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
Artist Amy Sherald Gives University $1 Million to Honor Young Black Woman Killed by Police in 2020
Plus, Augustana College and four other universities receive big gifts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
A New Business-Charity Model Could Help Philanthropists Invest Their Money More Effectively
When businesses create their own nonprofits, everyone benefits. The charity gets expertise and volunteers from the for-profit company and the business has a chance to make a real social difference. Philanthropy should push for more such models.
By Lindsay Androski
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.
Biden ‘Billionaire’ Tax Proposal Could Spur Changes in How the Wealthiest Give
The plan would likely bring about more charitable giving, philanthropy experts say, although some tax analysts caution that the plan is still too vague for people to know its impact on donors.
By Maria Di Mento and dan.parks
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
Chicago Financier Ken Griffin Gives $40 Million to N.Y. Museum
Plus, the Atlantic Council and six other nonprofit institutions received big gifts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
I Apologize for My Inartful Language but Not for My Proposal to Address Homelessness
A nonprofit leader agrees that he could have chosen different words to describe his plan for helping those who are unhoused.
Scott has emerged as the most notable practitioner of trust-based philanthropy — the notion that there should be fewer strings attached to donations and that reporting requirements and other expectations that often come with grants from foundations can be excessive.
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
The Latest of MacKenzie Scott’s $12.3 Billion in Giving Shows Strong Support for Equity
Some of the recipients of her philanthropy have included Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
By dan.parks
Contributor
Philanthropy Helped Reduce Institutional Placements for Foster Kids. Now Many Have Nowhere to Go.
Good philanthropic intentions fueled efforts to severely limit the number of foster children placed in group settings. But the movement has gone too far. More such facilities are needed for kids whose mental and behavioral challenges make placing them with families extremely difficult.
By Naomi Schaefer Riley
Contributor
Why Philanthropy’s ‘Free College’ Programs Don’t Always Live Up to Their Promise
New college scholarship programs aim to do what’s proved elusive so far: generate benefits for communities as well as students.
By Drew Lindsay
Contributor
Airbnb Co-Founders Pledge $10 Million for Their Charity’s Ukraine Efforts
Plus, MIT lands $100 million from the Chan brothers, and five universities and the Rhode Island Foundation all received big gifts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor