OVERVIEW: Meyer Memorial Trust is a justice and equity-focused grantmaker serving communities in the state of Oregon. Its grants support racial justice, economic justice, education, community development, immigrants rights and more. IP TAKE: Meyer … [Read more...] about Meyer Memorial Trust
Meyer Memorial Trust
Climate Mental Health Issues Are on the Rise. But Funding? Still Limited
43.4 Million and Rising: Five U.S.-Based Funders Supporting Refugees
Who’s Backing Legal Services Support for Immigrants?
Two Years In, Climate Justice Pledge Sees Results on the Ground, But Still Too Many Holdouts
Carmen Llanes still remembers the children under the slide.In 2015, a community organizer working with her nonprofit, Go! Austin/¡Vamos! Austin, had gone to a child care center in the city’s southeast to meet with a teacher. It was late summer, and … [Read more...] about Two Years In, Climate Justice Pledge Sees Results on the Ground, But Still Too Many Holdouts
Will Phil Knight’s Big Hyper-Local Racial Equity Commitment Live Up to the Hype?
Just like their more modest peers, many of America’s wealthiest mega-philanthropists favor place-based giving. That makes sense: Funding often follows affinity, and geographic affinity can be a powerful motivator for charity. But in the case of … [Read more...] about Will Phil Knight’s Big Hyper-Local Racial Equity Commitment Live Up to the Hype?
Seven Questions for Toya Fick, the New CEO of Meyer Memorial Trust
The recent appointment of Toya Fick, Meyer Memorial Trust’s new CEO, is something of a study in both stability and change. Her tenure marks a continuation of Meyer’s commitment to combating structural racism, which it began in 2013. Additionally, … [Read more...] about Seven Questions for Toya Fick, the New CEO of Meyer Memorial Trust
Four Questions for D’Artagnan Bernard Caliman, Director of Justice Oregon for Black Lives
When we last checked in with Justice Oregon for Black Lives—a $25 million, five-year effort launched by the Meyer Memorial Trust to address the combined impact of systemic racism and 2020’s wildfires—newly named director D’Artagnan Bernard Caliman … [Read more...] about Four Questions for D’Artagnan Bernard Caliman, Director of Justice Oregon for Black Lives
Green Grantmaking Program Offers Alternative Paths for Getting Funding to the Grassroots
A couple years ago, Kim Moore Bailey embarked on a series of conversations with the heads of the small, grassroots environmental groups that her organization, Justice Outside, supports. The leaders, who were all Black, Indigenous or people of color, … [Read more...] about Green Grantmaking Program Offers Alternative Paths for Getting Funding to the Grassroots
Even With All Eyes on Racial Justice, Few Green Funders Are Sharing Their Data
Over the past eight months, Ashindi Maxton and Danielle Deane-Ryan have spoken to 36 of the nation’s 40 largest climate funders. The pair, who are executive director and senior advisor of the Donors of Color Network, respectively, asked them all the … [Read more...] about Even With All Eyes on Racial Justice, Few Green Funders Are Sharing Their Data
From Talk to Action? Assessing Philanthropy’s Racial Justice Response
Michael Kavate, Liz Longley, Connie Matthiessen, Mike Scutari and Dawn Wolfe contributed to this report.What’s the best way to talk about how philanthropy has evolved—or not—on racial justice over the past year? For some, this time of reckoning has … [Read more...] about From Talk to Action? Assessing Philanthropy’s Racial Justice Response
A Small Step Toward Accountability, and Big Questions for Philanthropy
What happens now that the man who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for over nine horrifying minutes, killing him, has been convicted of murder? Since the verdict was announced, the prevalent mood has been one of guarded celebration and relief, with an … [Read more...] about A Small Step Toward Accountability, and Big Questions for Philanthropy
How an Oregon Funder Is Moving Millions to Black-Led Groups Fighting Systemic Racism
Black-led organizations in Oregon working to mitigate systemic racism have received more than $3 million so far from a new funding initiative created specifically to support their work. And the effort is just getting started.Justice Oregon for Black … [Read more...] about How an Oregon Funder Is Moving Millions to Black-Led Groups Fighting Systemic Racism
New Initiative Calls for 30% of Climate Funding to Back Justice Groups Led by People of Color
Colette Pichon Battle founded the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In the 15 years since, she has received just one multi-year grant large enough to pay for more than one staff person.It’s made it hard to … [Read more...] about New Initiative Calls for 30% of Climate Funding to Back Justice Groups Led by People of Color
When Eagles Hatch: Native Americans in Philanthropy and Native Youth Activism
This article was first published on March 19, 2019. The history of Native American mistreatment in the U.S. is a deep and largely unhealed wound—one that philanthropy has mostly side-stepped. Native Americans, a diverse cohort of about 5.4 million, … [Read more...] about When Eagles Hatch: Native Americans in Philanthropy and Native Youth Activism
“Disrupting the Legacy of Colonialism.” An Oregon Funder Partners With Tribes on the Environment
This article was first published on February 5, 2019. We hear the word equity in the philanthrosphere often these days, at both the local and national levels. In the Pacific Northwest, an area steeped in indigenous history, it’s hard to imagine a … [Read more...] about “Disrupting the Legacy of Colonialism.” An Oregon Funder Partners With Tribes on the Environment
A Fund Backing the Impact Investing Field Makes Its First Moves. Where’s the Money Going?
At the close of 2019, a powerhouse coalition of impact investors rose to create the Tipping Point Fund on Impact Investing with the goals of building out the field and creating and scaling a high-functioning market that operates with integrity.TPF … [Read more...] about A Fund Backing the Impact Investing Field Makes Its First Moves. Where’s the Money Going?
Giants like OSF Are Making Big Pledges for Racial Justice. Is a Lasting Shift Underway?
Since the killing of George Floyd in late May, nationwide protests have toppled statues, changed policies, and made other historic gains. They’re also beginning to shift philanthropy, with a remarkable surge in recent weeks in funding commitments to … [Read more...] about Giants like OSF Are Making Big Pledges for Racial Justice. Is a Lasting Shift Underway?
Funding Racial Equity and Justice in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
Black people and other people of color are disproportionately harmed by COVID-19. We recently covered some early funding responses in support of people who are black, Hispanic, Indigenous, or Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI). The … [Read more...] about Funding Racial Equity and Justice in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
In Pursuit of Justice, Nonprofits and Funders Push for Rape Kit Reform
It’s been two years since the #MeToo hashtag went viral. While sexual assault gained new attention, the U.S. still has a long way to go toward obtaining reliable safety and justice for victims, many of whom are women. About one in five women in this … [Read more...] about In Pursuit of Justice, Nonprofits and Funders Push for Rape Kit Reform
A Long Way to Go: What Kind of Change is Needed Within Foundations to Advance Racial Equity?
Many people who work in the philanthropic sector are beginning to grapple with embedded racism in ways that they haven’t before. Organizations and individuals are asking existential questions that relate to power, interpersonal relationships and … [Read more...] about A Long Way to Go: What Kind of Change is Needed Within Foundations to Advance Racial Equity?
“Nothing is Standard About What We’re Doing.” A New Fund Aims to Boost Racial Equity Training
Borealis Philanthropy, the progressive grantmaking intermediary founded in 2014, is announcing today the first round of $1.2 million in grants for its Racial Equity to Accelerate Change (REACH) Fund. Eight organizations providing racial equity … [Read more...] about “Nothing is Standard About What We’re Doing.” A New Fund Aims to Boost Racial Equity Training
Mainstream Greens and Funders Are Still Very White—Are They Risking Their Relevance?
With a few encouraging exceptions, major environmental foundations reporting their diversity data remain overwhelmingly white, and have become less diverse overall from 2017 to 2018. That data’s limited, however, mainly because most of the 40 large … [Read more...] about Mainstream Greens and Funders Are Still Very White—Are They Risking Their Relevance?
Giving in the Northwest: A Big Picture View of Regional Philanthropy and Current Trends
Earlier this year, we introduced a brand-new section on our site exclusively devoted to philanthropy in the Northwestern United States. The grantmakers’ association here, Philanthropy Northwest, defines the region as six states (Alaska, Idaho, … [Read more...] about Giving in the Northwest: A Big Picture View of Regional Philanthropy and Current Trends
A Focus on Equity is Changing One Northwest Funder’s Environmental Giving
Strategic redesigns are fairly commonplace in philanthropy, and known mostly for making grantees nervous. One funder that’s caused a good deal of buzz for making some serious changes is the Meyer Memorial Trust, a foundation giving in Oregon with … [Read more...] about A Focus on Equity is Changing One Northwest Funder’s Environmental Giving
Philanthropy in Wyoming: Who’s Giving and for What?
Wyoming is the least populated state in the nation, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about in terms of charitable giving. As with many places in the Northwest, grantmaking has been on the rise, here. According to Philanthropy Northwest … [Read more...] about Philanthropy in Wyoming: Who’s Giving and for What?
In Troubled Times, Here Are Four Funders Standing With Vulnerable Communities
The election of Donald Trump and the policies and rhetoric that followed have shaken up the philanthropic world, like much of America. Lower-income communities, people of color, immigrants, the LGBTQI community and many other populations philanthropy … [Read more...] about In Troubled Times, Here Are Four Funders Standing With Vulnerable Communities
Philanthropy Awards, 2016
It’s that time of year again! The period when we solemnly reflect on the highlights of the past 12 months through our annual IP Philanthropy Awards, or IPPYs. (See winners for 2015 and 2014.) There’s never been a more exciting time in U.S. … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Awards, 2016
New Fellowships Take on Lack of Diversity in Environmentalism and Philanthropy
The environmental movement, like philanthropy, has a race problem. There are some emerging funding efforts to address it, including new fellowships hoping to introduce more diverse leadership into the field.We come down pretty hard on the mainstream … [Read more...] about New Fellowships Take on Lack of Diversity in Environmentalism and Philanthropy
A Call for Diversity Data Is Met With Silence by Many Green Funders. What’s That About?
An initiative to get nonprofits and foundations to publicize diversity stats is building momentum. But green funders are lagging, prompting some of the biggest players in the sector to urge others to cough it up. Who’s leading the charge and who’s … [Read more...] about A Call for Diversity Data Is Met With Silence by Many Green Funders. What’s That About?
