February 02, 2023 Omidyar’s Latest Effort to “Reimagine Capitalism” — Funding Intrepid Journalists February 02, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The Omidyar Network’s Reporters in Residence program is backing journalists who cover economic issues neglected by the mainstream media. It’s the latest philanthropic effort to boost a struggling field — and spur systemic change.Read More
December 13, 2022 What Do We Know About Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ Partner in Philanthropy? December 13, 2022/ Ade Adeniji Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sanchez recently announced their plans to give away most of the Amazon founder’s fortune. What do we know about Sanchez, and how might her interests shape the couple’s future philanthropy? Read More
November 17, 2022 Will Jeff Bezos Disrupt Philanthropy Like He Disrupted Retail? It's Doubtful November 17, 2022/ Philip Rojc Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez announced this week they will give most of the Amazon founder’s fortune away. Staggering dollar amounts aside, we can likely expect a fairly conventional philanthropic project. 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
June 14, 2022 The U.S. Billionaires Funding Work to Keep the Planet Green and Clean June 14, 2022/ Michael Kavate Philanthropy is one of several forces that works to preserve landscapes, fight pollution and improve agricultural practices. Find out who among America’s wealthiest is putting the most toward such causes.Read More
May 10, 2022 What If Five Top Tech Billionaires Emulated MacKenzie Scott's Approach to Giving? May 10, 2022/ Mike Scutari When MacKenzie Scott embarked on her innovative philanthropic project two years ago, we wondered if her approach would capture the imaginations of other tech billionaires. It didn’t. But what if it miraculously did?Read More
February 22, 2022 Getting the Call: A Look at MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Ed Giving February 22, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen What’s it like to get a bolt-from-the-blue gift from MacKenzie Scott? We talk to some recent recipients from the world of K-12 education and explore what this latest round of funding tells us.Read More
February 08, 2022 What We Know About Jeff Bezos' Funding for Education So Far February 08, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen A lot has happened since 2018, when Jeff Bezos first made a $2 billion pledge for early education. We take a look at his giving to date, including a major focus on his expanding network of Bezos Academy preschools.Read More
December 16, 2021 Eight Questions for Danielle Deane-Ryan, Director of Equitable Climate Solutions at Bezos Earth Fund December 16, 2021/ Michael Kavate Jeff Bezos’ $10 billion fund hired a respected veteran of philanthropy and climate justice for a key position in November. Danielle Deane-Ryan discusses what drew her to the role and her views on the state of climate philanthropy.Read More
December 09, 2021 Is Mike Bloomberg's New Charter School Investment a Gift, or Is It Overreach? December 09, 2021/ Connie Matthiessen Mike Bloomberg is doubling down on charter schools and slamming traditional public schools in the process. It’s the latest example of the billionaire exercising tremendous influence through his giving and public platform.Read More
December 08, 2021 What We're Learning From the Latest List of Bezos Earth Fund Grantees December 08, 2021/ Michael Kavate Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ $10 billion fund has released the names of a new crop of grantees, giving fresh insight into the fund’s priorities and approach. Here’s our take on the latest details.Read More
December 02, 2021 The American Billionaires Most Engaged in the Climate Fight December 02, 2021/ Michael Kavate Climate change was a relatively small niche in philanthropy for years, but has been gaining traction among the country’s wealthiest donors. Here are some of the billionaires who are most involved in the issue. Read More
November 11, 2021 Having a Hard Time Keeping Up with All the Recent Climate Pledges? Here’s a List November 11, 2021/ Michael Kavate The recent U.N. climate change summit and the U.N. General Assembly before that prompted quite a few billionaires and foundations to announce new philanthropic commitments. We’ve collected the most notable ones here.Read More
November 03, 2021 Another Big Pledge from Bezos: What We Know About a Commitment to Land and Food Systems November 03, 2021/ Michael Kavate COP26 in Glasgow has unleashed a flurry of philanthropic commitments, and one of the biggest came from Jeff Bezos. Here’s what we know and don’t know about a $2 billion pledge toward land restoration and food systems.Read More
September 13, 2021 The Bezos Earth Fund’s Latest Grants Favor Environmental Justice Veterans and Federal Action September 13, 2021/ Michael Kavate The latest round from Jeff Bezos’ $10 billion fund prioritized environmental justice, including three scholars and activists whose decades in the field have helped shape the movement. Here’s where this $203.7 million will go.Read More
September 13, 2021 Getting to Know the Bezos Earth Fund: 8 Questions for President Andrew Steer September 13, 2021/ Michael Kavate Andrew Steer directs one of the newest and biggest climate philanthropies on the planet: the $10 billion Bezos Earth Fund. We spoke to him about the fund’s latest gifts, its approach to philanthropy and its priorities going forward.Read More
August 04, 2021 For Many, There’s No Such Thing as a Good Billionaire. What Does That Mean for Philanthropy? August 04, 2021/ Philip Rojc Surging fortunes and outrageous behavior are stoking a debate about whether there’s such a thing as a “good billionaire.” Philanthropy often gets caught in the crossfire, signaling a real problem in how the sector is perceived.Read More
July 22, 2021 Back on Earth, Bezos Takes a Disruptive Approach to Decidedly Moderate Philanthropy July 22, 2021/ Philip Rojc Post-spaceflight, Jeff Bezos unveiled his “Courage and Civility Awards” and two awardees. Giving Van Jones and José Andrés control over $100 million apiece, it’s the latest publicity-grabbing move from an unusual mega-donor.Read More
June 16, 2021 The Super-Rich Skate Around Paying Income Tax. Is Philanthropy Complicit? June 16, 2021/ Philip Rojc ProPublica recently divulged just how little some of America’s wealthiest pay in income tax. Many of the culprits are celebrated philanthropists, raising uncomfortable truths about charitable giving among the ultra-wealthy.Read More
March 12, 2021 Who’s Helping Bezos Give Away $10 Billion? Seven Things to Know About the Earth Fund’s New CEO March 12, 2021/ Michael Kavate Here’s what we know about Andrew Steer, the former World Resources Institute head who has been selected to help the Amazon founder give away an unprecedented $10 billion to climate causes by 2030.Read More