October 27, 2022 How the American Indian College Fund is Strengthening Early Ed in Native Communities October 27, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Bezos Family Foundation is the latest funder to throw its support behind an effort to strengthen early education in Native American communities. The place-based approach emphasizes local strengths and traditions. Read More
October 25, 2022 “Game-Changing” Gifts from MacKenzie Scott Boost Educators’ Ambitions — and Hopes for the Future October 25, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen We’ve seen a flurry of new gifts from MacKenzie Scott lately, including some big K-12 donations. Two recent education grantees say the recognition and affirmation are almost as valuable as the dollars.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 11, 2022 Billionaire Education Philanthropist Barbara Dalio Isn't Giving Up on Disengaged Students October 11, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen In an invisible crisis, an alarming number of students disengage from and ultimately drop out of school. Dalio Education is working to identify these students in Connecticut and help them get back on track before it’s too late.Read More
September 26, 2022 “Our Focus Is on the Children.” A Software Giant Ups Its Commitment to Public Schools September 26, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Salesforce’s latest round of education funding zeroes in on mental health and resilient schools. It’s praiseworthy support, but begs the question: why is so much private backing for public schools even necessary?Read More
September 19, 2022 Celine Coggins Reflects on Her Time at the Helm of Grantmakers for Education September 19, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen After four years at Grantmakers for Education, Executive Director Celine Coggins is moving on. We talked to Coggins about changes she has seen in education philanthropy, changes she’d like to see, and her plans for the future.Read More
September 14, 2022 Inside Jonas Philanthropies: An Evolving Family Funder Backs Nursing, Climate and More September 14, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Jonas Philanthropies remains devoted to underfunded areas like nursing, along with newer focus areas like green giving. We talked to foundation leaders about its direction since the recent passing of its founder and namesake.Read More
September 06, 2022 Despite the Fanfare, Ed Philanthropy’s Investment in Racial Justice Falls Short September 06, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Recent analysis by the Schott Foundation and Candid found that education philanthropy continues to “drastically underfund” K-12 racial justice work, even as a backlash against anti-racist education engulfs schools.Read More
August 30, 2022 Funders Send a Message to Biden on Hunger and Health: Take Bold Action on Root Causes August 30, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen In advance of a national conference — the first of its kind in 50 years — major funders are pushing the Biden administration to tackle the roots of hunger and health disparities in the United States.Read More
August 25, 2022 “Our Next National Health Disaster.” Boosting Research into Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome August 25, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The Open Medicine Foundation supports research into Long COVID, ME/CFS, and other complex, chronic conditions, but research dollars are few and the fallout of these conditions is devastating.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
August 08, 2022 What Went Wrong? A Look Back at the Collapse of a Billionaire-Funded Education Partnership August 08, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Barbara Dalio spearheaded an ambitious public-private partnership for education equity in Connecticut. Not long after, it all went up in smoke. The saga highlights some fraught questions about big donors’ role in K-12 funding.Read More
July 28, 2022 A Fund's Unique Mission Helps Refugees and Immigrants Chart a Better Path to the Future July 28, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The WES Mariam Assefa Fund supports efforts in the U.S. and Canada to give immigrants and refugees a leg up — and a decent paycheck.Read More
July 26, 2022 This Major Anti-Poverty Collaborative is Doubling Down on Support for Early Childhood July 26, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Blue Meridian’s big investment in HealthySteps demonstrates the funding collaborative’s commitment to early childhood and interventions that disrupt the intergenerational cycle of poverty.Read More
July 20, 2022 Philanthropy's Role in the Growing Community Schools Movement July 20, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Community schools, which support academic and nonacademic needs of students and their families, have taken the spotlight. Philanthropy has played an important role in the development and spread of this education model.Read More
July 12, 2022 This Major Funder Hopes to Break the Link Between Homelessness and Incarceration July 12, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen A new partnership run by the MacArthur Foundation and the Urban Institute aims to disrupt the connection between housing instability and time in jail — starting in four communities across the country.Read More
July 07, 2022 With Roe v. Wade Overturned, Who Is Funding the Fight for Abortion Rights and Access? July 07, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen After the reversal of Roe v. Wade, there is more need than ever for philanthropy to step up for reproductive justice. Here’s a list of funders who are supporting abortion rights — including a couple of hopefuls.Read More
June 30, 2022 How Public Health Funders Are Taking on the Epidemic of Gun Violence June 30, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen As gun violence in the U.S. grows worse, health funders are adopting a range of strategies to address it as a public health crisis. Can they make a difference?Read More
June 22, 2022 “It Isn't Intractable; There Are Solutions.” How Raikes Backs Equitable School Funding and More June 22, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Started by Microsoft executives Jeff and Tricia Raikes, this foundation takes some unique approaches to ed funding and is zeroing in on the thorny issue of making school funding more equitable.Read More
June 15, 2022 For Packard, a Family Legacy Fuels Cutting Edge-Care for Mothers and Babies June 15, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The David and Lucile Packard Foundation will provide $100 million to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford to modernize and enhance care for mothers and infants — and carry on Lucile Packard’s legacy.Read More