Why It’s So Hard for Foundations to Influence How Others Give
New approaches are essential for philanthropy to pursue, but grant makers can’t promote change unless they focus on gathering data, showing what change looks like, enlisting the right people to promote an innovation, and getting rid of obstacles.
Foundations are taking steps to make sure their giving benefits people of color.
By Michael Anft
Contributor
City College of New York Announces New $290 Million Foundation (Grants Roundup)
Also, Tipping Point Community commits $20 million to improve outcomes for youths who have aged out of foster care in the Bay Area, and Duke Divinity School receives $12 million for Christian leadership programs.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
The Year’s Big Stories in the Nonprofit World That Point to Key Changes Ahead
Concerns about tainted money, undue pressure on fundraisers, the inequality gap, and the role of philanthropy in fixing democracy are among the issues we covered in the past year that will continue as major forces in the year ahead.
By Chronicle Staff
Contributor
Facebook Gives Researchers Too Little Data to Complete Project, Donor Says
A foundation-supported partnership with the social-media giant to study the effects of social media on democracy has stalled because the scholars weren’t satisfied with the data Facebook provided, says John Arnold.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Fidelity Charitable Tops Gates Foundation in 2018 Grant Making, Data Shows
Fidelity’s donor-advised funds made a total of $4.8 billion in grants. Gates distributed $4.6 billion during its 2018 fiscal year.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
Also, the Lilly Endowment plans to give away $108 million through its Charting the Future for Indiana’s Colleges and Universities program, and Yeshiva University will use $18 million to support its graduate Jewish-education program.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Lilly Surpasses Ford as Nation’s 2nd Largest Grant Maker
Lilly’s endowment is invested mainly in the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, which had a strong year in 2018. The Gates Foundation remains the nation’s largest grant maker, with nearly $47 billion in assets.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
MacArthur Boosts Amount It Pays for Grantees’ Overhead to 29%
The move stems from a pledge by the Chicago grant maker and four other foundations to help the defray the costs of things like human resources, fundraising, and accounting.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Nonprofit Leaders Express Worries Over Tax Law and Possible Recession
A survey conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that very few nonprofits have talked to grant makers that support them about the impact of the downturn — but many more would welcome that conversation.
By dan.parks
Contributor
As Hate Attacks Rise, Philanthropy Can Take Steps to Curb Them
Examining what has worked around the world suggests that it is key to build resilient communities where everyone, especially those likely to be targets of hatred, plays a strong role solving problems.
By Nadia Firozvi
Contributor
Foundations, It’s Time to Give 1% of Your Assets to Fix Democracy
Today just one tenth of 1 percent goes to nonprofits that focus on this vital cause. We are all paying the price.
We Should Have Tough Conversations About Justice and Inequality
Foundations need to move away from simply writing checks and find new ways to lift up and support the organizations and people they fund.
By Elizabeth Alexander
Contributor
Bezos Day One Fund Gives $98.5 Million to Address Homelessness in 23 States (Grants Roundup)
Also, the Goizueta Foundation gave $30 million to Emory University, and the Packard Foundation gave $5 million to Hispanics in Philanthropy to help migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Lego Foundation Gives Second $100 Million Grant for Play-Based Programs
The announcement comes a year after the foundation gave $100 million to a collaboration between the Sesame Street Workshop and the International Rescue Committee to help Syrian refugee children.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
How Philanthropy Can Shape the 21st Century Gospel of Wealth: a Move From Generosity to Justice
Thoughts on how to respond to this moment of polarization, divisiveness, and inequality.
By Darren Walker
Contributor