January 19, 2023 Four Years After Launch, Here’s How MacArthur’s Lever for Change Is Galvanizing Big Giving January 19, 2023/ Mike Scutari In 2019, the MacArthur Foundation launched Lever for Change, enabling funders to run their own prize competitions. We check in with CEO Cecilia Conrad to discuss how it came together, lessons learned and what’s next.Read More
October 27, 2022 What Can We Learn from the Results of Kellogg's Big Racial Equity Challenge? October 27, 2022/ Philip Rojc Structured as a global competition, Racial Equity 2030 prompted both excitement and criticism when it launched two years ago. Five winners have been revealed, but the work is just beginning. Here are some takeaways.Read More
September 15, 2021 With Truth Under Attack Daily, a Big Philanthropic Prize Will Celebrate the Study of History September 15, 2021/ Paul Karon The Dan David Foundation's newly announced cash prize for early- and mid-career scholars is the largest in history scholarship, and comes at a time when university support for the field is shrinking.Read More
April 08, 2021 How a Data-Driven Push to End Homelessness Landed MacArthur’s $100 Million Prize April 08, 2021/ Philip Rojc After two years, we have a winner in the second round of MacArthur’s $100 million grant competition. Taking home the prize is Community Solutions and its public-health-inspired approach to functionally ending homelessness.Read More
March 10, 2021 Can Philanthropic Competitions Be Equitable? March 10, 2021/ Cecilia Conrad, Guest Contributor Philanthropy is under heightened scrutiny, and grant competitions in particular are drawing fire. In this guest opinion, Lever for Change CEO Cecilia Conrad explains their benefits and how philanthropists running them can mitigate inequities. Read More
October 22, 2020 Inside a Legacy Funder’s $90 Million Challenge for Racial Equity October 22, 2020/ Philip Rojc Kellogg is doubling down on its commitment to racial equity, and its latest initiative comes in the form of a $90 million global challenge. There’s a lot to be said for Kellogg’s approach, but the competition has also drawn criticism. Read More