September 01, 2021 Four Ways the Philadelphia Health Partnership Addresses Disparities in Care and Well-Being September 01, 2021/ Julia Travers Philadelphia Health Partnership brings an upstream approach to its grantmaking and believes in working across sectors. It funds an innovative partnership between public interest lawyers and medical professionals, among other programs.Read More
August 17, 2021 Three Ways the Harbus Foundation Keeps Bostonians Learning August 17, 2021/ Julia Travers Through the Harbus Foundation, Harvard Business School students have been giving back to the local community since 1997. Here’s how grants are made and what kinds of nonprofits get funded.Read More
October 06, 2020 Latest Effort to “Decolonize Wealth” Moves Cash to Hard-Hit Native Communities October 06, 2020/ Julia Travers A new initiative to support Native American communities hit hard by COVID-19 will offer direct cash relief, a funding strategy that’s growing in popularity. We spoke to Edgar Villanueva about the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s latest move.Read More
October 06, 2020 When Eagles Hatch: Native Americans in Philanthropy and Native Youth Activism October 06, 2020/ Julia Travers A small cadre of foundations and nonprofits has been expanding efforts to improve understanding and funding for Native -related causes. One important focus is fueling Native youth activism, work that has been been picking up steam in recent years. Read More
October 06, 2020 “Disrupting the Legacy of Colonialism.” An Oregon Funder Partners With Tribes on the Environment October 06, 2020/ Julia Travers The Meyer Memorial Trust in Oregon has been organizing its grantmaking around equity for a couple of years now. In its most recent round of environmental grants, it launched several collaborations with Native American tribes that are worth a close look. Read More
October 06, 2020 “It’s Time for an Intervention.” Edgar Villanueva Has a Message for Philanthropy October 06, 2020/ Julia Travers In his new book, Decolonizing Wealth, Villanueva critiques a sector that he argues is based on enduring colonial structures of power. But, he says he’s coming from a place of love and a belief that money can be used as a healing cultural tool.Read More
September 01, 2020 Philanthropy Often Overlooks Disability Rights. Can a Coalition of Major Funders Close the Gap? September 01, 2020/ Julia Travers Thirty years after the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, people with disabilities face a wide range of inequities, now worsened by COVID-19. Can a philanthropic collaborative spur more disability-centered giving?Read More
August 05, 2020 “Support us as Problem-Solvers.” A Call to Include Girls and Women of Color in Racial Justice Funding August 05, 2020/ Julia Travers Funding for racial justice is reaching new heights—how much of it will benefit Black women and girls? LaTosha Brown of the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium shares her vision for more and better funding for Black girls.Read More
July 15, 2020 Staffing Up and Moving Money, Grantmakers for Girls of Color Charts a New Course July 15, 2020/ Julia Travers As Grantmakers for Girls of Color enters its sixth year, the philanthropic resource is now a staffed nonprofit and a grantmaker. We spoke to its first executive director, Monique Morris, about her vision and the need for more funding.Read More
July 09, 2020 The Movement for Black Lives Is on the Rise—and Funders Are Paying Attention July 09, 2020/ Julia Travers The Movement for Black Lives has served as a national platform for the Black Lives Matter movement since 2014. We spoke with M4BL’s Charles Long about the group’s fundraising and future ambitions in this pivotal moment.Read More
July 07, 2020 How Two Philanthropic Powerhouses Are Teaming Up to Advance Gender Equality July 07, 2020/ Julia Travers A new $30 million grant contest declares that “Equality Can’t Wait.” What’s driving Melinda Gates and Mackenzie Bezos to push for accelerated progress on gender equality in the U.S., and what are they looking for in applicants?Read More
June 23, 2020 A Chicago Family Fund Keeps the Focus on Climate With Another Big Gift to Duke June 23, 2020/ Julia Travers A donor-advised fund in Chicago made another big payout to a university climate program in the South. We look at why climate funding is important during a pandemic, and how Duke University will put these new funds to use.Read More
June 17, 2020 Amid Demands for Change, Here’s How Philanthropy Can Back Underfunded Black-Led Groups June 17, 2020/ Julia Travers Police violence against black communities is spurring new attention and funding for racial justice. Sector leaders and new research illuminate just how underfunded black-led groups are, and how funders can best support them.Read More
June 09, 2020 How Ford’s New Global Fellows Will Tackle Inequality in a Critical Moment June 09, 2020/ Julia Travers Ford’s new fellowship will support social justice leaders around the globe. We spoke to a foundation leader about how the pandemic is changing the frame of the program and adding urgency to its mission.Read More
June 03, 2020 New Rapid, Flexible Funding for Girls and Women's Activism During a Pandemic June 03, 2020/ Julia Travers Girls and young women face amplified risks during crises like COVID-19, but funding for them is insufficient. A new grantmaking collaborative is stepping up to provide rapid, flexible funds to activist groups led by girls and young women globally.Read More
May 27, 2020 The Center of Our Lives: Behind the Visa Foundation’s Support for Women in Business May 27, 2020/ Julia Travers The Visa Foundation recently announced $210 million in new grants and investments, with women entrepreneurs at the center. Foundation President Graham Macmillan explains the motivation and strategies behind this giving.Read More
May 21, 2020 The Power of the Hive: New Climate Fund Centers Southern Women of Color May 21, 2020/ Julia Travers A new funding effort aims to unite gender and climate justice movements in the South, a region that philanthropy often overlooks. Women of color are the driving force behind this initiative, which just released its first grants.Read More
May 19, 2020 “Heartbroken and Stunned.” NoVo’s Program Upheaval Sows Anger and Uncertainty May 19, 2020/ Julia Travers The NoVo Foundation, a top funder of marginalized girls and women, is laying off several staff and ending multi-year grants during the pandemic. Critics, funders and field leaders respond, signaling deep worry and disappointment.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
May 12, 2020 Giving Circles Thrive on Personal Connection. Here’s How They Are Adapting During COVID-19 May 12, 2020/ Julia Travers Giving circles have deep personal ties with the communities they serve and rely heavily on in-person gatherings. How are circle members around the U.S. showing up for each other and their grantees during this pandemic?Read More