COVID has been an accelerant for political battles that were already smoldering, and schools are on the front lines. Differences over vaccines, mask mandates and school closures are intensifying education-based culture wars and long-standing … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Is Backing a Data Hub on Schools and COVID. Critics Fear an Agenda
Walton Family Foundation
What We Know About the Ballmers’ Ed Funding: Charters, Community Schools, Early Ed and More
Inside Philanthropy has been interested in the Ballmers and their giving priorities since Steve Ballmer left his job as Microsoft CEO in 2014. We’re curious because Ballmer and his wife, Connie, have a lot to give away: They are now worth around $100 … [Read more...] about What We Know About the Ballmers’ Ed Funding: Charters, Community Schools, Early Ed and More
Philanthropy Awards, 2021
If last year was notable for its particularly nightmarish stew of disruption and loss, it seems as if 2021 will go down in history as a year that was… kind of the same but maybe a little better? As Dave Barry pointed out in his 2021 Year in Review … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Awards, 2021
Who Are the Next Billionaire Climate Mega-Donors?
We recently published a list of the most prominent and engaged American billionaires in the climate fight. Left on the cutting room floor were another dozen-plus uber-wealthy peers who have either recently made their first big climate pledges or are … [Read more...] about Who Are the Next Billionaire Climate Mega-Donors?
IP Briefing: What’s Going on with Philanthropy for Animals and Wildlife?
In Inside Philanthropy’s weekly briefings, we provide an overview of what’s happening in a particular area of philanthropy, loaded with links to our past coverage and State of American Philanthropy research. This week: animals and wildlife.In a … [Read more...] about IP Briefing: What’s Going on with Philanthropy for Animals and Wildlife?
Can We Close the Educator Diversity Gap? A Funder With a Big Footprint Wants to Find Out
The research is in: students of color perform better when taught by teachers of color, and all students benefit when they have teachers from diverse backgrounds. But while over half of U.S. students are non-white, the educator workforce remains … [Read more...] about Can We Close the Educator Diversity Gap? A Funder With a Big Footprint Wants to Find Out
Who’s Backing a Campaign to Bring the Internet to Millions of U.S. Households That Still Lack Access?
EducationSuperHighway has always set its sights high. Founder and CEO Evan Marwell started the organization almost a decade ago with the express goal of closing the connectivity gap in K-12 schools by 2020. In 2013, just 10% of students had access to … [Read more...] about Who’s Backing a Campaign to Bring the Internet to Millions of U.S. Households That Still Lack Access?
Report: Green Funders Still Won’t Share Diversity Data, Even Anonymously
Foundations can be infamous for all that they ask of grantees: giant proposals for puny grants, quarterly or even weekly reports, mountains of metrics—the list goes on.But one environmental nonprofit’s campaign to get green funders to share data on … [Read more...] about Report: Green Funders Still Won’t Share Diversity Data, Even Anonymously
Walton Made DEI a Top Priority. So Why Is It Funding a Group that Opposes Anti-Racism Work?
Huge foundations that give millions to hundreds of organizations each year can’t be held accountable for everything those grantees do.Or can they? The Walton Family Foundation (WFF), built on the fortune generated by the Walmart retail chain and … [Read more...] about Walton Made DEI a Top Priority. So Why Is It Funding a Group that Opposes Anti-Racism Work?
A Walton Heir Goes Public With a Sizable Philanthropy and Investment Operation
One of the few profiles of Lukas Walton describes the third-generation Walmart heir as “fiercely private.” His multi-billion-dollar net worth was not publicly known until just six years ago. And there’s been little public information on his … [Read more...] about A Walton Heir Goes Public With a Sizable Philanthropy and Investment Operation
The Future of Climate Action Is Collaborative. Both Water and Philanthropy Are at the Center
The West is currently in the grip of a devastating mega-drought, which is just one of the worrying signs of climate change showing up throughout the country and around the world. This summer has delivered unrelenting, record-breaking heat, ferocious … [Read more...] about The Future of Climate Action Is Collaborative. Both Water and Philanthropy Are at the Center
The Giving of America’s Richest Family Can Be Hard to Track. Here Are 12 Foundations of Walton Heirs
The heirs to the Walmart retail empire are believed to be America’s—and the world’s—wealthiest family. With such massive dynastic wealth at their disposal, they have the capacity to make a powerful impact on American political, social and cultural … [Read more...] about The Giving of America’s Richest Family Can Be Hard to Track. Here Are 12 Foundations of Walton Heirs
A Decade of Ocean Philanthropy: As Threats Rise, Funding Levels Double but Remain Modest
Over the past decade, global philanthropic giving to marine conservation issues doubled, jumping from $520 million per year in 2010 to $1.2 billion in 2020, according to the new “Our Shared Seas” report by CEA Consulting.While that’s an encouraging … [Read more...] about A Decade of Ocean Philanthropy: As Threats Rise, Funding Levels Double but Remain Modest
As Classrooms Reopen, a Tech Company Extends its Unique Commitment to Public Schools
The pandemic was tough on kids, teachers and administrators as schools were abruptly shuttered and everyone scrambled to adapt to online learning. Now, most students are back in the classroom, but safety protocols, fears about rising COVID-19 rates, … [Read more...] about As Classrooms Reopen, a Tech Company Extends its Unique Commitment to Public Schools
“Water Is Life.” In a Time of Crisis, Ocean and Freshwater Fundraisers Emphasize Interdependence
As the pandemic underscores global interdependence, many fundraisers are focusing on another set of crucial connections: those drawn by oceans and waterways. With one foot on land and one in water, organizations in this field have worked with funders … [Read more...] about “Water Is Life.” In a Time of Crisis, Ocean and Freshwater Fundraisers Emphasize Interdependence
These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look
In the world of philanthropy, America’s richest family is best known for its namesake foundation: The $5.6 billion-plus Walton Family Foundation.But the Waltons’ giving is hardly limited to that vehicle, with several family members overseeing their … [Read more...] about These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look
Who’s Funding the Latest Conservative Assault on Public Education?
“Are you trying to scare people?” This was the question an education scholar asked Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire after reading an early draft of their book, “A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future … [Read more...] about Who’s Funding the Latest Conservative Assault on Public Education?
Why Three Leading K-12 Funders Are Lining Up Behind Education R&D
When we consider education spending, we typically think about school buildings, teacher training, curriculum innovations and other fixes for immediate needs. But what about deep, longer-term investments in research to solve persistent education … [Read more...] about Why Three Leading K-12 Funders Are Lining Up Behind Education R&D
The IP Power List: Meet the 100 Most Powerful Players in Philanthropy
A key operating principle at Inside Philanthropy is the idea that charitable giving is a form of power. Sure, it may also be a form of altruism, generosity and sometimes even penance. But at its core, philanthropy is a way for people to transform … [Read more...] about The IP Power List: Meet the 100 Most Powerful Players in Philanthropy
As Plastic Waste Spirals Out of Control, Foundations Struggle to Protect the World’s Oceans
Although the world experienced a slight drop in carbon emissions during the pandemic in 2020, another threat to the environment grew more dire: plastic waste. Plastic pollution has mushroomed during the COVID-19 crisis. Besides trash bins overflowing … [Read more...] about As Plastic Waste Spirals Out of Control, Foundations Struggle to Protect the World’s Oceans
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
How Green Philanthropy Has Changed—And How It Hasn’t—in Response to Calls for Racial Justice
What impact have the events of the past 12 months—George Floyd’s murder, a summer of uprisings, the inequities of the pandemic and more—had on how environmental and climate philanthropy addresses racial justice and equity?Over the past month, I asked … [Read more...] about How Green Philanthropy Has Changed—And How It Hasn’t—in Response to Calls for Racial Justice
A Major K-12 Funder Takes the Participatory Grantmaking Plunge
Participatory grantmaking: It isn’t a term that rolls off the tongue, and yet many people in the philanthropy world are talking about it these days. It describes the process of including community members in grantmaking decisions. As GrantCraft put … [Read more...] about A Major K-12 Funder Takes the Participatory Grantmaking Plunge
How MacArthur Wound Down Its Funding in Mexico After 36 Years—and What It Learned
Change is never easy. Yet leading philanthropies like Open Society Foundations and NoVo have embarked on major changes to their funding programs in the past year. More are following on their heels as foundations work to align their priorities with … [Read more...] about How MacArthur Wound Down Its Funding in Mexico After 36 Years—and What It Learned
An Emotional Celebration and Million-Dollar Grants for Black Educators
The speakers were located in different parts of the country and the applause took place in the chat box, but even over Zoom, the event was festive.The 1954 Project Presents: The 2021 Luminary Awards, held last week, was a celebration of … [Read more...] about An Emotional Celebration and Million-Dollar Grants for Black Educators
How a Group of Funders and NGOs Aims to Conserve 5% of the World’s Oceans
A new alliance of nonprofits and funders that launched last week is aiming to protect 5% of the world’s oceans—an area larger than South America—over the next five years.The effort is the latest international, multi-partner, funder-backed effort to … [Read more...] about How a Group of Funders and NGOs Aims to Conserve 5% of the World’s Oceans
The Foundation of America’s Richest Family Is Explicitly Confronting Climate Change, at Last
The last time the Walton Family Foundation released a strategic plan, in 2016, the phrase “climate change” was used just twice in the 11-page environment section, with the first instance coming in a subsection on the eighth page. The Arkansas-based … [Read more...] about The Foundation of America’s Richest Family Is Explicitly Confronting Climate Change, at Last
Not Asked: Behind an Effort to Expand the Black Teacher Pipeline
The American teaching workforce has long suffered from a distinct lack of diversity. About 79% of all public school teachers are white and most are female, a stark contrast to the fact that most public school students are children of color. Black … [Read more...] about Not Asked: Behind an Effort to Expand the Black Teacher Pipeline
To Build the Environmental Movement, a New Initiative Places Grantmaking in Field Leaders’ Hands
Over the past decade-plus, environmental philanthropy has started to awaken to two longtime rallying cries of front-line advocates: Movements matter as much as technology, and funding should go to the people closest to the problem.Change thus far has … [Read more...] about To Build the Environmental Movement, a New Initiative Places Grantmaking in Field Leaders’ Hands
For a K-12 Funder’s New President, “Racial Equity Is the Work”
In response to the events of 2020 and the growing outrage over racial injustice, many philanthropies are unveiling new racial equity and diversity programs. So the recent strategy rollout by the NewSchools Venture Fund has a familiar ring: The … [Read more...] about For a K-12 Funder’s New President, “Racial Equity Is the Work”
