Dawn Wolfe

Crappy Funding Practices burst on the scene in January and already has more than 11,000 followers of its posts naming and shaming funders that engage in egregious practices. Could this effort result in real reform?

Drawing on recent reporting, Dawn Wolfe suggests three bold paths MacKenzie Scott could take to address stubborn sector challenges like warehoused wealth, underpaid nonprofit employees and burdens placed on grant seekers.

The James B. McClatchy and Z. Smith Reynolds foundations are both doing pro-civic-engagement, pro-democracy work. Their differing approaches reflect how civic engagement needs vary from place to place.

The foundation’s grant to the company Just Value may be small, but it’s targeting an area that could have a big impact on racial wealth disparities.

In addition to regular grants, the bellwether health funder devotes a smaller chunk of its resources to impact investing. Here’s a quick primer on the direction RWJF’s taking with its program-related investments (PRIs).

After growing quickly starting in 2016, philanthropic commitments for criminal justice reform peaked in 2020 before falling steeply. We’ll be digging into the how, the why, and what the longer-term ramifications might be.

The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s second annual report on the state of nonprofits shines a light on burnout and staff shortages, which many funders treat as separate from the social problems they’re trying to address.

While limited in scope, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s June “research snapshot” on support for grantee staff wellbeing shows a funding sector that doesn’t seem to be putting its money where its knowledge and concern are.

We connected with Funders for LGBTQ Issues Deputy Director Alexander Lee to discuss trans philanthropy, including funders’ response to right-wing attacks and the importance of funding intermediaries.

With 10 new backers and a long-term commitment to transforming the sector, this fund providing nonprofits with racial equity training has the potential for impact well beyond what would seem possible given its limited budget.