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
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
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 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
October 20, 2022 The Logan Legacy: Three Brothers Carry on the Philanthropic Work Their Parents Started October 20, 2022/ Celia Wexler With roots in Chicago, the Logan brothers — Richard, Jonathan and Daniel — all have their own foundations. They’re each carrying on and evolving a long legacy of giving that began with their late parents, David and Reva Logan.Read More
October 18, 2022 Education and Access: Inside a Black Wall Streeter's Emerging Giving October 18, 2022/ Ade Adeniji Frank Baker’s giving so far has focused on education and leveling the playing field both at predominantly white institutions and HBCUs. We sat down with Baker to find out more about his philanthropy to date and what’s to come.Read More
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
October 12, 2022 Outcomes and Accountability: How Arnold Ventures Is Working to Reform a “Broken” Higher Ed System October 12, 2022/ Mike Scutari President Biden’s loan forgiveness plan will make a dent in the student debt crisis, but it won’t solve it. Kelly McManus explains some of the policy solutions Arnold Ventures is pursuing in its expanding higher ed program.Read More
September 28, 2022 Three Things to Know About a Big Gift From Airbnb Billionaire Brian Chesky September 28, 2022/ Ade Adeniji One of the three Airbnb founders, Chesky is worth more than $8 billion and signed the Giving Pledge in his 30s. What can we expect from his philanthropy? A donation in partnership with Barack Obama offers some insight.Read More
September 16, 2022 Julian Robertson’s Philanthropic Tiger Cubs: How Five Hedge Fund Founders Give September 16, 2022/ Michael Kavate The hedge fund legend was famous for mentoring young managers, and a good number of his disciples have followed in his philanthropic footsteps. Here are the biggest of the bunch.Read More
September 13, 2022 “From the Ground Up.” A Funder Looks to Translate Social Justice Scholarship Into Action September 13, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Marguerite Casey Foundation recently doubled down on its efforts to support social justice academics whose ideas can help shift power. We take a closer look at how the Seattle-based funder is approaching this work.Read More
August 11, 2022 Why the Walton Family Foundation, a K-12 Funding Leader, Is Focusing on Career Pathways August 11, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Walton Family Foundation is a giant in the ed funding world, and its priorities are worth keeping an eye on. Here’s the story behind its expanding support for job and career pathways.Read More
July 15, 2022 Six Funders Who Are Prioritizing Diversity in STEM Higher Ed July 15, 2022/ IP Staff Much of the philanthropic funding for higher education in STEM still fails to address disparities in those fields. Here are a few of the grantmakers we’re tracking who have been funding DEI in STEM higher ed.Read More
June 30, 2022 Six Questions for Bill Moses, Managing Director of the Kresge Foundation’s Education Program June 30, 2022/ Mike Scutari Bill Moses oversees the Kresge Foundation’s higher ed grantmaking, which supports historically underrepresented students. We checked in with him to discuss his career trajectory, the sector’s biggest challenges, and more.Read More
May 18, 2022 Philanthropists Make a Splash Paying off Student Loans, but Few Are Pushing for Debt Cancellation May 18, 2022/ Philip Rojc Students are naturally euphoric when a big donor steps in and pays off their debt. But even as the federal government mulls cancellations that might help millions, philanthropic support for advocacy around the issue is paltry at best.Read More
May 06, 2022 Here’s the Problem with John and Ann Doerr’s $1.1 Billion Climate Gift to Stanford University May 06, 2022/ Michael Kavate Billionaire venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife, Ann, made a record-breaking gift for a new climate school at Stanford. Climate funding on this level is needed, but is an elite institution really the best destination for it?Read More
May 05, 2022 How Eight Grantmakers Fund Civic Engagement and Democracy on College Campuses May 05, 2022/ Mike Scutari Giving for civic engagement on campus is a small but increasingly important component of the higher ed funding ecosystem. Here’s a list of eight key grantmakers and how they approach that work.Read More
April 21, 2022 Funder Spotlight: Five Things to Know About the Moody Foundation, One of the Largest in Texas April 21, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Galveston, Texas-based Moody Foundation is a pivotal player in a state full of deep-pocketed grantmakers. We take a deep dive into its history, funding priorities, and how nonprofits can access support.Read More
April 05, 2022 “Make Their Voices Heard.” Behind a Funder’s Efforts to Boost College Student Civic Engagement April 05, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Kresge Foundation recently announced a new round of grants supporting college student civic engagement. Kresge’s William Moses explains why this work is so important for democracy—and higher education.Read More