January 29, 2024 The Dollar Amounts Are Historic, But Here’s Why We’re Really Bullish About Two Recent HBCU Gifts January 29, 2024/ Mike Scutari Spelman College and the UNCF received $100 million apiece in recent weeks. We dig into the common ingredients in each donation, and why they’re an encouraging sign for the HBCU field as a whole. Read More
December 21, 2023 Six Problems Philanthropy Barely Tried to Solve in 2023 December 21, 2023/ Philip Rojc To some extent, trying and failing to solve big problems comes with the territory of philanthropy. But sometimes, funders fail even to try, paying scant attention to issues well worth their dollars. Here are examples from this year.Read More
December 15, 2023 Meet the Song Foundation: A Michigan Take on Silicon Valley Philanthropy December 15, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe Founded in 2019 from the cybersecurity fortune of Dug and Linh Song, this multipurpose grantmaker is poised for growth on its home turf of southeastern Michigan. Here’s why this is a regional funder worth keeping an eye on.Read More
December 01, 2023 A Quiet Exodus: Funders Exit HIV Giving Even as Equity Gaps Grow December 01, 2023/ Athena Cross, Carl Baloney, and Jesse Milan Jr., Guest Contributors For World AIDS Day, guest authors Athena Cross, Carl Baloney and Jesse Milan Jr. call attention to diminishing HIV-related philanthropic support, despite prevailing racial equity gaps in diagnoses and treatment.Read More
November 22, 2023 A Cross-Sector Coalition Raises Nearly $1 Billion to Tackle Racial Wealth Inequality in the Twin Cities November 22, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe In its mission to take on stubborn racial wealth divides in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the GroundBreak initiative has the backing of partners spanning philanthropy, the private sector and government. Here’s a closer look.Read More
November 07, 2023 It’s Time for Philanthropy to Recognize and Address "American Colonialism" November 07, 2023/ Ana Marie Argilagos, Deanna James and Sarah Thomas Nededog, Guest Contributors Even as attempts are made to “decolonize philanthropy,” guest authors Ana Marie Argilagos, Deanna James and Sarah Thomas Nededog argue that beyond some disaster funding, the field still pays little attention to U.S. territories. 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 24, 2023 How Three Funders Are Linking Up Public Health and Community Leaders to Tackle Inequities October 24, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The Kresge, de Beaumont and Robert Wood Johnson foundations teamed up on an initiative to strengthen our ailing public health system and address inequities by connecting public health leaders and community groups.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 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
September 28, 2023 As Funders Press Forward for Local Journalism, Doubts Persist Around the Role of Racial Equity September 28, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe Several criticisms have circulated around Press Forward, a recently-announced $500 million local news initiative backed by a host of funders. One issue stands out: its vague, noncommittal language around racial equity.Read More
September 14, 2023 "It's Got to Be an Entire Organizational Shift." How Funders Can Better Support Black-Led Nonprofits September 14, 2023/ Martha Ramirez While some strides have been made, many Black-led nonprofits are still out in the cold. New insight from the Young, Black, and Giving Back Institute focuses on resourcing the smallest grassroots groups.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
August 07, 2023 What’s New with the NBA Foundation? Its Executive Director and an NBA Player Weigh In August 07, 2023/ Ade Adeniji The NBA Foundation got started in 2020 with a $300 million pledge and a focus on opportunity for Black youth. We check in with leaders about where it’s at, including board member and Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris.Read More
July 31, 2023 HBCU Moves: Seven Questions for Mildred Whittier, Spelman College Alumna and Fundraiser July 31, 2023/ Ade Adeniji Mildred Whittier helped launch Women for Golden Futures, a fundraising effort to support her alma mater Spelman College. We heard from her about the initiative, her history with Spelman, and how HBCUs can pull in more funding.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 20, 2023 It’s Time for Real Truth and Reconciliation — and Restorative Justice — in Philanthropy July 20, 2023/ Farai Chideya, Guest Contributor As the rights of marginalized groups and the nation’s very civic culture come under threat, guest author Farai Chideya spotlights the need for honest soul-searching in philanthropy, and shares some practical steps for funders.Read More
July 05, 2023 As Numbers Trend in the Wrong Direction, This Foundation's Focusing on Maternal Health July 05, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Having a baby in the U.S. is riskier than in any other developed country. With maternal mortality on the rise, Elevance Health Foundation is doubling down on its support for “high-touch,” racial equity-focused approaches.Read More
June 27, 2023 Joint Philanthropic Initiative Looks to Mend an Ailing U.S. Public Health System June 27, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Three health foundations are backing a new effort to promote public health leadership, strengthen our weakened systems, and build stronger connections in communities.Read More
June 15, 2023 The Next Generation of Asian Americans Are Poised to Lead. Does Philanthropy Have Their Back? June 15, 2023/ Reshma Shamasunder, Guest Contributor In this guest article, Asian American Futures Executive Director Reshma Shamasunder calls on philanthropy to be more supportive toward young Asian Americans working to build a more equitable world.Read More