Audacious Project Awards $900 Million to 9 Social-Change Groups
Also, the Wells Fargo Foundation will give $60 million to address the root causes of racial gaps in homeownership, and the Patrick F. Cadigan Family Foundation gave $49 million to Boston College High School to build a new wellness facility on its campus.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Book Bans Threaten Students Nationwide. Here’s How Philanthropy Can Fight Back.
Grant makers that focus on education, democracy, and culture need to support organizations battling coordinated book banning campaigns in school districts and libraries across the country.
By Suzanne Nossel
Contributor
Most community-based groups led by people of color lack the resources to provide in-depth data about the success of their programs, placing them far behind in competing for grants. If donors truly want to cede more power to these organizations, they need to consider less costly approaches to determining effectiveness.
By Michael Nelson
Contributor
A New Effort Aims to Help Foundations Better Fund Black-Led Nonprofits
Abundance is a collaboration between three Chicago-area grant makers, Chicago Beyond, the Grand Victoria Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
By Jim Rendon
Executive Editor
General Operating Support Is Vital to Advancing Equity, Strengthening Nonprofits, Say Leaders
A panel of experts discusses whether the trend of foundations giving general operating support will continue once the pandemic wanes.
By dan.parks
Contributor
Helping Ukrainians Means Listening to Their Needs — 3 Lessons for Aid Groups From Syria’s War
The massive flow of international support for Ukraine includes millions of dollars in humanitarian aid from dozens of countries. Here’s how to spend it wisely.
Placing More Foster Kids in Institutional Settings Is Not an Acceptable Solution
A foundation leader takes issue with an opinion piece calling for more institutional care for foster children, saying it paints an inaccurate picture of the dangers and fails to highlight other successful approaches.
James Irvine Foundation Commits $107 Million to New Prosperity Program
Also, Apple gave $50 million to create the Supplier Employee Development Fund, and Hologic has pledged $20 million in grants for preventive care for cervical and breast cancers.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Ukrainian Media, Facing Physical and Financial Harms, Needs Immediate and Long-Term Support
Philanthropy has stepped up its giving to media organizations in Ukraine, but those dollars will go further if they don’t focus solely on the current crisis but also advance the larger goals of global press freedom.
By Jeanne Bourgault
Contributor
Philanthropy Must Never Forget What the Pandemic Taught Us About How to Support Public Health
During the past two years, reaching marginalized people with information about Covid-19 has required giving grantees the freedom to use creative and unorthodox strategies. Grant makers must continue to trust these local nonprofits to lead such work and avoid returning to their old tightly controlled practices.
By Susan Watson
Contributor
Biden Proposes Measure to Deter Foundations From Skirting Distribution Rules by Giving to DAFs
Supporters say the proposal would direct more money from private foundations to charities every year. Critics say it would undermine donor privacy, among other harmful effects.
By dan.parks
Contributor
Philanthropy Needs to Own Up to Its Role in Fueling Polarization
This week we are featuring articles from our recent archive on issues that are of special interest to our readers. To effectively address the toxic divisions that are stifling social change, grant makers and the nonprofits they support must acknowledge how their attitudes toward so-called opponents are contributing to the problem — and start listening to those with different perspectives.
By Suzette Brooks Masters
Contributor
An Urgent Response Is Needed to the Dire Staff Shortages Facing Nonprofit Government Contractors
Most government contracts don’t cover the total cost of providing services and restrict funding for expenses such as raises and benefits. Philanthropy needs to offer more flexible funding to make up the difference, and political leaders should enact policies that address contract shortfalls.
Citi Foundation Commits $50 Million to Nonprofit Community-Development Financial Institutions
Also, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund both gave major grants to back gene banks that safeguard the biodiversity of the world’s food supply.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Money laundering doesn’t just make it harder to sanction Vladimir Putin and his cronies for the invasion of Ukraine. It depletes countries of funds needed to address the social problems that grant makers care about. There is no better time for philanthropy to do more to promote change.
By Michael Jarvis and Leslie Lang Tsai
People Who Are Homeless Are Not an Investment Opportunity
The head of a donor group aimed at tackling homelessness objects to a recent op-ed that proposes using endowment investments to solve the housing crisis.