March 02, 2023 Funding for Fathers: A Chicago-based Family Foundation Shines a Light on Fatherhood March 02, 2023/ Wendy Paris Despite a growing body of evidence that men and boys are struggling, particularly in communities of color, there’s not much funding out there in support of fathers. Here’s a rare example of a big, multi-year donation. Read More
January 10, 2023 This Funders Group Wants Philanthropy to Take the Lead on Nonprofit Worker Wellbeing January 10, 2023/ Wendy Paris Nonprofit workers are burned out, and the wellbeing of those working to make the world a better place has been overlooked for years. A collaborative group of a dozen funders is working to change that. Read More
December 14, 2022 Can Philanthropy Help Create a Golden State for the Golden Years? December 14, 2022/ Wendy Paris Dedicated California funders are helping to design the future of aging in America by boosting new ideas, nudging along state leaders, contributing to good policy, and more.Read More
December 05, 2022 This Philanthropy-Backed Initiative Gives Aspiring Critics of Color a Leg Up December 05, 2022/ Wendy Paris With funding from the Mellon Foundation and others, Critical Minded is on a mission to build visibility for cultural critics of color. It’s aiming high with a New York Times partnership.Read More
November 23, 2022 This Collaborative Fund Is Channeling a "Sea Change" in How America Views Care November 23, 2022/ Wendy Paris Established last year to build and promote care infrastructure, the CARE Fund has signed on numerous big-name grantmakers. Executive Director Anna Wadia is confident about changes she’s seeing in public discourse.Read More
November 21, 2022 With Philanthropy Leading the Way, States Are Planning for an Aging America November 21, 2022/ Wendy Paris States are fertile ground for public-private collaboration to address aging. With California in the lead, here’s how philanthropy’s backing state-based “master plans” to help older people live better.Read More
November 10, 2022 The Intergenerational Philanthropy of the Eisner Foundation November 10, 2022/ Wendy Paris For the Eisners, philanthropy is a family tradition that goes back generations. Their foundation is also one of the few that focuses on intergenerational programming that benefits both youth and seniors. Read More
November 01, 2022 Three Funders Pool Efforts to Allow Older Americans to Age in Place November 01, 2022/ Wendy Paris Many older people want to stay home as they age, but it’s not always easy. Three funders have collaborated to promote PACE, a longstanding but underused model of service that allows older adults to age in place.Read More
October 26, 2022 The Regional Arts Philanthropy Boom, So Cal Style: The OCMA Gets a New Home October 26, 2022/ Wendy Paris The Orange County Museum of Art raised tens of millions in high-dollar donations for its new facility, which opened with great fanfare last month. It’s the latest example of the growing power of regional arts philanthropy. Read More
October 20, 2022 A New Space for Old Folks: An L.A. Funder Is Pioneering the Future of Senior Centers October 20, 2022/ Wendy Paris The Annenberg Foundation gave millions to develop a modern senior center that defies stereotypes about aging. As Americans get older, the team behind the project hopes it will serve as a model for future facilities.Read More
October 07, 2022 This Collaborative Wants to Change How We Talk About Getting Older October 07, 2022/ Wendy Paris To fight ageism and improve policy, the Reframing Aging Initiative leans into the power of language and narrative to shape social outcomes. Here’s why a group of funders has gotten behind its work.Read More
September 30, 2022 Intergenerational Music-Making: How One Funder's Tackling Loneliness and Division September 30, 2022/ Wendy Paris For the Eisner Foundation, funding a community-based orchestra, open to all ages, has helped build ties between the generations, enriching an L.A. neighborhood. It’s a testament to the power of intergenerational programming.Read More
September 15, 2022 This Small Bay Area Funder Is at the Leading Edge of Philanthropy for Aging September 15, 2022/ Wendy Paris San Francisco’s Metta Fund works to improve health outcomes of older adults in underserved communities. The grantmaker is doing a lot of forward-thinking funding around racial equity, trust-based giving and reframing aging.Read More
September 12, 2022 How the Brooklyn Community Foundation Brings Grantmaking to the People September 12, 2022/ Wendy Paris Interest in participatory grantmaking has grown over time, but few have embraced it like the Brooklyn Community Foundation. Here’s a look at how BCF centers community decision-makers in its elder funding and elsewhere.Read More
August 24, 2022 New Funding for Old Age: Grantmakers in Aging Shares New Growth August 24, 2022/ Wendy Paris Philanthropy for aging and older people has been historically neglected, but that seems to be changing. Lindsay Goldman of Grantmakers in Aging fills us in on why and how more donors are engaging with the topic. Read More
July 21, 2022 Cash for Creators: A San Francisco Initiative Offers Guaranteed Income to Working Artists July 21, 2022/ Wendy Paris A new direct giving program aims to close the wealth gap for local artists, or at least cover supplies, with a guaranteed $1,000 a month. The cash has a surprisingly large impact, with some artists even giving a portion away.Read More
June 30, 2022 A New Round of Grants Will Support the Field of Social Work. But Will They Help Social Workers? June 30, 2022/ Wendy Paris The New York Community Trust gave $4.5 million to support the field of social work, an encouraging development at a time of increased reliance on social workers. But what can philanthropy do about the job’s high cost and low wages?Read More
June 27, 2022 Direct Giving Has Surged During COVID. But Approaches Vary, as Does Effectiveness June 27, 2022/ Wendy Paris Charities facilitating cash transfers and other forms of direct aid have grown by leaps and bounds during the pandemic. It’s a promising trend, but not every approach to direct giving is created equal.Read More
June 16, 2022 “Getting Money Into People’s Hands.” The Vetted Direct Giving of L.A.’s The Change Reaction June 16, 2022/ Wendy Paris Through The Change Reaction, donors Greg and Jodi Perlman are channeling hundreds of grants to people with relatively small, urgent financial needs. This approach to hyper-local, vetted direct giving can be life-altering.Read More
October 17, 2019 From Grief to Giving: A Couple Builds a Foundation to Fill a Gap in Health Funding October 17, 2019/ Wendy Paris Genny and Matt Jessee lost their daughter before her fourth birthday to an undiagnosed neurological condition. Since then, they’ve plunged into the world of philanthropy, learning how to raise money, make grants, and build programs. Read More