November 02, 2022 "Downright Dangerous." How a Donor Couple is Tackling the Thorny Issue of Wealth Inequality November 02, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen James Stone is one of a growing number of wealthy donors highly concerned about inequality. The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation is supporting research examining the forces that create and perpetuate it.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
May 19, 2022 This Texas Billionaire Is a Major K-12 Donor. Here are Four Things to Know About His Foundation May 19, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Texas billionaire Charles Butt is a significant donor to education in the state and beyond, with an emphasis on supporting public schools. Here’s a crash course on his foundation, which gives millions to the cause annually.Read More
April 13, 2022 A Quick Look at an Anti-Poverty Funder Focused on Chicago April 13, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs While Alex Ross’s New Coast Foundation does not have a website and maintains a low public profile, here is what we know about this funder and how it gives locally in Chicago.Read More
April 11, 2022 A Funder Effort to Fight Poverty—One Taxpayer at a Time April 11, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Educating people about tax credits can be an effective way for funders to leverage their dollars for a great deal of poverty-fighting power. And there’s a dedicated funder network out there helping to lead the charge.Read More
January 25, 2022 How Detroit Funders Teamed Up to Help Families Access the Child Tax Credit January 25, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen The expanded Child Tax Credit has substantially reduced child poverty, but many low-income families are not able to access the funds. Four philanthropies in Detroit created a unique campaign to help.Read More
December 01, 2021 Quiet But Extensive: What New Data on the Ballmers' Anti-Poverty Grantmaking Tells Us December 01, 2021/ Philip Rojc A new grants database offers further insights into the giving of billionaire couple Steve and Connie Ballmer, who have moved hundreds of millions to a wide variety of anti-poverty efforts. But are they still playing it too safe?Read More
May 11, 2021 Funders Fighting Child Poverty See Biden Agenda as a Potential Game-Changer May 11, 2021/ Connie Matthiessen Philanthropic leaders who’ve worked for years to eliminate child poverty see the Biden administration’s policies and proposals as a partial victory and a long-awaited opportunity for progress.Read More
March 29, 2021 What Boston Organizations Should Know About the GreenLight Fund March 29, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs As the original GreenLight Fund, GreenLight Boston is an active funder of youth and education in the city. Here are some details about GreenLight Boston and how to approach this grantmaker.Read More
June 23, 2020 With Gates in the Lead, Foundations Aim to Shift the Narrative on Poverty in the U.S. June 23, 2020/ Philip Rojc The Gates Foundation’s first U.S.-based Grand Challenge started in 2019, but its focus on perceptions of poverty is even more relevant today. What do its 28 grant recipients and eight funders say about anti-poverty philanthropy?Read More