Steps Down to Ramp Up His Giving, With a Focus on Mentorship
Prevention is the Best Medicine: Behind a Big Campus Gift for Public Health
In a recent piece looking at health-related capital project gifts at universities, I noted that medical institutions combining research and patient care are often well-positioned to attract donor support for major capital projects.News involving UC … [Read more...] about Prevention is the Best Medicine: Behind a Big Campus Gift for Public Health
Path to Recovery: The Latest From a Leader in Breast Cancer Research Funding
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and no doubt we’ll all be seeing a lot of pink and hearing about a lot of walks and runs for the cure. And that means Susan G. Komen, the world’s most famous breast cancer foundation, will be in the … [Read more...] about Path to Recovery: The Latest From a Leader in Breast Cancer Research Funding
The Research is Getting Closer: A Look at Recent Funding for Muscular Dystrophy
Last month, the Muscular Dystrophy Association made 34 new grants totaling near $10 million for its summer round of funding. These grants reflect MDA goal of funding groundbreaking research that will accelerate treatments and cures for the more than … [Read more...] about The Research is Getting Closer: A Look at Recent Funding for Muscular Dystrophy
What This New Foundation Says About Silicon Valley Giving
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 20, 2018. We’ll say it again: Tech philanthropy is a really big deal and, in many ways, large-scale giving from this sector is just getting going.For every tech winner who’s already … [Read more...] about What This New Foundation Says About Silicon Valley Giving
Where Are Grants Going in the Fight Against Parkinson’s?
The Parkinson’s Foundation recently announced an investment of $6.2 million across 53 research grants to support the work of promising scientists in the field of Parkinson's disease (PD) in 2018. Grants will support Parkinson’s clinical trials and … [Read more...] about Where Are Grants Going in the Fight Against Parkinson’s?
They Often Hold the Key to Medical Breakthroughs. Who’s Backing Physician-Scientists?
Physician-scientists can offer an important link between basic science and patient care. Their ability to straddle both worlds has contributed to advances in surgical techniques, understanding drug interactions, new therapies, and much more.It takes … [Read more...] about They Often Hold the Key to Medical Breakthroughs. Who’s Backing Physician-Scientists?
Where Most Donors Fear to Tread: A Gift for the Nascent Field of Cannabis Research
The North American cannabis industry took in approximately $9 billion in sales in 2017, according to Tom Adams, managing director of BDS Analytics.This figure—calculated before California opened its huge retail market—is equivalent to the entire … [Read more...] about Where Most Donors Fear to Tread: A Gift for the Nascent Field of Cannabis Research
These Tech Philanthropists Are Looking for a Way to Make Women Safer Around the World
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, here’s a puzzler: Can a $1 million competition from a couple of tech entrepreneurs spur a worldwide transformation in women’s safety?Anu and Naveen Jain, Seattle-based philanthropists who have notched tech … [Read more...] about These Tech Philanthropists Are Looking for a Way to Make Women Safer Around the World
The Latest Move By a Public-Private Partnership That Aims to “Transform” Medicine
Public-private partnerships are becoming more common as philanthropy, government and business look for ways to work together to solve complex problems. We've written about these collaborations in a growing range of areas, and you can see why they're … [Read more...] about The Latest Move By a Public-Private Partnership That Aims to “Transform” Medicine
Who’s Backing a Long-Shot Effort to Fundamentally Reform American Voting?
One of the striking things about philanthropy is that donors can help establish a beachhead for ideas that were once unpopular, or simply disregarded. Marriage equality is a recent example. Going back a little further, so is the right’s highly … [Read more...] about Who’s Backing a Long-Shot Effort to Fundamentally Reform American Voting?
The Tech Donors Backing the De-Extinction Movement
Even just five years ago, you’d have been forgiven for thinking an effort to resurrect woolly mammoths was a lark, perhaps a high-concept art project. Increasingly, however, lumbering megafauna and revived flocks of passenger pigeons have become … [Read more...] about The Tech Donors Backing the De-Extinction Movement
Wakerly: A Tech Winner Focuses on Social Causes and Education
Marquette and Stanford engineering graduate John Wakerly held such roles as VP of engineering for Cisco Systems and Alantec, now part of Ericsson. Wakerly has also written more than 50 engineering papers, authored nine textbooks and editions, and … [Read more...] about Wakerly: A Tech Winner Focuses on Social Causes and Education
The Quiet Yet Powerful Pass-Through Funder Making Big Moves on Breast Cancer
There are plenty of breast cancer charities across the country. Unfortunately, some of them—like the American Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Relief, and the Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Foundation—are ranked among the worst charities in the … [Read more...] about The Quiet Yet Powerful Pass-Through Funder Making Big Moves on Breast Cancer
Which Foundation Is Taking the Lead on Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 Americans and millions of other people worldwide, the Center for Disease Control estimates. It’s the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is on the forefront of … [Read more...] about Which Foundation Is Taking the Lead on Sickle Cell Disease?
Pledge 1% On the Rise: Another Tech Firm Makes Its Grantmaking Debut
When Salesforce founder Marc Benioff pledged to donate 1 percent of equity, 1 percent of product and 1 percent of employee time in 1999, tech philanthropy looked very different than it does now. Back then, there was far more compartmentalization … [Read more...] about Pledge 1% On the Rise: Another Tech Firm Makes Its Grantmaking Debut
Overlooked No More: How This Group is Funding Research on Pancreatic Cancer
It’s a heartbreaking truth that the survival rates for pancreatic cancer have not improved much over the past few decades. Pancreatic cancer is one of the toughest cancers out there, and as far as funding is concerned, it’s also one of the most … [Read more...] about Overlooked No More: How This Group is Funding Research on Pancreatic Cancer
What’s Up With Sean Parker’s Epic Quest for Breakthroughs on Cancer?
How close are we to finding a cure for cancer? Public interest has never been higher, and a growing number of foundations and top philanthropists are jumping into what's fast becoming a headlong race to eliminate one of America's top killers.Among … [Read more...] about What’s Up With Sean Parker’s Epic Quest for Breakthroughs on Cancer?
