November 07, 2023 How the Sunsetting Swift Foundation Supports Indigenous Communities November 07, 2023/ Mike Scutari Established in 1999, the Swift Foundation supports Indigenous communities throughout South and North America. We take a closer look at the Santa Barbara-based funder, which plans to close shop by December 2028.Read More
November 06, 2023 A “Pretty Severe Education” in Raising Capital Dollars: What It Took to Get NYC’s Civic Hall Funded November 06, 2023/ Mike Scutari Civic Hall, an 85,000-square-foot collaborative work and training facility, opened to the public on November 1. We heard from cofounder Andrew Rasiej about his seven-year effort to bring the project to fruition.Read More
October 31, 2023 Funder Spotlight: How the Kalliopeia Foundation Supports Ecological and Community Regeneration October 31, 2023/ Mike Scutari Established in 1997, the Kalliopeia Foundation supports organizations committed to ecological and spiritual renewal. We take a closer look at the Inverness, California-based foundation and its founder, Barbara Sargent.Read More
October 30, 2023 How This Nationwide Matching Gift Campaign Galvanizes Support for Nonprofit News Outlets October 30, 2023/ Mike Scutari NewsMatch, the largest collaborative fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news in the U.S., kicks off on November 1. It leverages growing interest in nonprofit journalism, from big funders and small donors alike.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 23, 2023 Big Giving, Low Profile: Digging into the Philanthropy of the Billionaire Chan Family October 23, 2023/ Mike Scutari While they have a penchant for higher ed mega-gifts, billionaire businessmen Ronnie and Gerald Chan keep things fairly low key with their Morningside Foundation. Here’s a look at the family’s backstory and the brothers’ priorities.Read More
October 17, 2023 How a Small Funder in Virginia Tackles Critical Issues and Shifts Power to Local Nonprofits October 17, 2023/ Mike Scutari The Community Foundation of the New River Valley serves a five-county region in southwest Virginia. We dig into its work, which includes pooling general operating support and addressing issues like food security and aging.Read More
October 11, 2023 “Worthy of Its Own Focus.” Inside a Funder Cohort Dedicated to Developing Community Leaders October 11, 2023/ Mike Scutari The Leadership Funders Group brings grantmakers together to optimize their investments in nonprofit and civic leaders. We talked with its co-chairs about the group’s charter, evolution and more.Read More
October 05, 2023 Five Things to Know About Unbound Philanthropy’s Funding for Immigrants and Refugees October 05, 2023/ Mike Scutari Dedicated to building welcoming societies and just systems for people on the move, Unbound Philanthropy funds in both the U.S. and the U.K. These days, it’s seeking to shine a light on solutions around climate-driven migration.Read More
October 04, 2023 A Conversation with Carnell Chosa, Founder and Director of the Attach Your Heart Foundation October 04, 2023/ Mike Scutari Carnell Chosa’s philanthropic journey began with his experiences growing up in the Jémez Pueblo community in New Mexico. We connected with him to learn about his story, the foundation he started, and more.Read More
September 27, 2023 An Expansive Survey Assesses Funders’ Surging Interest in Journalism — and Potential Growing Pains September 27, 2023/ Mike Scutari A comprehensive survey of journalism funders and nonprofits shows a field poised for expansion and highlights potential concerns over conflicts of interest. Researcher Jennifer Preston walks us through the findings.Read More
September 11, 2023 “You Have to Actually Change.” A Major Theater Funder's Quest to Diversify Its Decision-Making September 11, 2023/ Mike Scutari The New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project has evolved significantly over the last 10 years. We walk through some key takeaways from a report on its work with program director Quita Sullivan.Read More
September 07, 2023 “Lean into Empathy and Humility.” A Conversation with Denver Foundation President Javier Alberto Soto September 07, 2023/ Mike Scutari In 2019, Javier Alberto Soto became president of the Denver Foundation after leading the Miami Foundation for 10 years. We check in with him to discuss his city-wide listening tour, the people he most admires and more.Read More
September 05, 2023 “We Follow Their Lead.” How Residents Guide the Black Belt Community Foundation’s Grantmaking September 05, 2023/ Mike Scutari Serving a 12-county region in southern Alabama, the Black Belt Community Foundation relies on community volunteers to guide its discretionary grantmaking. President Felecia Lucky walks us through how that works.Read More
August 30, 2023 “The Time Was Right.” How Three Funders Joined Forces to Simplify the Grant Application Process August 30, 2023/ Mike Scutari The Common App for the Arts, launched by three Bay Area foundations, consolidates each funder’s grants on a single user interface. We look at how it came together, plans for future iterations and more. Read More
August 24, 2023 A New Report Shows Promising Shifts in Funders’ Practices. Whether It’s Enough Is Still Up for Debate August 24, 2023/ Mike Scutari New findings from the Center for Effective Philanthropy show that funders cut reporting requirements and upped general operating support post-2020. It’s encouraging news, but still only represents incremental change.Read More
August 23, 2023 Funder Spotlight: How the Samuels Foundation Supports the Performing Arts and Healthy Aging August 23, 2023/ Mike Scutari The New York City-based Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation supports performing arts organizations and seeks to improve quality of life for older adults. We take a closer look at its history, grantmaking and more.Read More
August 21, 2023 Art for Social Change: An Arts Funder's Journey to More Fully Embrace Its Social Justice Mission August 21, 2023/ Mike Scutari Philadelphia’s Leeway Foundation supports women, trans and/or gender-nonconforming artists focused on social change. Executive Director Denise Brown walks us through its evolution, key grantmaking programs and more.Read More
August 10, 2023 “A More Even Playing Field.” How Would the End of Legacy Admissions Impact Alumni Giving? August 10, 2023/ Mike Scutari Across the country, it’s looking as if the days of legacy preferences may be numbered. Will ending the policy hurt revenues, or bring about a welcome change in the higher ed fundraising landscape? Read More
August 08, 2023 To Spend Down or Not to Spend Down? This Network Helps Family Funders Answer the Question August 08, 2023/ Mike Scutari The National Center for Family Philanthropy’s (NCFP) Strategic Lifespan Peer Network assists staff at spend-down foundations or at those considering taking that route. Program Director Daria Teutonico walks us through its work.Read More