October 14, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
Questions are being raised about grant-making changes at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, one of the biggest philanthropies in America, writes Rick Cohen, former executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, in an opinion article in Youth Today, a nonprofit publication.
“The task of turning a ship as large as Kellogg is tricky and monumental – as well as anxiety-inducing for current grantees, who may not fit easily into the new profile,” writes Mr. Cohen, who is also a national correspondent for Nonprofit Quarterly. “Inside and outside of Kellogg, there are concerns about whether the foundation is trying to do too much, too fast.”
The changes at the fund include:
- Spending about half of its grant money on projects in Michigan, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
- Focusing on improving the lives of children by age 8.
- Making racial equality a central part of its mission.
- Pledging to get grants to beneficiaries faster.
The Battle Creek, Mich., foundation, which announced the changes in December, has created a series of videos on its Web site to explain the moves. (Read The Chronicle’s article on the changes.)
(Registration is required to view the Youth Today article and a short-term pass or subscription is required to read The Chronicle article.)
What do you think about the changes at Kellogg?
