March 10, 2023 These Health Research Funders Are Facing Down the Next Pandemic Threat — Whatever It May Be March 10, 2023/ Paul Karon The Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation and Open Philanthropy are collaborating under a partnership called Pandemic Antiviral Discovery, funding research to develop treatments that may be needed for future pandemics.Read More
February 06, 2023 Think the Gates Foundation Is Too Influential? It May Get a Lot Bigger — Or Never Go Away February 06, 2023/ Michael Kavate The largest foundation in the U.S. will soon spend $9 billion a year. But a look at the numbers suggests that’s still far from enough to fulfill its pledge to spend down, if that’s actually the plan.Read More
January 31, 2023 With Big Backing From MacKenzie Scott and More, Co-Impact Targets Global Gender Inequality January 31, 2023/ Liz Longley Co-Impact seeks to improve health, education and economic outcomes for women across the Global South by tackling underlying forces at play. Here’s why the philanthropic collaborative has been a big draw for funders.Read More
January 05, 2023 Bill Gates' Perpetuity Problem January 05, 2023/ Philip Rojc Bill Gates says he wants to spend down in 25 years, but that’s hard to square with the foundation he’s built — a technocratic global health juggernaut that, in an earlier era, would almost certainly have been intended for perpetuity.Read More
December 21, 2022 Green Heavyweights: The Nation’s 25 Largest Environmental Grantmakers December 21, 2022/ Michael Kavate We compiled a list of the top green funders in the U.S., based on the most recent full year of giving data available. One big takeaway: Living billionaires now dominate the list.Read More
December 19, 2022 Is Tutoring the Answer to COVID Learning Loss? These Funders Want to Find Out December 19, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Pandemic-related learning loss threatens to widen the achievement gap. Arnold Ventures and other funders are backing an ambitious research project to determine if and how high-intensity tutoring can help.Read More
December 12, 2022 Child Marriage Severely Limits Opportunity for Girls. This Powerhouse Trio Is on the Case December 12, 2022/ Liz Longley Michelle Obama, Melinda French Gates and Amal Clooney joined forces this fall to take on child marriage, a human rights violation that affects an estimated 23 girls a minute. Here’s what each philanthropist is bringing to the table.Read More
November 07, 2022 A New Alliance Channels Asia's Growing Philanthropic Heft November 07, 2022/ Liz Longley Top grantmakers from Asia and the U.S. have joined forces on a new Philanthropy Asia Alliance, and are already backing six on-the-ground projects. The alliance highlights Singapore’s role as a hub for Asian philanthropy.Read More
November 01, 2022 Political Will and Philanthropy Align to Address a Malnutrition Crisis November 01, 2022/ Liz Longley A perfect storm of global events is contributing to a malnutrition crisis. Two collaborative efforts to combat hunger launched recently, backed by several private funders. Here are the details. Read More
October 19, 2022 Global Gender Equity Requires Access to the Online Economy. Who’s Backing Digital Financial Inclusion? October 19, 2022/ Liz Longley Entrepreneurship among women is on the rise globally, but lack of digital financial tools is holding many of them back. Some heavy hitters are rallying around an effort to bring about greater digital financial equity. Read More
September 23, 2022 Two Longstanding Partners Seed a New Fund to Stem the Rise of HIV Transmission September 23, 2022/ Liz Longley To bolster the world’s flagging campaign to halt HIV transmission, two funds have joined forces on a new effort to support the delivery of preventative medicine in up to five African countries.Read More
August 11, 2022 Why the Walton Family Foundation, a K-12 Funding Leader, Is Focusing on Career Pathways August 11, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Walton Family Foundation is a giant in the ed funding world, and its priorities are worth keeping an eye on. Here’s the story behind its expanding support for job and career pathways.Read More
August 05, 2022 Success Against a Resilient Foe: Philanthropy’s Long Fight to Eradicate Polio August 05, 2022/ Liz Longley Philanthropic funding has played a major role in a highly successful international effort to combat a disease that was once widespread across the globe. But the fight isn’t over yet.Read More
July 28, 2022 Where Will Warren Buffett’s Billions Go? 6 Questions We're Asking About the Future of His Fortune July 28, 2022/ Philip Rojc Upon his passing, Warren Buffett’s estate is set to fuel over $100 billion in giving within a decade. Beyond that, there is little certainty and growing speculation about how it will play out. Here are some of the big unknowns.Read More
July 26, 2022 This Major Anti-Poverty Collaborative is Doubling Down on Support for Early Childhood July 26, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Blue Meridian’s big investment in HealthySteps demonstrates the funding collaborative’s commitment to early childhood and interventions that disrupt the intergenerational cycle of poverty.Read More
July 14, 2022 Staying the Course: 5 Takeaways From Bill Gates' $20 Billion Infusion into the Gates Foundation July 14, 2022/ Philip Rojc Bill Gates’ ultra-gift of $20 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reaffirms his place as a titan of modern philanthropy. It also signals more of the same to come from the foundation — for better or worse.Read More
July 07, 2022 With Roe v. Wade Overturned, Who Is Funding the Fight for Abortion Rights and Access? July 07, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen After the reversal of Roe v. Wade, there is more need than ever for philanthropy to step up for reproductive justice. Here’s a list of funders who are supporting abortion rights — including a couple of hopefuls.Read More
June 22, 2022 “It Isn't Intractable; There Are Solutions.” How Raikes Backs Equitable School Funding and More June 22, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Started by Microsoft executives Jeff and Tricia Raikes, this foundation takes some unique approaches to ed funding and is zeroing in on the thorny issue of making school funding more equitable.Read More
May 04, 2022 “Healthcare, Not a Crime.” How Ipas Backs Abortion Care Abroad, and What U.S. Funders Can Learn May 04, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen As the U.S. backslides on abortion rights, much of the rest of the world is moving in the other direction. Here’s one abortion care organization that’s been leading that charge, even as support from U.S. philanthropy remains lackluster.Read More
April 29, 2022 Five-Alarm Fire: Should Philanthropy Do More About Attacks on "Critical Race Theory" in Schools? April 29, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen As attacks on anti-racist education in schools continue, some advocates argue they’re part of a broader assault on public education. Funders have been stepping up, but the situation is urgent and the sector could do more.Read More