January 13, 2023

This Small Family Foundation Had the Labor Movement’s Back Before It Was Cool

January 13, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe

While foundation support for workers’ rights can be scarce, General Service Foundation has been on the case since the 1990s. Now, it's taking things a step further by investing its endowment in alignment with the cause.

September 07, 2022

Durfee Isn’t Alone: Here’s Who’s Moving Money to Support the Wellbeing of Nonprofit Staff

September 07, 2022/ Dawn Wolfe

A search for funders offering support similar to the Durfee Foundation’s Lark Awards, which provide relief to exhausted nonprofit staff, only turned up a handful of names. Here’s a rundown.

December 20, 2021

IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for U.S. Democracy

December 20, 2021/ IP Staff

In IP’s weekly briefings, we provide an overview of what’s happening in a particular area of philanthropy, loaded with links to our past coverage and State of American Philanthropy research. This week: U.S. democracy.

December 14, 2021

Funder Spotlight: How General Service Foundation Champions Social Justice

December 14, 2021/ Ade Adeniji

In our latest IP Funder Spotlight, we look at how the social-justice-oriented General Service Foundation has evolved to support movements holistically, while the founders’ descendants continue to play active roles.

March 17, 2021

How Dimple Abichandani Is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy

March 17, 2021/ Mandy Van Deven

Mandy Van Deven talks with General Service Foundation Executive Director Dimple Abichandani about the benefits of not playing by the rules and how to build a culture of trust.

March 09, 2021

Seven Funders Behind the Movement for a Higher Minimum Wage

March 09, 2021/ Philip Rojc

A minimum wage hike may no longer be part of the first Biden-era stimulus bill, but economic justice advocates still have a cadre of dedicated funders in their corner as the fight continues. Here are seven examples from philanthropy.

September 29, 2020

Our Democracy Is Under Attack and Philanthropy Needs to Act Now

September 29, 2020/ Dr. Carmen Rojas and Dimple Abichandani, Guest Contributors

American democracy is facing multiple attacks, from denial of voting rights to criminalization of protest. In this guest post from September, two foundation leaders urged the sector to take rapid action in support of those protecting democratic institutions.

June 19, 2020

Inside the Foundation Payout Debate: How Crisis and Opportunity Are Forcing Change

June 19, 2020/ Michael Kavate

Foundations have clung to 5% payout for decades, but an escalating debate over how much they give has become the “defining question in philanthropy today.” We explore the aligning forces pushing the sector to move more money.