August 16 marks the two-year anniversary of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law. Although the IRA represents the world’s largest investment in clean energy and climate action to date, it also includes significant … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Is Wasting Time and Money on Carbon Capture
Editor's Picks
Legacy Foundations Love Listing Out Their Grants. Billionaire Givers? Not So Much
Visit the website of a major legacy foundation and almost without exception you will find one of the hallmarks of philanthropic transparency: a grants database. But if you’re hoping for the same from America’s biggest individual donors, you’re often … [Read more...] about Legacy Foundations Love Listing Out Their Grants. Billionaire Givers? Not So Much
Leading Lessons: A Foundation CEO’s Reflections on Pushing the Status Quo
A Closer Look at the Philanthropy of Panda Express Founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng
We here at IP frequently come across donors who, after years of substantial public philanthropy, ramp up their mega-giving to an even more rarefied level. Such was the case last September, when Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the founders and owners of the … [Read more...] about A Closer Look at the Philanthropy of Panda Express Founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng
Pivotal Ventures Is Working to Build Women’s Political Power. Here’s How
Since she left the Gates Foundation earlier this year, Melinda French Gates has been making some noise. In the last few weeks alone, she sat down with Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show,” had a long conversation with the New York Times, launched an … [Read more...] about Pivotal Ventures Is Working to Build Women’s Political Power. Here’s How
Restrictive Grantmaking Isn’t the Answer to Rare Nonprofit Scandals
“Trust the nonprofits,” we tell funders. “Realize that the people who are closest to the problem are the ones with the solutions. Just write those checks and get out of the way.” But then the news hits. We’ve seen recent allegations of misspending by … [Read more...] about Restrictive Grantmaking Isn’t the Answer to Rare Nonprofit Scandals
“We Have a Responsibility.” Six Funders Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Children and Families
As part of our ongoing informal series on philanthropic support for immigrants and refugees, we’ve looked at which funders are backing students, as well as those funding legal assistance and policy advocacy. Now, we’re turning our attention to … [Read more...] about “We Have a Responsibility.” Six Funders Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Children and Families
Who’s Backing Rural Ed? A Selection of Key Funders to Know
What a Facebook Cofounder’s Latest $1.9 Billion for His Foundation Says about Philanthropy’s Future
Trust-Based Practices Top of Mind at Tech Billionaire Couple David and Angela Filo’s Foundation
It probably feels like it was a century ago, but we’re only several decades removed from a time when ambitious young entrepreneurs like Pierre Omidyar, Jeff Skoll and Tim Gill, flush with riches from the dot-com boom, kicked off the second … [Read more...] about Trust-Based Practices Top of Mind at Tech Billionaire Couple David and Angela Filo’s Foundation
A Literary Magazine Received $200 Million. Twenty Years Later, It’s a Poetry Funding Powerhouse
“The art of money isn't hard to master . . . The money surrounds us . . . “Sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet money Money on a wet, black bough “Do not go gentle into that good money The pure products of money go crazy” — From "Money is the Thing With … [Read more...] about A Literary Magazine Received $200 Million. Twenty Years Later, It’s a Poetry Funding Powerhouse
Schools Are “the Heartbeat of Rural Places” — and They Could Use More Philanthropic Support
It’s no secret that rural America has been overlooked by philanthropy over the years. A 2021 report by the nonprofit consulting firm FSG found that while 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, only 7% of funding from the top 1,200 … [Read more...] about Schools Are “the Heartbeat of Rural Places” — and They Could Use More Philanthropic Support
So You Want to Make an Independent Film. Who’s Funding Now?
This Low-Profile Donor Is Giving $30 Million for SCOTUS Reform. Will Others Join Him?
James (Jim) Kohlberg isn’t a “big philanthropist.” He has been involved in the nonprofit world, mostly through joint projects with his parents’ foundation and serving for a decade on the board of ecoAmerica, an environmental organization, but he is … [Read more...] about This Low-Profile Donor Is Giving $30 Million for SCOTUS Reform. Will Others Join Him?
Billionaire Climate Donors’ Interest in Food and Agriculture Is Surging. That’s Helped This Fund Soar
“The Joy of Helping Others.” Major Democratic Donor Donald Sussman on His Philanthropy
Born in New York but raised in Miami Beach, Donald Sussman showed a knack for making smart bets early on. He started following the stock market as a preteen and made a $300 investment in sugar, having correctly sensed the impact of the impending … [Read more...] about “The Joy of Helping Others.” Major Democratic Donor Donald Sussman on His Philanthropy
“Escape Pod.” Fraudster Bill Hwang’s Foundation Hired Co-Defendant, Paid Enormous Salaries
In a Hyper-Polarized Time, This New Funding Collaborative Wants to Bring People Together
It would be an understatement to say that this is a divisive time in America. In fact, a survey from Pew Research Center found that when respondents were asked to describe their feelings about politics in a single word or phrase, the word that came … [Read more...] about In a Hyper-Polarized Time, This New Funding Collaborative Wants to Bring People Together
A Closer Look at the Data-Driven Ed Philanthropy of John and Laura Overdeck
Bainum: How a Youth-Focused Family Philanthropy Has Evolved Over Five Decades
J.D. Vance Has Set His Sights on Philanthropy Before. What Should the Sector Expect?
Six Things to Know About the Libra Foundation’s New President, Supriya Lopez Pillai
In 2005, Supriya Lopez Pillai returned to the United States after a spell abroad that had taken her from rural West Africa to the bustling streets of Phnom Penh. She had a new mission: to understand and influence philanthropy — and ultimately move … [Read more...] about Six Things to Know About the Libra Foundation’s New President, Supriya Lopez Pillai
Should We Pay for Relationships? Why Philanthropy Needs to Invest in Social Capital
When I started my career in venture philanthropy, I got a baptism by fire in how funders think about risk and reward. Since then, philanthropy has shown a greater willingness to take risks in the education and workforce fields, where I now work as a … [Read more...] about Should We Pay for Relationships? Why Philanthropy Needs to Invest in Social Capital
“The Election Isn’t the End Point.” A Deep Dive into the Carnegie Corporation’s Democracy Giving
In 2015, the Carnegie Corporation of New York made a grant to the National Academy of Sciences earmarked for studying voting and election security issues. Geri Mannion, the managing director of the corporation’s Strengthening U.S. Democracy program, … [Read more...] about “The Election Isn’t the End Point.” A Deep Dive into the Carnegie Corporation’s Democracy Giving
Star Power: 18 Top Musician Philanthropists
In 2023, the collective net worth of the top 10 richest U.S. musicians totaled over $11 billion, with names like Compton rapper Dr. Dre, Canadian crooner Celine Dion and pop superstar Rihanna among them. Like many other figures across sports and … [Read more...] about Star Power: 18 Top Musician Philanthropists
Meet the Black Box Billionaires: Are These America’s Most Secretive Megadonors?
Are the following five people really the most secretive megadonors in the United States? In all likelihood, no. That distinction probably belongs to names we have yet to learn — just like no one knew who Chuck Feeney was for years, or that Nat Simons … [Read more...] about Meet the Black Box Billionaires: Are These America’s Most Secretive Megadonors?
The Power of Place-Based Partnerships in the Fight for Equity
Last month, a federal appeals court suspended a grant program for Black female entrepreneurs operated by the Fearless Fund, setting a dangerous legal precedent that jeopardizes foundations’ ability and willingness to make identity-based grants to … [Read more...] about The Power of Place-Based Partnerships in the Fight for Equity
Half of Criminal Justice Reform Funding Goes to Nonprofits Based in Just Two States
New York and California are home to America’s largest cities and two of its most robust economies. Together, they’re home to 18% of the national population and they hold a combined 11% of the country’s incarcerated population. They are also home to … [Read more...] about Half of Criminal Justice Reform Funding Goes to Nonprofits Based in Just Two States
Giving USA Annual Report: With Real Giving Down in 2023, the Onus Is on Donors
Giving USA released its annual report on the state of charitable giving in late June, and its findings, while a welcome improvement over last year’s topline that 2022 giving declined by 10.5% after inflation, are still somewhat mixed. Support from … [Read more...] about Giving USA Annual Report: With Real Giving Down in 2023, the Onus Is on Donors
AI Has Made Nvidia’s Founder a Centibillionaire. What Will That Mean for His Philanthropy?
Welcome to the centibillionaire club, Jensen and Lori Huang.The Nvidia cofounder and CEO and his wife are now among earth’s wealthiest dozen-plus residents, thanks to the A.I. boom that last month turned the chip maker — of which he owns roughly 3% — … [Read more...] about AI Has Made Nvidia’s Founder a Centibillionaire. What Will That Mean for His Philanthropy?
