As ‘Pro-Democracy’ Philanthropy Grows, Experts Warn of Many Obstacles to Combating Misinformation
The Knight Foundation just pledged $7 million to fight election misinformation in swing states. But recipients of grants to bolster accurate political information say their work is being thwarted by social media platforms, A.I., and escalating partisanship.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Can a Lottery Winner Run an Effective Foundation? Meet Roy Cockrum
How a onetime comic actor turned $60 million of Powerball winnings into a grant-making engine that has backed ambitious theater since 2014.
By George Anders
Contributor
Foundations Are Funding Tiny Home Villages for the Homeless. Is It a Worthwhile Effort?
The Oak Foundation, Sobrato Philanthropies, and the Dell Foundation are funding tiny home villages as homelessness spikes.
By Stephanie Beasley
Senior Writer and Fellowship Director
Mega-Gift Fiasco at Florida A&M Shows Nonprofits What Not to Do
A questionable $240 million gift illustrates what can happen when nonprofit leaders ignore warning signs.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
The 50-year movement to legalize cannabis was funded by a handful of very rich and ideologically diverse philanthropists, including Hugh Hefner, George Soros, and Sean Parker.
By Marc Gunther
Contributor
Did a $100 Million Effort Reduce Homelessness? The Results Are In
San Francisco’s Tipping Point Community pooled big private money to halve chronic homelessness in five years. A new study finds the effort failed to reach that goal, but lessons for philanthropy-government collaborations are rich.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Mega-Gifts Are Funding University Tuitions. Which Students Do They Help?
In 2018, Michael Bloomberg gave $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to enable academically qualified low- and middle-income students attend his alma mater. The impact of this and other tuition-related gifts is becoming clear.
By Stephanie Beasley
Senior Writer and Fellowship Director
‘It’s Hard to Hate Up Close’: Philanthropy, Polarization, and the Art of Conversation
A StoryCorps program is one of hundreds that promote one-on-one dialogue to bridge divides. Philanthropy is all in, but the evidence is mixed.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Guaranteed Income Is Sweeping the Nation. Will It Last?
Since the pandemic, over 200 guaranteed-income experiments launched across the United States. The Mellon Foundation backed one of them, providing $115 million to support 2,400 New York City artists.
By Sara Herschander
Contributor
Where Billionaires, Celebrities, and the NFL Go to Support Vets
The Bob Woodruff Foundation has drawn praise — and millions in funding — from Craig Newmark, MacKenzie Scott, and Bruce Springsteen.
By Sara Herschander
Contributor