… [Read more...] about Boom Times: These Billionaires Have Ramped Up Their Giving
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
Billionaires to the Rescue? The Megadonors Who Might Fund the Fight for Democracy
We Took a Deep Dive Into Mega-Donor Foundation Giving. Here’s What the Numbers Tell Us
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 16, 2023. Over the past 20 years, the philanthropic status quo has been dramatically upended by private foundations led by living mega-donors. Hailing from fields like tech, media and … [Read more...] about We Took a Deep Dive Into Mega-Donor Foundation Giving. Here’s What the Numbers Tell Us
Explaining the Biggest Weakness of Foundations
Overreliance on Foundations Is Unhealthy. Foundations Can Help Fix That
Philanthropy Awards, 2024
Are Smaller Funders the Future of Criminal Justice Giving?
Funders’ Role at a Promising Yet Precarious Moment for the Global LGBTIQ Movement
One in Three Women: These Funders Are Working to End Gender-Based Violence
A Decade In, This Gender Justice Funder Collaborative Faces “Really Challenging Times”
Powerhouse funders like MacKenzie Scott and Melinda French Gates have made big splashes in philanthropy, especially when it comes to supporting causes related to women and girls – and that can make it seem like we’re in the middle of a renaissance of … [Read more...] about A Decade In, This Gender Justice Funder Collaborative Faces “Really Challenging Times”
Another Tech-Fueled, Multibillion-Dollar Foundation. Have You Even Heard of It?
Between a karate studio and a shuttered dessert shop called Sweet Orchid is a Menlo Park, California, branch of the UPS Store that holds the mailbox, and main public address, for one of the largest foundations in the United States — and a case study … [Read more...] about Another Tech-Fueled, Multibillion-Dollar Foundation. Have You Even Heard of It?
A Look at Eight Major Conservation Regrantors Based in the Global North
Making the Most of Historic Federal Infrastructure Spending: Seven Funder Efforts to Note
Nearly two years have passed since President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which you may have heard was the largest climate investment in the history of the United States, and there’s still a mind-boggling amount of money to … [Read more...] about Making the Most of Historic Federal Infrastructure Spending: Seven Funder Efforts to Note
How the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund is Working to Mobilize Voters and Build Power
The 2020 election saw record-breaking turnout for Asian American voters, continuing a trend that began in 2016. In fact, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders saw the highest increase in voter turnout in 2020 for all racial and ethnic groups. … [Read more...] about How the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund is Working to Mobilize Voters and Build Power
Toward a More Equitable South: Meet a Funder Where Rural Grassroots Leaders Call the Shots
Atlanta’s Southern Partners Fund is one of those unique grantmakers working at the intersection of a few of the more urgent themes animating philanthropy today.The first involves geography. SPF, which has moved more than $15 million to grassroots … [Read more...] about Toward a More Equitable South: Meet a Funder Where Rural Grassroots Leaders Call the Shots
There’s an Extensive New Guide to Sharing Power in Philanthropy. Will Funders Take Its Advice?
Readers with a cursory knowledge of the legal system — there must be at least a handful of you out there — might be familiar with the term “ignorantia juris non excusat,” which means that people can’t defend their actions by claiming they don’t know … [Read more...] about There’s an Extensive New Guide to Sharing Power in Philanthropy. Will Funders Take Its Advice?
New Climate Pledges Have Drawn in New Philanthropies. Will More Funding Follow?
Back in 2021, we saw philanthropies come together to back a pair of major multimillion-dollar climate pledges that came one after the other: one to combat methane emissions around the world and another to support the Indigenous protection of tropical … [Read more...] about New Climate Pledges Have Drawn in New Philanthropies. Will More Funding Follow?
Black Feminists Are Organizing with Little to No Funding. Here Are Three Ways to Change That
Around the world, Black feminists are doing transformational work to advance human rights and social justice. As people who are among those most impacted by multiple, systemic injustices, Black women and gender nonconforming people are dreaming and … [Read more...] about Black Feminists Are Organizing with Little to No Funding. Here Are Three Ways to Change That
Major Philanthropies Launch $50 Million Fund to Shepherd Federal Dollars on Jobs, Climate
A group of eight of the country’s largest legacy foundations and billionaire philanthropies launched a $50 million pooled fund today to help ensure the landmark federal spending bills of recent years not only help decarbonize the country, but also … [Read more...] about Major Philanthropies Launch $50 Million Fund to Shepherd Federal Dollars on Jobs, Climate
What Exactly Is a Philanthropic LLC? Here Are Five Types, Ranked By Transparency
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan famously started one to channel their giving. So did Laura and John Arnold. MacKenzie Scott and Laurene Powell Jobs each operate their own. And younger billionaires, like Lukas Walton, continue to embrace them. I’m … [Read more...] about What Exactly Is a Philanthropic LLC? Here Are Five Types, Ranked By Transparency
The D.C. Power List: The Most Influential Philanthropists Shaping National Policy
The Radically Democratic Philanthropy of the FRIDA Young Feminist Fund
Founded in 2008, the FRIDA young feminist fund is still something of a newcomer in the arena of giving for women and girls. But even at its young age, this funder operates at a broad size and scope, making more than than 700 grants in 2021 alone, … [Read more...] about The Radically Democratic Philanthropy of the FRIDA Young Feminist Fund
The Collective Future Fund Is Expanding Its Long-Term Work to End Gender-Based Violence
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a dramatic increase in gender-based violence worldwide. According to information from UN Women, the United Nations’ organization dedicated to gender equity and women’s empowerment, approximately 243 million women and girls … [Read more...] about The Collective Future Fund Is Expanding Its Long-Term Work to End Gender-Based Violence
The Top 10 Hedge Fund Philanthropists
This article was originally published on March 14, 2023. Late last summer, a hedge fund legend passed away and a new era dawned for the philanthropies created by the industry’s billionaire winners. Julian Robertson, who was 90, was called by some the … [Read more...] about The Top 10 Hedge Fund Philanthropists
In a World Beset by Conflict, Could Better Ways to Measure Peace Change the Funding Equation?
The question of what, exactly, constitutes “peace” is especially relevant these days. We’re living in a restive, multipolar world where threats to peace include everything from renewed great power conflict to various forms of highly localized … [Read more...] about In a World Beset by Conflict, Could Better Ways to Measure Peace Change the Funding Equation?
There’s a New Giant in Climate Change Philanthropy. Here’s Everything We Know So Far
For more than two years, I’ve been hearing interest and excitement from people throughout climate philanthropy about the Sequoia Climate Foundation.People brought it up in interviews. Respondents mentioned it in surveys. Its name showed up on major … [Read more...] about There’s a New Giant in Climate Change Philanthropy. Here’s Everything We Know So Far
“Funded to Win.” These 11 Funders — and Counting — Are Stepping Up for Black Feminist Movements
Last week, 11 philanthropies stepped up in solidarity with Black feminists and their movements around the world. In an open letter to philanthropy, the funders urged their peers to join them in supporting the Black Feminist Fund, which they described … [Read more...] about “Funded to Win.” These 11 Funders — and Counting — Are Stepping Up for Black Feminist Movements
Who are the 25 Largest Environmental Grantmakers in the U.S.?
It’s official: Billionaires have taken over environmental philanthropy. Over the past few weeks, I’ve assembled a list of the top U.S. green grantmakers based on 2021 numbers, the most recent full year we have to go on. Take a look and you’ll see … [Read more...] about Who are the 25 Largest Environmental Grantmakers in the U.S.?
This Philanthropy-Backed Initiative Gives Aspiring Critics of Color a Leg Up
For a writer striving to be heard — to contribute ideas and research to the public conversation with the aim of influencing culture and policy — an article published in the New York Times can be pivotal. But it’s hard to get a Times editor to respond … [Read more...] about This Philanthropy-Backed Initiative Gives Aspiring Critics of Color a Leg Up
Foundations and Governments Pledged $1.7 Billion to Indigenous Land Protection. How Are They Doing?
Twelve months ago, nearly two-dozen private funders and governments pledged $1.7 billion over five years to help Indigenous communities protect tropical forests. This week, initial results came in — offering reasons for celebration and concern. The … [Read more...] about Foundations and Governments Pledged $1.7 Billion to Indigenous Land Protection. How Are They Doing?
