September 27, 2023 This Couple Just Won One of Conservative Philanthropy’s Top Prizes. What Are They Into? September 27, 2023/ Philip Rojc A passion for private education and entrepreneurship drives the giving of Laura and Jeff Sandefer, who won the 2023 Simon-DeVos Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. Here’s a look at what they back and what they’ve founded.Read More
September 20, 2023 AI in Education? Salesforce Takes the Plunge September 20, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Artificial intelligence loomed very large at several recent Bay Area functions hosted by Salesforce. As the trailblazing corporate funder leans into AI in its education giving, are there pitfalls to consider?Read More
September 13, 2023 Why This Major Antipoverty Funder Is Ramping Up Its Investment in HBCUs September 13, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Against the backdrop of rising funder interest and a controversial Supreme Court decision, the big-donor funding collaborative Blue Meridian Partners is tripling its investment in the HBCU Transformation Project.Read More
September 11, 2023 Hands-On Help: The Other Side of MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Early Childhood Ramp-Up September 11, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen In her early childhood giving this year, MacKenzie Scott is pairing advocacy with direct service funding, including support for programs that provide one-on-one, in-home maternal and infant healthcare.Read More
September 07, 2023 Stephen and Ayesha Curry Tell Us About the Future of Their Philanthropy September 07, 2023/ Ade Adeniji The NBA power couple are ramping up their giving in their adopted home city of Oakland, with a continued focus on healthy food, education and recreation for youth. We connected with them to learn more.Read More
September 05, 2023 Funders Get Behind a New Plan for School-Based "Health Hubs" in Detroit September 05, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Located at school sites and offering free health care for students and other resources for families, the health hubs have secured philanthropic backing from the Kresge Foundation, the Ballmer Group and others. Read More
August 29, 2023 Righting the World: How Five Globally Bestselling Authors Give August 29, 2023/ Liz Longley While writers don’t often make it into the ranks of the very rich, these bestselling authors have engaged in some substantial philanthropy. Their giving varies widely, but they do share some interests in common.Read More
August 28, 2023 MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Giving for Early Education Spotlights the Power of Advocacy August 28, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Much of the celebrated megadonor’s recent giving has made its way to organizations promoting early childhood care and education. Many place their focus on advocacy, a strategy some other funders are hesitant to support.Read More
August 22, 2023 Recent Layoffs Raise Questions About the Future of Education Funding at CZI August 22, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a committed ed funder, just cut its education team by 30%. What do these layoffs mean for the philanthropy’s education support going forward?Read More
August 10, 2023 “A More Even Playing Field.” How Would the End of Legacy Admissions Impact Alumni Giving? August 10, 2023/ Mike Scutari Across the country, it’s looking as if the days of legacy preferences may be numbered. Will ending the policy hurt revenues, or bring about a welcome change in the higher ed fundraising landscape? Read More
July 31, 2023 HBCU Moves: Seven Questions for Mildred Whittier, Spelman College Alumna and Fundraiser July 31, 2023/ Ade Adeniji Mildred Whittier helped launch Women for Golden Futures, a fundraising effort to support her alma mater Spelman College. We heard from her about the initiative, her history with Spelman, and how HBCUs can pull in more funding.Read More
July 28, 2023 Don't Leave Home Without It: A Quick Look at Ken Chenault's Philanthropy July 28, 2023/ Ade Adeniji The longtime American Express chief was one of the first Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 firm. Chenault backs a range of causes alongside his wife Kathryn, with HBCUs and arts and culture looming large.Read More
July 27, 2023 As Book Banning Campaigns Spread, this Funder is Defending the Right to Read July 27, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Across the country, conservative groups are working to ban books. The American Library Association is standing up to these challenges, with a big boost from Solidarity Giving, founded by billionaires Brian and Tegan Acton.Read More
July 25, 2023 Nine Ways Funders Can Increase Diversity in Higher Ed in a World Without Affirmative Action July 25, 2023/ Mike Scutari The Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action sent a shockwave throughout higher ed philanthropy. Leaders in the field offer a to-do list to help fellow funders carry out their missions in this new legal landscape.Read More
July 25, 2023 A Big K-12 Funding Push Seeks to Create More Pathways to Career Success July 25, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen A number of education funders have been backing workforce development and career readiness programs. The latest big commitment comes from CZI, and seeks to give kids purpose and agency in their educations.Read More
July 24, 2023 Who Are the Top Black Donors to HBCUs? July 24, 2023/ Ade Adeniji HBCUs are poised to become a larger philanthropic cause following the Supreme Court ruling rejecting affirmative action. But for years, Black donors have been among their largest backers. Here are some of the biggest donors.Read More
July 19, 2023 Five Things to Know about Walton Family Foundation’s New Executive Director July 19, 2023/ Michael Kavate The flagship foundation of the country’s richest family has a new leader, Stephanie Dodson Cornell. Here, we hit the broad strokes of her career, plus some lesser-known facts that shed more light on her opinions and interests.Read More
July 18, 2023 Charles Barkley Made a Big Commitment to Diversity in Higher Ed. What Drives His Giving? July 18, 2023/ Ade Adeniji This basketball and broadcasting star has been supporting higher ed and other causes for years. The Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action ruling influenced one of his biggest commitments to date. Read More
July 14, 2023 This Billionaire Heiress and Her Husband Have a Huge Philanthropic Footprint in Their Hometown July 14, 2023/ Mike Scutari Ronda Stryker and William Johnston are frequent mega-donors with a foundation that’s laser-focused on Kalamazoo, Michigan. Big as the numbers are on paper, there’s reason to think their local support extends far further.Read More
July 11, 2023 Susie Buffett Plays a Critical Role in the Family’s Giving. Who Is She, and What Does She Fund? July 11, 2023/ Mike Scutari If Warren Buffett ultimately channels more of his fortune to family philanthropies, we can expect his daughter Susie’s profile to grow. We take a closer look at this publicity-shy giver and her Sherwood Foundation.Read More