Creating visibility and encouraging women to step into their power as philanthropists: An interview with Jeannie Infante Sager and Jacqueline Ackerman

Jeannie Infante Sager is the director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which works to “conduct, curate, and disseminate research that grows women’s philanthropy.” A member of the executive leadership team... read more

The sustainable nonprofit: Writing a grant proposal for community members

Did you know that today, more grantmakers are bringing in local community members to review proposals with the aim of making the grant review process more equitable and inclusive? A 2021 study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy noted that... read more

Ensuring movements are thriving and abundantly resourced: A commentary by Meenakshi Menon

I began this Pride month in mourning for one of my most beloved movement idols. Against a backdrop of emboldened white supremacy, continued gun violence, attacks on bodily autonomy, rising inflation, and economic inequity, Urvashi Vaid passed away last month.... read more

How to build global victories from the ground up: A commentary by Nicky Davies, Carroll Muffett, and Christie Keith

In March, United Nations member states agreed to create an ambitious global treaty to reduce plastic pollution. A treaty of this magnitude—which will consider the full life cycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction, to plastic production, to its disposal—is... read more

Effective violence reduction strategies: A Q&A with Jocelyn Fontaine and Anita Ravishankar

On June 2, Arnold Ventures issued a research agenda and an RFP focused on violence reduction, including gun violence, citing an increase in violent crimes and incidents over the past two years across U.S. cities “regardless of their size, geographic... read more

Nonprofits cannot be wholly dependent on grants: A commentary by Kisha L. Webster

Like so many in our nation, I am holding space to acknowledge, process and heal from the white supremacist attack at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and the massacre of 21 young children and adults at Robb Elementary School... read more

The sustainable nonprofit: What is a 'winning' narrative?

In the social issue space, new narratives pop up all the time as movements, companies, and organizations attempt to grab and keep the public’s attention. How do you know if (and when) the narrative you’ve created for the social issue... read more

An urgent call to invest in trans futures: A commentary by Kris Hayashi

Recent data show that only 4¢ of every $100 of foundation funding goes to trans organizations and causes. Only four cents.What does this historic disinvestment in our communities mean for how we envision our future? And what can we do... read more

Philanthropic funders’ role in addressing the refugee crisis: A commentary by John Canady

The UK government recently announced plans to deport undocumented refugees to Rwanda as part of a controversial plan to tackle immigration. The United Kingdom’s hardline approach to the refugee crisis points to a polarized debate many countries are grappling with:... read more

It's time for philanthropy to invest in Black women: A commentary by Maria S. Johnson

Many of us are feeling disillusioned by the current state of affairs in the United States. This includes the rollback of reproductive rights, white supremacist mass shootings, rising costs for basic needs, and shortages of essential items like baby formula—which... read more

What support for teachers should look like in the post-COVID world: A commentary by Kevin Beckford

While Teacher Appreciation Week lasts just five school days in early May, teachers give their all day in, day out, to ensure that the next generation of learners succeed. Unfortunately, the journey of a teacher is not an easy one.... read more

Review: There’s Nothing Micro about a Billion Women

Despite the large number of financial transactions that take place on a daily basis, nearly a billion women around the world are still excluded from the financial system—and opportunities to gain financial independence. Ensuring equality of access to financial services... read more

To build a more peaceful, just, and equitable world: A Q&A with Alexandra I. Toma

Since 2013, Alexandra Toma has served as executive director of the Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG), which connects and supports the global community of public, private, and operating foundations and individual philanthropists advancing peace and security efforts in order... read more

The path forward in the face of COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate: commentary by Jiny Kim

In bringing another Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to a close, I am reminded that this is the third one we have celebrated amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-nine months ago, when the first reports of a new highly... read more

Thinking less about the job postings, more about the jobs: A column article by Amy Born

The Great Resignation. The Great Reshuffle. The Great Realignment. The Great and Terrible Oz. Whatever you call it, leaders are feeling it. Nothing is more important to an organization’s success than its people. My work with Leading Edge is all... read more