January 18, 2024 As We Enter a New Era of Checkbook Philanthropy, Can Donors Avoid the Pitfalls of the Old One? January 18, 2024/ Philip Rojc Giving without rigorous strategy or metrics was once the target of ridicule, but lately, we’ve seen a move toward more ad hoc forms of giving with few strings attached. Will this approach advance social justice? 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 04, 2024 With Housing a Growing Global Concern, Habitat for Humanity Targets Informal Settlements January 04, 2024/ Liz Longley Housing has become a huge philanthropic priority, globally and domestically, and one of the largest charities in the space is Habitat for Humanity. We take a look at its latest global program targeting slums, barrios and favelas.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
December 18, 2023 Gates Sticks With U.S. Antipoverty Giving, But Deeper Structural Questions Remain December 18, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen In a year-end update, the Gates Foundation announced $100 million in new stateside antipoverty commitments. But amid sky-high wealth inequality, the chances that billionaire giving will get to the roots of the problem remain slim.Read More
December 14, 2023 Here’s What You Need to Know About MacKenzie Scott’s 2023 Giving December 14, 2023/ Mike Scutari In a new letter published on MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving site, she announced $2.2 billion in donations to 360 organizations in 2023. Who were the big winners? What were her top priorities? We crunched the numbers.Read More
December 06, 2023 Six Questions for Molly Talbot-Metz, President and CEO of the Mary Black Foundation December 06, 2023/ Mike Scutari This legacy health funder in South Carolina received $8 million from MacKenzie Scott and will channel funds toward behavioral health. The foundation’s leader tells us about that decision and more.Read More
December 05, 2023 The 50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy December 05, 2023/ IP Staff Women are wielding more power in philanthropy than ever before — as mega-donors, organization leaders, and catalysts. To spotlight these power players, we’ve compiled our most extensive list of women making an impact in the sector today.Read More
November 14, 2023 If You’re Serious About Funding Real Change, You Need to Change the Way You Fund (Yes, Again) November 14, 2023/ Andrea Levere, Guest Contributor While we’ve seen some funder movement toward unrestricted, multi-year support, guest author Andrea Levere argues there’s an even better way to back promising nonprofits: giving them enterprise capital.Read More
October 31, 2023 Vague Pledges Notwithstanding, Top Billionaires Remain a Stingy Lot October 31, 2023/ Philip Rojc Surging billionaire wealth again forms the backdrop to Forbes’ updated philanthropy scores for 2023. The question remains: Will the super-rich ever get around to giving at the scale they claim they’re aiming for?Read More
October 30, 2023 "The Solutions Are There." Funding Challenge Backs Community-Led Efforts to Save Mothers and Infants October 30, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The winners of the Maternal & Infant Health Award, organized by Lever for Change and several funding partners, are working in high-need communities to save the lives of mothers and infants.Read More
October 17, 2023 A Philanthropy Built on Chocolate Expands its Mission to Support Early Childhood October 17, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Chocolate magnate Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine left behind a fortune to provide a K-12 education for low-income children. Now, the Hershey Trust is opening a fleet of new schools for younger students.Read More
September 14, 2023 Tracking Green Regrantors: Who’s Funding in the Amazon, Brazil and Beyond? September 14, 2023/ Michael Kavate Billionaires and big foundations, often from abroad, may be the megafauna of Amazon philanthropy, but there’s also a growing array of regrantors, intermediaries and grantmaking nonprofits to note.Read More
September 13, 2023 Why This Major Antipoverty Funder Is Ramping Up Its Investment in HBCUs September 13, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Against the backdrop of rising funder interest and a controversial Supreme Court decision, the big-donor funding collaborative Blue Meridian Partners is tripling its investment in the HBCU Transformation Project.Read More
September 11, 2023 Hands-On Help: The Other Side of MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Early Childhood Ramp-Up September 11, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen In her early childhood giving this year, MacKenzie Scott is pairing advocacy with direct service funding, including support for programs that provide one-on-one, in-home maternal and infant healthcare.Read More
September 07, 2023 Billionaires Are Backing Brazil and the Amazon. What Do Locals and Longtime Funders Think? September 07, 2023/ Michael Kavate A wave of new commitments from foreign billionaires has some Amazon conservationists and activists feeling hopeful. But they’re also voicing concerns about where and how the money’s flowing.Read More
August 28, 2023 MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Giving for Early Education Spotlights the Power of Advocacy August 28, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Much of the celebrated megadonor’s recent giving has made its way to organizations promoting early childhood care and education. Many place their focus on advocacy, a strategy some other funders are hesitant to support.Read More
August 23, 2023 What Exactly Is a Philanthropic LLC? Here Are Five Types, Ranked By Transparency August 23, 2023/ Michael Kavate The “philanthropic LLC” — not a legal category, by the way — has swiftly gained popularity among billionaire donors who want to keep their options open. Levels of transparency vary widely. Here’s a rundown.Read More
August 22, 2023 What Type of Climate Groups Does This Billionaires’ Collaborative Fund? August 22, 2023/ Michael Kavate With its many billionaire donors, The Audacious Project can award game-changing gifts to environmental nonprofits. But can it widen the aperture beyond tech-friendly and market-based solutions?Read More
August 03, 2023 A Billionaire Couple Takes Aim at the Medical Debt Weighing Down American Families August 03, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Medical debt forces families to choose between buying groceries and paying bills, and prevents them from seeking further care. The Jane and Daniel Och Family Foundation gave a boost to an effort to wipe out such debt.Read More