January 30, 2024 With a Power-Building Approach to Housing in California, a Pooled Fund Evolves and Expands January 30, 2024/ Martha Ramirez Launched in 2018, the Fund for an Inclusive California supports community-led housing justice work, with some major backers on board. The collaborative is entering a new phase and targeting overlooked regions of the state.Read More
January 29, 2024 Foundation Assets Reach a Record $1.5 Trillion, Propelled by Investment Gains and Big Donors January 29, 2024/ Michael Kavate Estimates by FoundationMark show private foundation assets at an all-time high, having only just reached $1 trillion in 2019. Here’s a look at what’s driving the gains and why the trend toward a top-heavy sector isn’t going anywhere.Read More
January 25, 2024 How a Philanthropic Advisor Helps Hesitant Wealthy Donors Level Up Their Giving January 25, 2024/ Mike Scutari Erinn Andrews works with wealthy, but not super-wealthy clients who want to give more thoughtfully but lack the capacity to do so. Here’s how she gets these lagging but well-intentioned donors to step up their games.Read More
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 24, 2024 More Funding is Flowing to Support Indigenous Peoples. How Much Is Making it to the Front Lines? January 24, 2024/ Michael Kavate Thanks in part to a $1.7 billion pledge, more funding than ever is going toward Indigenous peoples and their critical role in climate and land protection. New research shows relatively little goes directly to groups on the ground. Read More
January 23, 2024 Funders Have a New Tool to Help Navigate the Fast-Moving AI Landscape January 23, 2024/ Dawn Wolfe Philanthropy leaders and staff face the daunting task of deciding whether and how they should implement new artificial-intelligence-based tools. Technology Association of Grantmakers offers some new guidance.Read More
January 22, 2024 By the Numbers, Google Founders' Philanthropies Are Now Peers to Legacy Giants January 22, 2024/ Michael Kavate Sergey Brin and Larry Page’s grantmaking grew by $80 million or more apiece in 2022, putting them among the top 40 philanthropic funders in the U.S. But for Page in particular, good luck finding out where all that money’s going.Read More
January 19, 2024 Can Philanthropy and Government Work Together to Drive Socially Responsible Tech? January 19, 2024/ Paul Karon Five philanthropies are partnering with the National Science Foundation to advance the field of public interest technology — hopefully spurring the idea that public wellbeing must be a key element in tech development.Read More
January 18, 2024 Culture Wars On Campus Are Raging, and Megadonors Are Key Figures on the Battlefield January 18, 2024/ Mike Scutari On the heels of Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation, activists are pivoting to hot-button issues like dismantling DEI programs. Major donors have played a key role, and will likely continue to do so. Read More
January 17, 2024 Grand Finale: A Family Foundation Focused on Free Concerts Announces its Spend Down January 17, 2024/ Wendy Paris The Levitt Foundation has a unique focus on creating music performance spaces as a way to support communities nationwide. The family recently announced it would spend down to boost its impact.Read More
January 16, 2024 Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott Pitch in for Student Health January 16, 2024/ Connie Matthiessen School-based health centers have been shown to boost student health and improve academic outcomes, but there are far too few to meet the need. Two of the most prominent women in philanthropy are working to change that. 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 11, 2024 Flush from Bezos, Groups Set Up Climate Fund With Front-line Leaders in Charge. Will Others Join? January 11, 2024/ Michael Kavate The Fund for Frontline Power was established following the first round of grants from Bezos Earth Fund, offering a way for recipients to channel dollars to grassroots organizations. It’s regranted millions and is looking to grow.Read More
January 11, 2024 Big Pledges Won’t Solve Our Climate and Health Crisis If Those Who Need the Money Can’t Access It January 11, 2024/ Vanessa Kerry, Guest Contributor Guest contributor Dr. Vanessa Kerry argues that even as philanthropy pledges billions toward climate adaptation and the climate-health nexus, what really matters is how and to whom those dollars are made available.Read More
January 10, 2024 10 Funders to Watch in 2024 January 10, 2024/ IP Staff Several large funding institutions will be in flux this year and others are emerging as major players. Meanwhile, national and global events will put leading funders to the test. Here are 10 we’re watching closely in 2024.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 04, 2024 What Books Are Philanthropic Leaders Reading? Here Are 11 Great Picks From IP Interviews in 2023 January 04, 2024/ Mike Scutari We’ve interviewed dozens of funding leaders, and we often ask for the last great book they read. Here, we compile their responses from conversations in 2023 into one handy and riveting list.Read More
December 27, 2023 Philanthropy Awards, 2023 December 27, 2023/ IP Staff As we say our goodbyes to another year of philanthropic highs and lows, it's time for our latest round of philanthropy awards: the 2023 IPPYs!Read More
December 22, 2023 These Climate Funders Hired Lobbyists Who Also Work for Fossil Fuel Companies, Report Finds December 22, 2023/ Michael Kavate Seeking to expand what it means for philanthropy to divest, the investigative nonprofit F Minus put together a report on funders — including climate backers — with connections to fossil fuel lobbyists.Read More
December 21, 2023 Some Funders Still Think Nonprofits Can’t Handle MacKenzie Scott’s Gifts. Nonprofits Disagree December 21, 2023/ Mike Scutari A new report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy finds that nonprofits have capably handled MacKenzie Scott’s large and unrestricted gifts. So why are surveyed funding leaders still not sold on her approach?Read More