January 11, 2023 How Philanthropy Might Surprise Us in 2023 January 11, 2023/ Philip Rojc Philanthropy can be a bit stodgy, but especially in recent years, the sector has kept us guessing. Here are a few ways philanthropy might surprise us in 2023 — some good, some not so good.Read More
December 19, 2022 Climate Justice Pledge Keeps Winning New Commitments, but Many Funders Still Silent December 19, 2022/ Michael Kavate The Climate Funders Justice Pledge has helped shift $60 million in new commitments to BIPOC-led climate groups since early 2021. Still, despite its intentionally low bar, many top grantmakers have yet to sign on.Read More
November 14, 2022 What Have Philanthropies Pledged So Far During the UN Climate Summit? November 14, 2022/ Michael Kavate This year’s United Nations climate summit, known as COP27, has played host to a number of philanthropic announcements, some more substantive than others. Here’s a breakdown.Read More
October 31, 2022 Climate Funding Surged Last Year Thanks to Pledges from Billionaires and Major Foundations October 31, 2022/ Michael Kavate A new report from ClimateWorks Foundation shows a 25% increase in philanthropic support for climate change mitigation between 2020 and 2021. It’s a welcome development, but the momentum must continue.Read More
October 21, 2022 Climate Philanthropy Has a New Power Couple in Steve and Connie Ballmer October 21, 2022/ Michael Kavate A $217 million commitment from the Ballmer Group marks the mega-donors’ first foray into climate giving. With the couple’s son Sam Ballmer taking the lead, big grants are already starting to flow.Read More
September 14, 2022 Inside Jonas Philanthropies: An Evolving Family Funder Backs Nursing, Climate and More September 14, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Jonas Philanthropies remains devoted to underfunded areas like nursing, along with newer focus areas like green giving. We talked to foundation leaders about its direction since the recent passing of its founder and namesake.Read More
September 01, 2022 The Mixed Philanthropic Legacy of Julian Robertson, a Standout Wall Street Giver September 01, 2022/ Philip Rojc Julian Robertson, the famed hedge fund investor and onetime “wizard of Wall Street” who passed away last week, was also an enthusiastic philanthropist. While he moved a lot of money out the door, his giving also had its weak points.Read More
July 29, 2022 The Rockefeller Foundation Is Going All-In on Climate Change. Could Others Follow? July 29, 2022/ Michael Kavate Coming from one of the nation’s most storied philanthropies, founded on oil wealth, this announcement has symbolic heft. Will Rockefeller’s bolder stance encourage others to take up the mantle of climate funder?Read More
July 18, 2022 Summer Reading for Climate Philanthropists (and Other Earth-Based Funders) July 18, 2022/ Michael Kavate They might not exactly be beach reads, but these five resources on climate philanthropy are worth a look this summer — both for those already focused on climate giving and those just wading in.Read More
July 11, 2022 Eight Things to Know About a Legendary British Investor’s Climate-Focused Philanthropy July 11, 2022/ Michael Kavate Three years ago, Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham committed 98% of their roughly $1 billion investing fortune to climate action. Here’s where the money’s been going so far.Read More
May 23, 2022 Five Things John Doerr’s Book Tells Us About His Climate Philanthropy and Politics May 23, 2022/ Michael Kavate John Doerr’s star is rising as a climate mega-donor after a recent $1.1 billion donation to Stanford. In this review of his latest book, “Speed & Scale,” we look at what’s informing his climate giving — and what he’s leaving out.Read More
May 10, 2022 More Funders Are Digging Agriculture These Days. This New Affinity Group Is Digging Deep May 10, 2022/ Michael Kavate Funders for Regenerative Agriculture, or FORA, has seen membership shoot up over the past two years. Its growth reflects burgeoning interest in agriculture across philanthropy.Read More
May 09, 2022 What Do Gates, Zuckerberg and Company Have in Common? An Obsession with “Breakthroughs” May 09, 2022/ Michael Kavate Billionaire tech donors like chasing “breakthroughs,” especially when it comes to their climate giving. What does this oft-repeated nomenclature say about their mindset—and what’s missing from their philanthropy?Read More
May 06, 2022 Here’s the Problem with John and Ann Doerr’s $1.1 Billion Climate Gift to Stanford University May 06, 2022/ Michael Kavate Billionaire venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife, Ann, made a record-breaking gift for a new climate school at Stanford. Climate funding on this level is needed, but is an elite institution really the best destination for it?Read More
April 25, 2022 MacKenzie Scott Gave Big to International Climate Justice Regrantors. Who Else Is Out There? April 25, 2022/ Michael Kavate There’s a lot of new money in the U.S. climate ecosystem — and a lot of need abroad. Here are eight funds that weren’t on MacKenzie Scott’s game-changing list last month.Read More
April 12, 2022 Seven Questions with Helen Mountford, President and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation April 12, 2022/ Michael Kavate The international climate intermediary fund has a new leader who envisions some “shifts and accelerations” for the grantmaker. We spoke with her about those plans and more.Read More
April 04, 2022 Transit Groups and Allies Ask Philanthropy to Step Up Movement Support at a Critical Moment April 04, 2022/ Michael Kavate To make the most of new federal infrastructure funding, urban mobility groups argue that philanthropy needs to back a full spectrum of clean transportation options—not just vehicle electrification.Read More
February 24, 2022 Lots of Climate Funders Back One of Real Estate’s Most Influential Professional Networks. What Gives? February 24, 2022/ Michael Kavate Why do so many climate funders back the Urban Land Institute, a major professional network for the emissions-heavy real estate sector? We take a look at this intriguing corner of philanthropy.Read More
February 10, 2022 Funder Spotlight: All About the Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program February 10, 2022/ Michael Kavate The Kresge Foundation is one of the top environmental funders in the country—and one of the most focused on equity. We take a look at what it supports through its environment program and why.Read More
January 25, 2022 Funder Spotlight: Rockefeller Foundation Focuses Its Climate Change Action Abroad January 25, 2022/ Michael Kavate Founded by a man who made a nearly unprecedented fortune building an oil monopoly, Rockefeller Foundation is now a major climate change funder, especially abroad. Here’s what it cares about and why.Read More