No Thank You: Why One Foundation Leader Doesn’t Want Gratitude From Grantees
Grant makers aren’t giving away their own money so the conversation with their partners should always be about equals working to change the world — not as benefactor and supplicant.
By Lisa Pilar Cowan
Contributor
Urgent Philanthropic Action Is Needed as the Nation’s Water Crisis Claims Lives and Livelihoods
Climate giving too often focuses solely on future crises even though communities are already suffering the effects of drought, flooding, and other climate-driven water problems. Efforts to address the challenges facing two Western rivers demonstrate a better path forward for grant makers.
By Andrea Keller Helsel and Ted Kowalski
When grant makers turned down the author’s request 20 years ago to fund his fledgling organization, he quickly attributed it to institutionalized racism. His mentors’ response: Don’t you dare blame outside forces for preventing you from succeeding. Instead, refine your work and build something better.
By Eboo Patel
Contributor
Typical Post-Disaster Giving Practices Could Hamper Hurricane Ian Recovery
Large relief organizations continue to receive the bulk of philanthropic funds following disasters despite well-documented evidence that they are least capable of providing help on the ground. Tapping into community foundations and identifying effective local nonprofits are far better strategies for getting dollars where they need to go.
By Ben Smilowitz
Contributor
Major Federal Funding to Close the Digital Divide Won’t Succeed Without Philanthropic Support
Digital inequity touches nearly every issue grant makers care about. Yet connecting marginalize people has remained an elusive goal for decades. New government investments totaling $42 billion have the potential to finally change that picture but will require targeted donor dollars to reach their potential.
By Lynette Bell and Larry Irving
If Foundations Want to Encourage Transparency, They Should Look in the Mirror
Grant makers are big proponents of transparency for everyone but themselves. To live up to their professed standards, they should embrace the same practices required of public companies and make available information about their entire operations, including how they invest endowment dollars.
By Clara Miller
Contributor
Nuclear Weapons Are an Ever-Present Danger — and Grant Makers Need to Pay Attention
Preventing nuclear war remains one of the most underfunded areas of philanthropy at a time when the war in Ukraine has raised risk levels. With the biggest grant maker in the field preparing to pull its funding, new donors are urgently needed to step in and fill the gap.
By Istra Fuhrmann and Alexandra Toma
Abortion Pills Offer Hope in a Post-‘Roe’ World. Philanthropy Can Help Fulfill Their Promise.
Access to telemedicine abortions is hampered by legal obstacles and lack of awareness, especially among marginalized communities. Donors can have a significant impact by investing in efforts to expand information and resources about abortion medication options.
By Julia Rohrer, Shruthi Jayaram and Laura McEown
Despite the Challenges, Donors Must Continue to Support Struggling Nonprofits in Afghanistan
The Taliban takeover forced many Afghan human rights groups to shut down or shift their focus. Despite sanctions and other restrictions, multiple avenues remain for funding organizations that are critical to building long-term peace.
A new breed of Black and brown journalists is reaching overlooked consumers through Facebook and Instagram. They need philanthropic investment to achieve long-term sustainability as trusted local new sources.
By Tracie Powell
Contributor