May 31, 2023 To Build Community Power, Here Are Two Habits Funders Need to Break May 31, 2023/ Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Jodeen Olguín-Tayler, Josh Stearns, Guest Contributors Funders often struggle to back civic engagement and community power building. In this guest piece, three authors whose organizations collaboratively fund that work suggest some changes in approach.Read More
May 25, 2023 Philanthropy Needs to Rethink Its Approach to Civic Engagement May 25, 2023/ Louise Lief, Guest Contributor Much of philanthropy frames civic engagement in a narrow way, with a focus on voting and elections. Guest contributor Louise Lief discusses what’s wrong with that, and what a better, broader approach looks like.Read More
May 18, 2023 Six Questions for Cathy Cha, President and CEO of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund May 18, 2023/ Martha Ramirez We spoke with the leader of this prominent California social justice funder to discuss her career, her experience as the daughter of Korean immigrants, threats to American democracy, and more.Read More
May 09, 2023 The D.C. Power List: The Most Influential Philanthropists Shaping National Policy May 09, 2023/ David Callahan Top philanthropists have become ever more adept at working the levers of power in order to shape federal policy. Here are the living donors who wield the most influence in the nation’s capital.Read More
May 02, 2023 The Education Culture Wars Are Only Growing Fiercer. These Funders Are Fighting Back May 02, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen A handful of philanthropies are supporting grassroots efforts to push back against well-funded attacks on public education. They’re hoping more funders will take a stand.Read More
April 17, 2023 Voter Turnout Lags Among Rural Youth. This New Fund Aims to Change That April 17, 2023/ Martha Ramirez Young people in rural areas are some of the nation’s most persuadable voters. They’re also one of its most neglected voter demographics. But this new fund from the Rural Democracy Initiative is paying attention. Read More
April 12, 2023 Inside the Omidyar Network’s Push to Build a “Culture of Belonging” in America April 12, 2023/ Mike Scutari Launched in October, the Omidyar Network’s newest focus area seeks to cultivate a sense of belonging among the body politic. We walk through its work with Senior VP of Programs Michele Jawando and Director David Hsu.Read More
April 05, 2023 The Evolution of the Woodcock Foundation: A Progressive Family Funder Branches Out April 05, 2023/ Ade Adeniji As this family foundation heads into its third generation, it’s backing social enterprises, taking on new issue areas, and exploring practices like impact investing and trust-based philanthropy. Read More
March 24, 2023 “A Fragile Political Moment.” A Seasoned Donor Advisor on the State of Democracy Funding March 24, 2023/ Mike Scutari Mike Berkowitz is the co-founder and executive director of the Democracy Funders Network. We check in with him to discuss the network’s approach, trends in democracy giving, what’s keeping donors up at night, and more.Read More
February 08, 2023 With the Right Wing in Charge in Israel, Jewish Donors Can't Afford to Turn Away February 08, 2023/ Jo-Ann Mort, Guest Contributor Donors from the U.S. helped sow the seeds for Israel’s current right-wing leadership. Guest author Jo-Ann Mort discusses how that happened and calls on liberal and progressive Jewish donors to step up at a critical moment.Read More
February 02, 2023 Omidyar’s Latest Effort to “Reimagine Capitalism” — Funding Intrepid Journalists February 02, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The Omidyar Network’s Reporters in Residence program is backing journalists who cover economic issues neglected by the mainstream media. It’s the latest philanthropic effort to boost a struggling field — and spur systemic change.Read More
December 21, 2022 Out of One, Many: The Role of Individual Giving in Safeguarding Democracy’s Future December 21, 2022/ Leslie Gross, Guest Contributor While some threats to American democracy were averted in the 2022 midterms, much work remains. Guest author Leslie Gross from The Philanthropy Workshop encourages individual and family donors to take the lead. Read More
November 30, 2022 Amid a Flurry of State Laws and Court Battles, New Funders Wade Into Pro-Democracy Litigation November 30, 2022/ Laurie Udesky Voters stood up to threats against democracy in the midterms, but the fight continues, including ongoing legal battles. Here are three funders who decided to back litigation in defense of free and fair elections.Read More
November 30, 2022 To Combat an "Urgent Threat," a Donor Couple Makes a Big Commitment to News Literacy November 30, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Billionaire couple Melanie and Richard Lundquist are throwing their support behind the News Literacy Project to arm students and the public against mis- and disinformation.Read More
November 10, 2022 Five Midterm Election Takeaways for Philanthropy November 10, 2022/ Philip Rojc The 2022 midterm elections turned out not to be the bloodbath that Democrats — and funders supporting progressive issues — feared it would be. What can philanthropy learn from our latest fraught election cycle? Read More
November 09, 2022 In a Fast-Changing Political Landscape, How Is the Democracy Alliance Evolving? November 09, 2022/ Philip Rojc It’s a very different world than it was when the Democracy Alliance formed, way back in the Bush era. How has this progressive donor powerhouse, once the only game in town, changed over the years? And where is it headed?Read More
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 24, 2022 Philanthropy Needs New Strategies to Save American Democracy October 24, 2022/ Mike Berkowitz and Rachel Kleinfeld, Guest Contributors With U.S. democracy in crisis, guest contributors Mike Berkowitz and Rachel Kleinfeld argue that philanthropy cannot stick to its usual playbook. They outline five ways funders can update their approach.Read More
October 19, 2022 Here’s What We Know About James and Kathryn Murdoch’s Giving for Climate, Democracy and More October 19, 2022/ Michael Kavate The son and daughter-in-law of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch have expanded their grantmaking and put an emphasis on democracy and climate change in recent years. Here’s where the money’s going.Read More
October 17, 2022 How Philanthropy Can Combat a “Ferocious” Wave of Book Bans October 17, 2022/ Simone Ellin As book bans in schools become a key front in the culture wars, organizations like PEN America are betting that Americans’ faith in free speech will prove stronger. Do funders have their backs?Read More