What a Big Gift to the Heritage Foundation Says About the State of Conservative Philanthropy

What a Big Gift to the Heritage Foundation Says About the State of Conservative Philanthropy

The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation recently committed $25 million to the Heritage Foundation, not surprising giving its longtime support. But the gift also reflects tensions in conservative giving.

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Arts, Education, Conservative Policy and More. How the Kovners Are Tapping a Hedge Fund Fortune

Arts, Education, Conservative Policy and More. How the Kovners Are Tapping a Hedge Fund Fortune

Bruce and Suzie Kovner are major backers of arts institutions like the Juilliard School, along with several right-leaning think tanks. The New York couple’s giving holds some interesting twists too.

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In the Climate Fight, Who’s Funding the Eco-Right? More Big Names Than You Might Expect

In the Climate Fight, Who’s Funding the Eco-Right? More Big Names Than You Might Expect

There’s a relatively small list of conservative groups calling for climate action, and they have not drawn a lot of funding. But they do count some big, perhaps surprising names among their backers. Here’s a list.

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Billionaire Paul Singer Is an Activist Investor, GOP Megadonor and Philanthropist. What Does He Fund?

Billionaire Paul Singer Is an Activist Investor, GOP Megadonor and Philanthropist. What Does He Fund?

Ultra-wealthy investor and GOP power broker Paul Elliott Singer has a sizable foundation that backs Jewish causes, conservative think tanks and more. Here’s what we know.

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“Crisis Pregnancy Centers” Mislead Patients. They May Also Be Misleading Some Donors

“Crisis Pregnancy Centers” Mislead Patients. They May Also Be Misleading Some Donors

Crisis Pregnancy Centers use deceptive tactics to prevent people from seeking abortion care. According to a recent NCRP report, they exist in a convoluted web of anti-abortion organizations, making their funding difficult to parse.

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Think Tank Leaders Don't Lack for Ideas, But Fundraising Can Still Be Brutal

Think Tank Leaders Don't Lack for Ideas, But Fundraising Can Still Be Brutal

Think tanks play a vital role in philanthropy’s efforts to incubate ideas and affect the course of policy. But on the left at least, many think tank leaders find themselves perennially chasing grants.

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Five Causes We'd Like to See Conservative Funders Support More Often

Five Causes We'd Like to See Conservative Funders Support More Often

We find plenty to criticize in conservative philanthropy, but that doesn’t mean a publication like IP can’t find some common ground with right-leaning donors. Here are some important causes we’d like to see them focus on.

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Philanthropy Is Backing a Data Hub on Schools and COVID. Critics Fear an Agenda

Philanthropy Is Backing a Data Hub on Schools and COVID. Critics Fear an Agenda

An economist’s work on COVID-19’s impact on schools has drawn controversy, heightened by connections to funders and a conservative think tank. The debate reflects underlying concerns over the role of philanthropy in education.

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As Conservatives Stoke the Critical Race Theory Culture Wars, Where Is Philanthropy?

As Conservatives Stoke the Critical Race Theory Culture Wars, Where Is Philanthropy?

Conservative think tanks and funders are fueling the frenzy over critical race theory. Is it time for progressive philanthropy to respond? We take a look at what’s driving the controversy and what funders are—and are not—doing.

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Who’s Funding the Climate Counter-Movement?

Who’s Funding the Climate Counter-Movement?

Long-running funding from a few dozen foundations helped create and sustain the network of organizations that push climate denialism, disinformation and delay. Movement scholar Robert Brulle fills us in.

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After Trump, What’s Happening at DonorsTrust, the Right’s Favorite DAF?

After Trump, What’s Happening at DonorsTrust, the Right’s Favorite DAF?

Calling itself “the community foundation for liberty,” DonorsTrust channels hundreds of millions from anonymous donors to conservative policy groups. We take a deep dive into how it works and its influence in the sector.

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Abortion Foes Are Scoring More Wins. Here's Who is Funding a Powerful Movement

Abortion Foes Are Scoring More Wins. Here's Who is Funding a Powerful Movement

Some states have seized on the COVID-19 crisis to ban abortion, looking to build on recent conservative gains in restricting abortion access. We take a deep dive into the national and state funding behind a growing anti-abortion push.

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Stand Together: The Koch-Backed Anti-Poverty Group Starting off 2019 with a Bang

Stand Together: The Koch-Backed Anti-Poverty Group Starting off 2019 with a Bang

Stand Together, an anti-poverty organization backed by the conservative Koch network, plans to release $10 to $15 million in grants this month. What’s driving this giving by leading donors on the right and where have grants gone so far?

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The Private Money Shaping Public Conversation About Restricting Immigration

The Private Money Shaping Public Conversation About Restricting Immigration

For years, the organizations that pushed for tougher immigration restrictions operated on the fringes of policy debates. Now, with a powerful friend in the White House, they are enjoying new influence. We take a deep dive into their sources of funding.

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Man Bites Dog? Not Quite. But Koch Support for Criminal Justice Reform is Pretty Interesting

Man Bites Dog? Not Quite. But Koch Support for Criminal Justice Reform is Pretty Interesting

Charles Koch’s foundation has been giving millions for research and policy advocacy aimed at reducing mass incarceration, changing sentencing laws, and other criminal justice reforms. But this funding isn’t as a surprising as it might seem.

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7 Tips for Using Tax-Exempt “Charitable” Gifts to Get Your Candidates Elected

7 Tips for Using Tax-Exempt “Charitable” Gifts to Get Your Candidates Elected

Never mind that nonsense about how a firewall exists between philanthropy and partisan politics. This election day, we’re republishing our handy primer on how donors can sway elections—and get a tax break!

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Levers of Influence: How These Top Donors Back Conservative Causes

Levers of Influence: How These Top Donors Back Conservative Causes

Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein have drawn attention as leading mega-donors to the GOP. But they’ve been equally energetic in pushing their views through philanthropy. Here’s a quick primer.

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War of Ideas: Conservative Intellectuals Have a Friend in This Foundation

War of Ideas: Conservative Intellectuals Have a Friend in This Foundation

The Bradley Foundation funds many elements of the conservative infrastructure. But most notable is its investments in ideas. Its Bradley Prizes, awarded annually, stand as something of a flagship of this grantmaking.

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Extremist: What the Right's Most Influential Philanthropist Really Thinks

Extremist: What the Right's Most Influential Philanthropist Really Thinks

A large country like the U.S. will always have people with fringe viewpoints. But given the way that money can now buy influence and access, it's easier for extremists to shape public life. Robert Mercer is Exhibit A. 

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Fortress Mentality: Which Funders Are Working Against Immigration?

Fortress Mentality: Which Funders Are Working Against Immigration?

With Trump in the White House, lots of funders have been lining up to support immigrant populations. But what about the other side? Here's a look at how philanthropy has been engaged to keep newcomers out.

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