March 09, 2023 Salesforce Stumbles, but Its Equity-Focused Philanthropy Marches On March 09, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The tech giant has hit rocky terrain of late, but the company’s philanthropy continues to move millions. Its Catalyst Fund is supporting Black-led nonprofits promoting leadership and job skills for young people of color. Read More
March 09, 2023 This Midwest Real Estate Couple Has Been Cutting Some Big Checks. Here's Where the Money's Going March 09, 2023/ Ade Adeniji Ohio-based Harry and Linda Fath gave $275 million in 2022, up from just $50 million in 2017. We spoke with Harry Fath about what they support, how they operate, and why they will never have a foundation.Read More
February 22, 2023 This Fund Has Backed Native American Students for 50 Years. Despite Strides, It Faces Huge, Unmet Need February 22, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Native Forward, the largest organization supporting Native American scholars in the U.S., is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Even after a gift from MacKenzie Scott doubled its budget, it is able to fund just 14% of applicants.Read More
February 16, 2023 A Family Foundation Tapping a Fast Food Fortune Just Got a Lot Richer. Here’s What to Expect February 16, 2023/ Ade Adeniji The foundation of Peter Buck and his wife Carmen, both deceased, recently inherited a 50% stake in Subway, which could be worth billions. Here’s what we know about the family’s philanthropy and interests. Read More
January 06, 2023 Remembering Barbara Walters’ Philanthropy, and What to Expect Next January 06, 2023/ Ade Adeniji An iconic journalist and TV personality, Barbara Walters was also an active philanthropist. Here’s an overview of what she supported and some details on her giving vehicle, the Dena Charitable Trust.Read More
January 04, 2023 Backed by a Broad Swath of Patient Funders, Early Ed Advocates Scored a Major Win in New Mexico January 04, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen As support for early childhood education stalls in Washington, advocates and funders are focusing on the states. In New Mexico, a range of funders providing both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) support contributed to a big win.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 07, 2022 Backed by a Billionaire Couple, a Chicago Nonprofit Takes a Community-Led Approach to Youth Equity December 07, 2022/ Ade Adeniji Funded by Mark and Kimbra Walter, Chicago Beyond draws upon the work of veteran principal Liz Dozier. The group is investing millions in community-led initiatives, while challenging top-down dynamics in K-12 philanthropy.Read More
November 30, 2022 To Combat an "Urgent Threat," a Donor Couple Makes a Big Commitment to News Literacy November 30, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Billionaire couple Melanie and Richard Lundquist are throwing their support behind the News Literacy Project to arm students and the public against mis- and disinformation.Read More
November 23, 2022 This Collaborative Fund Is Channeling a "Sea Change" in How America Views Care November 23, 2022/ Wendy Paris Established last year to build and promote care infrastructure, the CARE Fund has signed on numerous big-name grantmakers. Executive Director Anna Wadia is confident about changes she’s seeing in public discourse.Read More
November 22, 2022 A Restaurant Giant Steps Up for Students — One Classroom at a Time November 22, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the college sweethearts who started Panda Express, have directed millions toward education and healthcare for low-income children and youth through the company’s foundation, Panda Cares.Read More
November 17, 2022 Will Jeff Bezos Disrupt Philanthropy Like He Disrupted Retail? It's Doubtful November 17, 2022/ Philip Rojc Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez announced this week they will give most of the Amazon founder’s fortune away. Staggering dollar amounts aside, we can likely expect a fairly conventional philanthropic project. Read More
November 17, 2022 Why a California Health Foundation is Backing Graduate Education Loans for Dreamers November 17, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen For young adults brought to the U.S. when they were children, paying for college can be prohibitively expensive. That’s especially true for graduate school, so Cal Wellness is backing a unique fund that provides financial aid.Read More
November 09, 2022 A Tech-Focused Family Foundation Takes a Cerebral Approach to Education Funding November 09, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Siegel Family Endowment’s inquiry-driven approach to education philanthropy reflects its founder’s scientific roots. Here’s how the foundation makes its decisions and what it funds.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 02, 2022 "Downright Dangerous." How a Donor Couple is Tackling the Thorny Issue of Wealth Inequality November 02, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen James Stone is one of a growing number of wealthy donors highly concerned about inequality. The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation is supporting research examining the forces that create and perpetuate it.Read More
November 01, 2022 Six Questions for Dr. Laura Gerald of Reynolds Trust, as it Reckons With its Past and Plans for the Future November 01, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen North Carolina’s Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust announced it is divesting from tobacco — and taking a frank look at its history and the source of its wealth. Dr. Laura Gerald unpacks the process and the result.Read More
October 27, 2022 How the American Indian College Fund is Strengthening Early Ed in Native Communities October 27, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Bezos Family Foundation is the latest funder to throw its support behind an effort to strengthen early education in Native American communities. The place-based approach emphasizes local strengths and traditions. Read More
October 25, 2022 How Daniel and Bonnie Tisch Support New York Nonprofits Through the Damial Foundation October 25, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs Here's what nonprofits should know about the Tisch family and how they award grants in New York City through their Damial Foundation.Read More
October 25, 2022 “Game-Changing” Gifts from MacKenzie Scott Boost Educators’ Ambitions — and Hopes for the Future October 25, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen We’ve seen a flurry of new gifts from MacKenzie Scott lately, including some big K-12 donations. Two recent education grantees say the recognition and affirmation are almost as valuable as the dollars.Read More