June 06, 2023 Nine Questions for Gloria Perez, CEO and President of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota June 06, 2023/ Michelle Dominguez The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and Perez is entering her fourth year at the helm. We spoke about her personal and career journey, and where the foundation is headed next. Read More
June 02, 2023 How the American Century Investments Foundation Supports Kansas City, Missouri June 02, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs America Century Investments is a financial company with a charitable foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Here are some details to know about this corporate funder and its approach to grantmaking.Read More
May 26, 2023 How One Funder Is Seeking to Bolster Mental Healthcare in Rural America May 26, 2023/ Martha Ramirez While better mental healthcare is needed across the U.S., there are stark disparities in care between urban and rural areas. Here’s how the Helmsley Charitable Trust is tackling the problem in the Midwest and elsewhere.Read More
April 13, 2023 What It Looks Like When a Multigenerational Family Foundation Makes All Voices Equal April 13, 2023/ Ade Adeniji When David and Georgia Welles launched the family’s Cricket Island Foundation, they prioritized family participation across generations. That continues today, and has led the funder to its current focus on youth organizing. Read More
April 10, 2023 Here Are Five Grantmakers Funding the Rural Midwest April 10, 2023/ Martha Ramirez Over 25% of the Midwest’s population lives in rural areas. These funders focus their efforts there, despite the fact that philanthropy at large chronically underfunds rural America.Read More
March 16, 2023 The Lilly Endowment’s Assets Are Surging, Making it Among the Nation’s Largest. Can It Keep Up? March 16, 2023/ Michael Kavate Its founders are long gone, but this 85-year-old, Indiana-based foundation keeps getting bigger — now likely the second-largest in the U.S. Can Lilly’s grantmaking keep up with its explosive growth?Read More
March 15, 2023 This Foundation Keeps a Huge Extended Family United While Helping Other Families Thrive March 15, 2023/ Wendy Paris From the very start, the secret to the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation’s success has been an unwavering emphasis on family — both engaging its own far-reaching family tree, and moving money to help others. Read More
December 13, 2022 Backed by a Huge Bequest, a New Arts Funder’s Grantmaking Strategy Begins to Takes Shape December 13, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Ruth Foundation for the Arts has made a big splash in the arts world thanks to its penchant for flexible funding and a $440 endowment. We check in with executive director Karen Patterson on the foundation’s inaugural year.Read More
July 26, 2022 “You Are Worthy; Let’s Go.” A Racial Justice Fund in St. Louis Plans a 100-Year Commitment to Change July 26, 2022/ Dawn Wolfe When the participatory Racial Healing + Justice Fund in St. Louis got started, it was intended as a three-year pilot program. Now, its founders are committed to a long-term vision of change.Read More
April 12, 2022 How This Dedicated Cleveland Funder Is Backing the City’s Cultural Institutions April 12, 2022/ Mike Scutari For close to 70 years, the Mandel Foundation has been a supporter of organizations in Cleveland, Israel and beyond, dropping some big recent grants. The foundation’s president explains how and why it backs local institutions.Read More
March 31, 2022 Five Things to Know About the Skillman Foundation, “Fierce Champions of Detroit’s Children” March 31, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen At 60 years old, this Detroit-based funder is a stalwart supporter of K-12 education in the region. Now, the laser-focused foundation has a new leader—and big ambitions for the future. Here’s what you need to know.Read More
March 28, 2022 Critical Funding Gaps in Criminal Justice Reform Hit the South and Midwest Hardest March 28, 2022/ Allana Jackson and Alexandra Williams, Guest Contributors Though the Southeast and Midwest have some of the nation’s highest incarceration rates, justice reform philanthropy lags. Guest authors Allana Jackson and Alexandra Williams make the case for more attention.Read More
March 21, 2022 Who’s Getting the Latest Checks from Lukas Walton’s Green Grantmaking Shop? March 21, 2022/ Michael Kavate The billionaire third-generation Walton heir has made big long-term commitments to two new tech and policy shops—including Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy—and a substantial pledge for Midwest climate equity.Read More
March 01, 2022 Seven Questions for Ronn Richard, President and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation March 01, 2022/ Mike Scutari Ronn Richard has led the nation’s oldest community foundation since 2003. We caught up with Richard to discuss his biggest influences, what advice he’d give his younger self, and how philanthropy has evolved in recent years.Read More
January 03, 2022 How the Cleveland Foundation Is Backing Journalists and Community Members to Bolster Local News January 03, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Cleveland Foundation and partner grantmakers recently announced the launch of a nonprofit newsroom. Vice President Dale Anglin explains how the initiative came about and how community members will be involved.Read More
October 12, 2021 A Historic Detroit College Was Near the End. Here's How Kresge Rallied to Give It New Life October 12, 2021/ Connie Matthiessen Back in 2016, Detroit’s historic Marygrove College was close to shutting its doors. Here’s how the Kresge Foundation mustered local support to reimagine the institution as an innovative education hub.Read More
September 23, 2021 Funder Spotlight: Created by an Oscar Winner, the Jerome Foundation Backs Film and More September 23, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe Today, we’re catching up with the Jerome Foundation, which supports early-career artists in Minnesota and New York City. It was looking at ways to make life easier for grantees well before COVID.Read More
September 02, 2021 How a Diverse Group of Funders and Advocates Came Together for Justice Reform in Michigan September 02, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe The Michigan Justice Fund, which got its start when several advocates and funders joined forces for criminal justice reform, just made its first round of grants. Leaders hope the fund’s impact lasts long after its six-year plan.Read More
August 30, 2021 Why These Two Very Different Family Foundations Agree On the Importance of Nonprofit IT August 30, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe Based in two different parts of the Midwest, the Shavlik Family Foundation and the Pierce Family Foundation are distinct in many ways. But they’re both committed to a cause that often gets short shrift—nonprofit IT infrastructure.Read More
August 05, 2021 For a Midwestern Funder, Improving Health Means Balancing Immediate Relief With Systems Change August 05, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe The Missouri Foundation for Health has around $1 billion in assets, which it directs toward grants and partnerships to support health in local communities. Over the years, that has meant a larger focus on systemic change and equity.Read More