February 02, 2024 Elon Musk Sent Most of His Charitable Dollars in 2022 to a Brand-New Nonprofit: His New School February 02, 2024/ Michael Kavate The mercurial tech titan now presides over a multibillion-dollar foundation. Here’s a look at where its grants went in 2022, and at Musk’s still-murky plans to set up a K-12 school and university in Texas.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 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 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 18, 2024 Could This Be the Year Philanthropy Gets Serious About Climate Change? Heard That One Before? January 18, 2024/ Michael Kavate After years spent reporting on the topic, our climate philanthropy reporter Michael Kavate confronts his frustrations with the sector. 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
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 19, 2023 Green Funders Show Improvement on Diversity, But More Than Half Still Don’t Share Data December 19, 2023/ Michael Kavate Many environmental funders still did not share their diversity data with the sector’s annual report card from Green 2.0. Respondents did show gains, though board diversity declined.Read More
December 18, 2023 This NFL Team Owner and Hedge Fund Billionaire Is Expanding His Foundation. What's Next? December 18, 2023/ Michael Kavate David Tepper’s once-barebones giving operation is growing its grantmaking under the leadership of daughter Randi Tepper. We checked in with her to find out what kinds of changes are in store.Read More
December 07, 2023 With Food Systems in the Spotlight at COP28, Philanthropy Tries to Build Momentum December 07, 2023/ Michael Kavate For the first time, food systems and sustainable agriculture are a major focus at this year’s U.N. climate summit. Here’s a rundown of the philanthropic commitments and ambitions that have emerged. Read More
December 06, 2023 New Support for Slashing Super Pollutant Emissions, as Major Green Funders Pledge $450 Million December 06, 2023/ Michael Kavate For years, a handful of major funders have been involved in the fight to curb methane emissions and other super pollutants. That support just got a big boost surrounding COP28, with new funders and more money. Read More
December 04, 2023 Three Key Green Giving Trends Underlined by New Ocean Funding Report December 04, 2023/ Michael Kavate Our Shared Seas’ new overview of funding for marine area-based conservation highlights dynamics we’ve seen across environmental philanthropy, including the heightened role of regrantors and billionaires.Read More
November 16, 2023 With New Commitments of $431 Million, the Ballmers Are Now a Top Funder of Climate Action November 16, 2023/ Michael Kavate The Ballmer Group entered the arena of climate philanthropy last year with a sizable set of grants. Now, another huge round of giving is making the scope of their ambitions clearer. Here’s where the money is going.Read More
November 14, 2023 As Federal Dollars Flow, How Is Philanthropy Responding to a $4 Trillion Opportunity? November 14, 2023/ Michael Kavate Four federal bills in recent years unlocked massive federal spending, much of which will flow through nonprofits. How is philanthropy supporting groups on the ground as they apply for funds? Read More
November 08, 2023 After Years of Growth, Climate Philanthropy Barely Budged in 2022 November 08, 2023/ Michael Kavate Giving for climate mitigation surged in 2020 and 2021, but was basically flat last year, according to a new report from ClimateWorks Foundation. There are, however, some key areas within the field that are receiving more funding.Read More
November 02, 2023 At a Critical Moment for Action, Uncertainty Looms in Climate Philanthropy November 02, 2023/ Michael Kavate With federal spending on the way and climate impacts becoming more extreme, it’s an all-hands-on-deck moment for climate action. But several climate funders are in a state of flux, causing anxiety among grantees. Read More
October 25, 2023 Owned by Movement Leaders, This Financial Firm Is Shaking Up Nonprofit Investing October 25, 2023/ Michael Kavate A little over a year since its launch, Just Futures is making moves. The firm is continuing its mission to put nonprofit retirement funds to good use, while expanding to manage nonprofit assets and community investment funds.Read More
October 20, 2023 The World Is “Collapsing,” Says the Pope. Time to Get Up to Speed on Climate Philanthropy? October 20, 2023/ Michael Kavate Amid a stream of dire climate news that keeps coming, our latest set of must-reads on climate philanthropy features resources on transit action in the Midwest, a Walton heir, a map of global climate justice groups, and more.Read More
October 12, 2023 New Climate Pledges Have Drawn in New Philanthropies. Will More Funding Follow? October 12, 2023/ Michael Kavate Two major climate-related pledges recently featured several names not before seen on such lists — both legacy foundations and the funding vehicles of living billionaires. Are we seeing a new set of climate funders emerge?Read More
October 11, 2023 Eight Questions with Hyphen on Philanthropy’s $4 Trillion Opportunity October 11, 2023/ Michael Kavate A nonprofit intermediary, Hyphen works to bridge the gap between philanthropy and government, aiming to make an ongoing torrent of federal spending more equitable. We connected with senior staff to learn more.Read More