January 25, 2024 It’s Already Happening: Unpacking the Authoritarian Threat to U.S. Philanthropy January 25, 2024/ Peter Teague and Mike Berkowitz, Guest Contributors Threats to civil society from the authoritarian far right are only ramping up, warn guest authors Peter Teague and Mike Berkowitz. But philanthropy still has the tools it needs to safeguard American democracy — and itself.Read More
January 16, 2024 A New Fund Backs Civic Engagement and Power Building for Communities of Color in California January 16, 2024/ Martha Ramirez Major Golden State grantmakers have gotten behind PIVOT, a collaborative fund to resource democracy work and build community power. Its initial grants have prioritized voter organizing alongside wider movement building.Read More
January 09, 2024 Steve Phillips Talks Progressive Philanthropy, the Sandler Legacy, and More January 09, 2024/ Ade Adeniji The author and political strategist reflects on his long career in progressive giving — including the early days of the Democracy Alliance, the Obama years, and working with his late wife Susan Sandler to back racial justice leaders.Read More
January 09, 2024 A Conversation With Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, Outgoing CEO of the Latino Community Foundation January 09, 2024/ Martha Ramirez We spoke with the former head of LCF about her leadership during a critical period of growth, her career in philanthropy, and her hopes for the foundation’s future as Julian Castro takes the reins.Read More
January 08, 2024 How One Community Funder’s In-House Campaign Is Moving the Needle on Voter Engagement January 08, 2024/ Dawn Wolfe Facing another difficult election year, funders may want to take note of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation in Connecticut. It’s already seen notable success with its own bilingual get-out-the-vote campaign.Read More
October 31, 2023 Formed Amid 2020's Racial Justice Uprisings, a Funding Collaborative Recommits to the Cause October 31, 2023/ Martha Ramirez Democracy Frontlines Fund launched as a time-limited racial justice and democracy initiative in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The collaborative is extending its mission with another $35.5 million.Read More
October 24, 2023 “A Pathway to Restoring Local News.” Field Leader Sue Cross on the State of Journalism Philanthropy October 24, 2023/ Mike Scutari Sue Cross will be stepping down as the head of the Institute for Nonprofit News at the end of the year. She walks us through what she’s learned during her tenure about how philanthropy can support local news and much more. Read More
October 18, 2023 Sending Up the Bat Signal: What Philanthropy Must Do To Ensure That Democracy Wins in 2024 October 18, 2023/ Billy Wimsatt, Guest Contributor The outcome of the 2024 election will have a huge impact on many of the goals advanced by philanthropy, but groups on the ground are seeing major funding shortfalls. Billy Wimsatt from Movement Voter Fund has a plan.Read More
October 04, 2023 This Year at the UNGA, Philanthropies Unite Behind Democracy and Locally Led Development October 04, 2023/ Liz Longley Reflecting sector-wide trends, philanthropies threw their weight behind two collaborative global development efforts, seeking to bolster citizen engagement and shift power to those close to the ground.Read More
October 03, 2023 Affirmative Action Counteraction Requires Philanthropy to Step Up October 03, 2023/ Verna Williams, Guest Contributor In this guest article, Equal Justice Works CEO Verna Williams makes a case for funders to sustain and step up their support for diversity and inclusion, giving people of color a better chance to enter fields like the legal profession.Read More
August 09, 2023 This Megadonor’s Attempt to Curtail Ohio Voters’ Rights Is a Symptom of Our Larger Problem August 09, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe An effort in Ohio to raise the vote threshold needed for a state constitutional amendment failed, despite a big push from a wealthy conservative donor. It’s yet another reminder of the inescapable influence of wealthy donors.Read More
July 27, 2023 As Book Banning Campaigns Spread, this Funder is Defending the Right to Read July 27, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Across the country, conservative groups are working to ban books. The American Library Association is standing up to these challenges, with a big boost from Solidarity Giving, founded by billionaires Brian and Tegan Acton.Read More
July 13, 2023 Fair-Weather Friends? Progressive Nonprofits' Dangerous Dependence on the Liberal Rich July 13, 2023/ Philip Rojc As left-of-center groups grow ever more reliant on big funders, is there a price to be paid? If and when the liberal donor class pulls back, the fallout may leave its beneficiaries impoverished in multiple ways.Read More
July 05, 2023 More Cuts at Open Society Foundations: Nearly Half of Staff to Depart, Offices Close July 05, 2023/ Michael Kavate OSF plans to let go of 40% of staff as it reaches a new stage in its longtime bid to bring focus to its legendarily complex operations. Critics point to a consolidation of power amid low morale and a shrinking global footprint.Read More
June 28, 2023 “The Privilege to Take Risks.” Alberto Ibargüen Reflects on His Tenure at the Knight Foundation June 28, 2023/ Mike Scutari After 18 years, Ibargüen announced he would step down as head of this influential media funder. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss his career trajectory, philanthropy’s role in society, and much more.Read More
June 07, 2023 As Government Budgets Pull Back, a Look at Philanthropy’s Role in Funding Public Libraries June 07, 2023/ Liz Longley Libraries are an indispensable public good, but from the start, private wealth has played a major part in their creation and expansion. As library budgets are threatened, we take a deep dive into philanthropy’s support. Read More
May 31, 2023 To Build Community Power, Here Are Two Habits Funders Need to Break May 31, 2023/ Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Jodeen Olguín-Tayler, Josh Stearns, Guest Contributors Funders often struggle to back civic engagement and community power building. In this guest piece, three authors whose organizations collaboratively fund that work suggest some changes in approach.Read More
May 25, 2023 Philanthropy Needs to Rethink Its Approach to Civic Engagement May 25, 2023/ Louise Lief, Guest Contributor Much of philanthropy frames civic engagement in a narrow way, with a focus on voting and elections. Guest contributor Louise Lief discusses what’s wrong with that, and what a better, broader approach looks like.Read More
May 18, 2023 Six Questions for Cathy Cha, President and CEO of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund May 18, 2023/ Martha Ramirez We spoke with the leader of this prominent California social justice funder to discuss her career, her experience as the daughter of Korean immigrants, threats to American democracy, and more.Read More
May 09, 2023 The D.C. Power List: The Most Influential Philanthropists Shaping National Policy May 09, 2023/ David Callahan Top philanthropists have become ever more adept at working the levers of power in order to shape federal policy. Here are the living donors who wield the most influence in the nation’s capital.Read More