Vibrant local libraries, community centers, parks, and other forms of civic infrastructure foster a sense of pride and connection to one’s community — and help shut down polarized politics and anti-democratic impulses.
By Stephen Heintz
Contributor
Saving our democracy will require remaking a civil society that not only reckons with the legacy and harms caused by racism but intentionally brings together workers of all races, unites urban and rural communities, and creates opportunity for all Americans.
By Loren McArthur
Contributor
Franklin Thomas’s Legacy at the Ford Foundation Permeates Philanthropy Today
As the first leader of color to head a major philanthropy, Thomas averted the foundation’s financial dissolution, looked out for grantees, and made diversity a core part of the institution’s work, writes Susan Berresford, who succeeded him as president.
By Susan Berresford
Contributor
My Organization Is a Testament to Why Unrestricted Funding Matters
Eight years ago, the Vera Institute of Justice embarked on a strategy to attract more unrestricted giving. Now a majority of its funds are unrestricted, allowing the nonprofit to move quickly to address unexpected needs, expand staff, and bring more diverse voices to its work.
By Nicholas Turner
Contributor
Lessons for Philanthropy From the 2020 Census
Foundations and nonprofits joined forces at the national and local levels in ways that ensure that even the pandemic and political threats didn’t get in the way of an accurate count, an essential move given how important the census is to achieving grant makers’ missions.
Philanthropy Buzzwords 2022: For Good or Bad, Technology Will Rule
Certainties for the coming year, including the continuing pandemic and ongoing racial inequities, will combine with explosive growth in technological innovations — and the techno-lingo that comes with it.
By Lucy Bernholz
Contributor
Nonprofits That Benefited From Michael Steinhardt’s Dirty Money Need to Own Up to Their Complicity
The Manhattan District Attorney’s finding that the philanthropist illegally purchased cultural artifacts offers a stark reminder to nonprofits about the importance of demanding greater accountability and transparency from donors.
By Lila Corwin Berman
Contributor
To Reach Donors of Color, Fundraisers Should Focus on Faith, Family, and Community
Attracting Latino and Black donors requires recognizing cultural giving patterns that differentiate them from most white donors. Nonprofits that take a thoughtful approach to this process have the chance to significantly expand their pool of donors.
By Aracely Muñoz
Contributor
2022 Is the Year for Grant Makers to Stop Talking and Start Doing
Because philanthropy has so little external scrutiny, foundation officials must assess whether they are actually making enough of a difference, writes Lisa Pilar Cowan, the author of a series of essays on grant making in a time of upheaval.
By Lisa Pilar Cowan
Contributor
More Civil-Rights Lawyers Are Needed to Fight Racial-Justice Battles. Philanthropy Can Help.
As the racial reckoning of 2020 plays out in courtrooms and state legislatures, grant makers should embrace a range of strategies, including funding law-school scholarship programs and public-interest centers, to help build a well-trained army of civil-rights attorneys.