February 17, 2023 "It's a False Dichotomy." Questioning Perpetuity and Spend Down with Clara Miller February 17, 2023/ Mike Scutari Former Heron Foundation President Clara Miller says funders should move beyond dogmatic adherence to both perpetuity and spend-down, toward a more nuanced understanding of aligning money to mission.Read More
February 06, 2023 Think the Gates Foundation Is Too Influential? It May Get a Lot Bigger — Or Never Go Away February 06, 2023/ Michael Kavate The largest foundation in the U.S. will soon spend $9 billion a year. But a look at the numbers suggests that’s still far from enough to fulfill its pledge to spend down, if that’s actually the plan.Read More
January 05, 2023 Bill Gates' Perpetuity Problem January 05, 2023/ Philip Rojc Bill Gates says he wants to spend down in 25 years, but that’s hard to square with the foundation he’s built — a technocratic global health juggernaut that, in an earlier era, would almost certainly have been intended for perpetuity.Read More
August 03, 2022 Philanthropy's Scarcity Mindset Is Hurting the Sector, Not Helping It August 03, 2022/ Philip Rojc Wealthy individuals and institutions say they want to give more. Majorities of the American public and nonprofit professionals want philanthropy to give more. There’s plenty of money to give. What’s the holdup?Read More
June 29, 2022 Here’s How a Longtime Family Foundation Fractured, and Shifted Gears for a Meaningful Final Act June 29, 2022/ Ade Adeniji The Compton Foundation, launched in 1946, is now spending down. Here’s how debates around perpetuity and social justice led to rifts in the founding family, and how one next-gen family member navigated those troubled waters.Read More
June 21, 2022 IP Explainer: Multiyear General Operating Support vs. Project Support June 21, 2022/ IP Staff Philanthropy is difficult to navigate. That’s why we’ve produced a series of explainers to demystify the basics. Today, we look at a key debate: long-term general support versus project support.Read More
June 13, 2022 IP Explainer: What Do the Terms “Perpetuity” and “Spend Down” Mean? June 13, 2022/ IP Staff Philanthropy is difficult to navigate. That’s why we’ve produced a series of explainers to demystify the basics. Today, we look at a key distinction in the foundation world: whether or not a funder plans to stick around.Read More
April 19, 2022 As the Kendeda Fund Prepares to Sunset, Here Are Nine Questions for Executive Director Dena Kimball April 19, 2022/ Michael Kavate The leader of the sunsetting foundation, which was set up by her mother, Diana Blank, joined us for a rare interview. Hear about what she’s learned on the journey to spending it all.Read More
April 18, 2022 Seven Things to Know from a Conversation with John and Timi Sobrato April 18, 2022/ Michael Kavate Their family’s fortune is estimated at nearly $6 billion, and their philanthropy is starting to accelerate. Here’s what John and Timi Sobrato have to say about what drives their giving, the Giving Pledge, DAFs, and more.Read More
July 29, 2021 Funder Spotlight: A Brief Look at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation July 29, 2021/ Philip Rojc This sporty Midwestern funder has over a billion in the bank, big spend-down plans and a fondness for parks and recreation. Here’s what you need to know about the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.Read More