Close your eyes for a moment and try to forget the agony of South Sudan or the carnage in Congo or the bloodletting in the Central African Republic. Focus instead on a few statistics. From 2000 to 2008, Africa’s real GDP increased by nearly 5 percent … [Read more...] about Betting Bigger on Africa: As a Continent Rises, Foundations Are Upping the Ante
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
Take a Closer Look at the New Money Pouring Into India
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation was established in 1999, mainly to improve educational opportunities and healthcare for children in the Dells' home region of central Texas. The foundation has grown significantly since those early days and now … [Read more...] about Take a Closer Look at the New Money Pouring Into India
India: A Top Testing Ground for Omidyarism and Impact Investing
Last fall, we wondered whether Omidyarism was going to conquer philanthropy. By that, we meant whether the Omidyar Network's fully integrated blend of nonprofit grantmaking and for-profit investing would eventually become the norm among large … [Read more...] about India: A Top Testing Ground for Omidyarism and Impact Investing
Stick With It, Funders. Your Push to Boost Low-Income Enrollment in College Matters
A recent study by the American Council on Education (ACE), reported by the Washington Post, may prove unsettling for organizations and funders who are focused on increasing college readiness and access among low-income students. But the study also … [Read more...] about Stick With It, Funders. Your Push to Boost Low-Income Enrollment in College Matters
Another Strategy for First-Generation College Success Exciting Funders: Peer Coaches
We've written a lot about the growing efforts to help first-generation college students access higher education and navigate the rough waters they often encounter as they work toward a degree. These students face difficulties that students with … [Read more...] about Another Strategy for First-Generation College Success Exciting Funders: Peer Coaches
How This Foundation Helps First-Generation Students Stay on Track
We've written in the past about the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation's Dell Scholars program, a scholarship program that provides financial and other support to low-income and first generation college students. But there's a dimension of the program … [Read more...] about How This Foundation Helps First-Generation Students Stay on Track
To Attack Global Poverty, the Shell Foundation Works at the Bottom of the Pyramid
The Shell Foundation was established in 2000 through a $250 million endowment from the Shell Group. To be clear, the foundation operates as a separate entity from the Shell Company, with its own board of trustees and governing structure, and averages … [Read more...] about To Attack Global Poverty, the Shell Foundation Works at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Which Funders Are Leading the Growing Push for Blended Learning in K-12?
Blended learning continues to be all the rage in K-12 education among traditional public and charter schools, and a bevy of funders stand ready to help with such projects. National and local foundations have laid out millions of dollars to design, … [Read more...] about Which Funders Are Leading the Growing Push for Blended Learning in K-12?
Deep Pockets for a Charter School Powerhouse: A Look at the Money Behind KIPP
The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. As one of the largest and best-known charter school chains in the country, KIPP operates more than 150 schools in 20 states, plus the District of Columbia. Its … [Read more...] about Deep Pockets for a Charter School Powerhouse: A Look at the Money Behind KIPP
Meet the 9 Most Powerful Couples in U.S. Philanthropy
No matter who makes the money, most wealthy couples share power when it comes to giving it away. And the more we dig into today's mega-philanthropy, the more we find couples who have formed deeply involved partnerships as they spend millions of … [Read more...] about Meet the 9 Most Powerful Couples in U.S. Philanthropy
