Once-Secretive Barr Foundation Raises Profile in Boston
Long known for keeping its gifts anonymous and its grant process closely guarded, the largest family foundation in Massachusetts is taking an active public-policy role and emphasizing openness, writes The Boston Globe.
Gates Foundation Commits $776 Million for Work on Hunger
The six-year spending plan announced Thursday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation doubles the philanthropy’s commitment on tacking hunger and will focus on improving nutrition for women and children, the Thomson Reuters Foundation reports.
IKEA to Give $445 Million-Plus to Combat Climate Change
The furniture giant and its foundation announced a commitment Thursday to give to efforts that help poor countries cope with the effects of global warming, Reuters reports.
Cleveland Foundation Gets $23 Million From Builder’s Estate
The donation from the estate of construction executive Albert Higley Jr. boosts a fund he and his late wife established at the foundation to support social-service groups supporting the needy, writes The Plain Dealer.
Grants Roundup: Duke Endowment Awards $15.3 Million for Health Research
Other awards include $2 million in grants to Detroit organizations from the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Red Cross Criticized for Relief Efforts in Haiti
Despite public celebration of its work following the 2010 earthquake, the Red Cross has repeatedly failed in its efforts there, according to ProPublica.
New Charity Will Honor Beau Biden’s Efforts to Protect Children From Abuse
The nonprofit will raise money to help both groups and individuals, reports The News Journal, of Delaware. As the state’s attorney general, Mr. Biden, who died Saturday, formed a committee to focus on catching and prosecuting child sex offenders.
10 Families Join the ‘Giving Pledge’
The newest members include the founder of Chobani yogurt, a co-founder of Groupon, and a former Berkshire Hathaway executive.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Opinion: Philanthropy Should Do More to Improve Quality of Life as People Age
An article in The Wall Street Journal says only 2 percent of foundation money goes toward issues resulting from longer lifespans and suggests ways to attract more money and attention to keeping older people active and involved.
Alumni and Foundation Give $35 Million to Wooster College in Ohio
About two-thirds of the donated money is earmarked for a new life-sciences building at the College of Wooster, reports The Plain Dealer.
Flouting Conventional Wisdom: an Influential Donor’s Legacy
Randolph Richardson played a pivotal role in advancing conservative causes, in part by his belief that grant makers were essentially talent scouts.
By Leslie Lenkowsky
Contributor
Explore Foundation Assets and Giving
A Chronicle study of giving among the 50 largest foundations finds that grants paid jumped 8.2 percent from 2013 to 2014.
Foundations Join Forces to Fight Inequality
Dozens of America’s biggest grant makers are attacking the problem on several fronts. But will they really make a difference?
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Forecast for Major Funds: Increased Giving in 2015
Assets at the nation’s largest 31 foundations topped $148.7 billion last year as grant makers steered more than $7.8 billion toward nonprofits, according to a new Chronicle survey.
By Alex Daniels and Lance Lambert
Feeling Flush, Hewlett Boosts Giving 80%
The foundation is channeling more money to nonprofits whose grants it had to trim during the financial crisis.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
‘Investment Club’ of Foundations Pays Off for Nonprofits
Per Scholas, a work-force training organization in the South Bronx, is among the beneficiaries of a unique arrangement in which participating grant makers play a more active role in program-related investment decisions.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor