October 14, 2022 With a Higher Ed Partnership, a New Foundation Is Spotlighting Indigenous History and Culture October 14, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Gochman Family Foundation is a new grantmaker founded in 2021. Here’s a look at how it’s joining forces with the Open Society Foundations to launch new Indigenous arts and history programs at Bard College.Read More
January 31, 2022 What We Learned from a Deep Dive into Higher Ed Giving January 31, 2022/ Mike Scutari We recently published an in-depth paper looking at giving to higher education institutions as part of IP’s State of American Philanthropy project. Author Mike Scutari walks through some key takeaways.Read More
October 07, 2021 Eight Questions for Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of the Lumina Foundation October 07, 2021/ Mike Scutari Jamie Merisotis leads one of the sector’s biggest education funders, the Lumina Foundation, and writes critically acclaimed books on the future of work. We chat with him about his influences, advice for nonprofits, and much more.Read More
June 07, 2021 On Funders’ Surging Support for Mental Healthcare and How Universities Can Tap In June 07, 2021/ Mike Scutari A year into the pandemic, funders have turned to universities as key partners in addressing the national mental health crisis. We take a look at where the money is flowing and areas of opportunity for higher ed fundraisers.Read More
May 17, 2021 Here’s How a Community Foundation Works to Get Students “To and Through” College May 17, 2021/ Mike Scutari The pandemic has intensified higher ed funders’ efforts to boost access and success for underrepresented students. We take a closer look at how the California Community Foundation is addressing this urgent need.Read More
February 17, 2021 “A Very Tough Year.” Research Confirms Higher Ed Fundraisers’ Worst Fears About 2020 February 17, 2021/ Mike Scutari As one might expect, higher education fundraisers had to scramble to change their best-laid plans amid the unprecedented events of 2020. With Jeff Martin of research firm EAB, we dig into data and key findings from a new study.Read More
August 20, 2020 With University Fundraising in Meltdown, the Usual Ways of Doing Things Won't Cut It August 20, 2020/ Mark J. Drozdowski The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting higher education like no other economic downturn has before, and fundraisers are scrambling to respond. Here are four strategies that cut against conventional wisdom.Read More
May 14, 2020 A Higher Ed Funder Pivots, Recognizing Racial Inequity as its Biggest Barrier May 14, 2020/ Julia Travers Higher education funders are increasingly recognizing that racial equity is an unavoidable, core part of their work. The Lumina Foundation adopted a new racial equity focus as part of its efforts to reach an ambitious national goal by 2025.Read More
February 12, 2020 In the Latest Big Campus Environmental Gift, a Push to Cross Boundaries February 12, 2020/ Julia Travers Higher ed donors are stepping up support for programs focused on conservation, climate change and other green issues. A donation for a new interdisciplinary center at William & Mary shows how such gifts can play out.Read More
October 14, 2019 A Look Inside the College Futures Foundation’s Bay Area Giving October 14, 2019/ Alyssa Ochs The College Futures Foundation is a Bay Area-based funder that looks at higher education needs throughout the state. Here’s what local grantseekers should know about this foundation’s current strategy.Read More
January 29, 2019 “We Need to Open the Doors.” A Campus Gift to Boost Diversity Among Environmental Leaders January 29, 2019/ Julia Travers A $20 million gift seeks to increase accessibility for underrepresented and first-generation students to Duke’s School of the Environment. It comes at a moment when there’s growing acknowledgement that green groups must do more to diversify their ranks in an era of rapid demographic change. Read More