January 19, 2023 Four Years After Launch, Here’s How MacArthur’s Lever for Change Is Galvanizing Big Giving January 19, 2023/ Mike Scutari In 2019, the MacArthur Foundation launched Lever for Change, enabling funders to run their own prize competitions. We check in with CEO Cecilia Conrad to discuss how it came together, lessons learned and what’s next.Read More
October 27, 2022 What Can We Learn from the Results of Kellogg's Big Racial Equity Challenge? October 27, 2022/ Philip Rojc Structured as a global competition, Racial Equity 2030 prompted both excitement and criticism when it launched two years ago. Five winners have been revealed, but the work is just beginning. Here are some takeaways.Read More
August 24, 2021 How the Four Winners of Equality Can’t Wait Will Put $40 Million to Work Toward Gender Equity August 24, 2021/ Liz Longley Equality Can’t Wait recently announced the winners of its $48 million contest to support gender equality. We take a closer look at who the four top grantees are, and what an infusion of $10 million will allow them to do. Read More
April 08, 2021 How a Data-Driven Push to End Homelessness Landed MacArthur’s $100 Million Prize April 08, 2021/ Philip Rojc After two years, we have a winner in the second round of MacArthur’s $100 million grant competition. Taking home the prize is Community Solutions and its public-health-inspired approach to functionally ending homelessness.Read More
March 10, 2021 Can Philanthropic Competitions Be Equitable? March 10, 2021/ Cecilia Conrad, Guest Contributor Philanthropy is under heightened scrutiny, and grant competitions in particular are drawing fire. In this guest opinion, Lever for Change CEO Cecilia Conrad explains their benefits and how philanthropists running them can mitigate inequities. Read More
December 08, 2020 How a New Philanthropic Award Seeks to Support Refugees—and Rally More Donors December 08, 2020/ Liz Longley A new philanthropic prize to help refugees looks for bold short- and long-term solutions to the challenges they face—and welcomes like-minded funders.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
May 21, 2020 Can MacArthur’s Grant Competition Hub Use Contests as a Lever for Change? May 21, 2020/ Philip Rojc As 100&Change marches on, so does MacArthur’s vision of grant competitions as a path to progress. The foundation launched Lever for Change last year, and the platform is rolling out a steady stream of contests backed by other donors.Read More