OVERVIEW: The Park Foundation makes grants for civic engagement, democracy, media, environmental concerns, higher education, racial justice and animals. Funding is national in scope, but the state of New York and Tomkins County are geographic … [Read more...] about Park Foundation
Marine & Freshwater
Green Funders Show Improvement on Diversity, But More Than Half Still Don’t Share Data
More environmental grantmakers than ever shared their demographic data this year with the leading project tracking diversity in the field, but green philanthropy still gets a failing grade for participation.Over half — 26 of 50 — of the foundations … [Read more...] about Green Funders Show Improvement on Diversity, But More Than Half Still Don’t Share Data
Three Key Green Giving Trends Underlined by New Ocean Funding Report
Can we humans save the ocean from ourselves? Last year’s United Nations biodiversity summit took a big step toward that goal, with nations agreeing to protect 30% of the world’s oceans and land by 2030, formalizing the pact known as 30x30. But the … [Read more...] about Three Key Green Giving Trends Underlined by New Ocean Funding Report
How Dalio Philanthropies’ OceanX is Working to Diversify Marine Research and Teaching
As in many STEM fields, Black students and scientists have been historically underrepresented in ocean studies, today making up less than 3% of ocean scientists. A substantial element of the work of five-year-old OceanX — the research and education … [Read more...] about How Dalio Philanthropies’ OceanX is Working to Diversify Marine Research and Teaching
Five Things to Know about Walton Family Foundation’s New Executive Director
The flagship foundation of America’s richest family has a new leader. Stephanie Dodson Cornell, a serial social entrepreneur who most recently worked at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, was announced last week as the Walton Family Foundation’s new … [Read more...] about Five Things to Know about Walton Family Foundation’s New Executive Director
Can Philanthropy Help Decarbonize the Maritime Shipping Industry?
In the race to reduce the world’s carbon emissions and their negative impacts on the planet, a new report pitches an unlikely industry as the next philanthropic frontier for decarbonization opportunities: maritime shipping.The heavily … [Read more...] about Can Philanthropy Help Decarbonize the Maritime Shipping Industry?
The Schmidt Ocean Institute Cracks the Champagne on One of the World’s Largest Research Vessels
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy Schmidt have spent much of the last two decades ramping up their philanthropy, not just in terms of dollar amounts — by 2019, they'd given about $1 billion and committed to give yet another billion — … [Read more...] about The Schmidt Ocean Institute Cracks the Champagne on One of the World’s Largest Research Vessels
This Oceans Funder Has Been Protecting Sharks and Rays for 20 Years. Now It’s Expanding the Fight
There are many creatures in the sea, and most of them are threatened by modern stressors like pollution and plastic waste, habitat loss, ocean warming and acidification and intense commercial fishing. But sharks — along with their cousin … [Read more...] about This Oceans Funder Has Been Protecting Sharks and Rays for 20 Years. Now It’s Expanding the Fight
Sharks Are in Trouble. This Funder Collaborative Is Working to Protect the Oceans’ Apex Predators
Sharks have thrived in the earth’s oceans for at least 450 million years — they were swimming 200 million years before the dinosaurs emerged, and are still here. But despite this incredible track record of evolution and adaptation, they are no match … [Read more...] about Sharks Are in Trouble. This Funder Collaborative Is Working to Protect the Oceans’ Apex Predators
Green Middleweights: 25 Prominent, Mid-Sized Environmental Grantmakers
Billionaires now dominate the summit of environmental philanthropy, as I covered in a piece yesterday on the top 25 U.S. green grantmakers. But you might say that legacy foundations still control the slopes. A medley of regional funders, … [Read more...] about Green Middleweights: 25 Prominent, Mid-Sized Environmental Grantmakers
Green Heavyweights: The Nation’s 25 Largest Environmental Grantmakers
It’s official: Billionaires have taken over environmental philanthropy.Over the past few weeks, I’ve assembled a list of the top U.S. green grantmakers based on 2021 numbers, the most recent full year we have to go on. Take a look and you’ll see that … [Read more...] about Green Heavyweights: The Nation’s 25 Largest Environmental Grantmakers
More Green Funders Than Ever Shared Diversity Data in 2022, but Most Still Avoiding the Sunlight
You can count 2022 as a step toward the sunlight for environmental philanthropy’s transparency on diversity, yet most of the field still prefers the shadows.A record number of green funders participated this year in the nation’s leading tracker of … [Read more...] about More Green Funders Than Ever Shared Diversity Data in 2022, but Most Still Avoiding the Sunlight
What Are Conservation, Pollution and Ag Funders Looking For Right Now? Fundraisers Weigh In
Most fundraisers leave their jobs within two years — and often change sectors with each new position. Tona Simpson, however, has been with Ducks Unlimited for 17 years. Now the managing director of foundation relations for the Memphis, … [Read more...] about What Are Conservation, Pollution and Ag Funders Looking For Right Now? Fundraisers Weigh In
Nine Affinity Groups that Keep Environmental Giving Going — and Growing
For foundations giving green grants, there’s no shortage of communities to join.Fund food systems? There’s a group for that. Concerned about climate? One for that too. Biodiversity? Another group. Transportation? Check. Animals? Ditto. Water? Yup.Not … [Read more...] about Nine Affinity Groups that Keep Environmental Giving Going — and Growing
Here Are Four Outdoor Recreation Companies With Environmental Grantmaking Programs
The season of week-long camping trips, lazy days at the lake and sweaty hikes through the woods is nearly upon us.With less than a month before the official start of summer, I took a look at four outdoor companies well known in the sector for their … [Read more...] about Here Are Four Outdoor Recreation Companies With Environmental Grantmaking Programs
Risk Capital in Action: A Deep Dive into Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s Giving
Note: This article was originally published on March 31, 2022.In our recent research paper on the state of tech giving, we looked at a subset of givers who apply a venture capitalist mindset when confronting the world’s most pressing problems. Thanks … [Read more...] about Risk Capital in Action: A Deep Dive into Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s Giving
What Happens When Environmental Movement Leaders Make Funding Decisions?
A year ago, green philanthropy got a glimpse of where funding would go if environmental movement leaders called the shots.Last March, a somewhat unlikely alliance of 15 environmental leaders—grassroots activists, heads of major green groups, … [Read more...] about What Happens When Environmental Movement Leaders Make Funding Decisions?
IP Briefing: What’s Going on with Philanthropy for Oceans and Freshwater?
In a sentence: Philanthropy for water-related issues is rising, but more is needed in this historically siloed sector.What’s going onThe water challenges the world faces today are increasing, from ocean warming to crumbling infrastructure, and … [Read more...] about IP Briefing: What’s Going on with Philanthropy for Oceans and Freshwater?
The Future of Climate Action Is Collaborative. Both Water and Philanthropy Are at the Center
The West is currently in the grip of a devastating mega-drought, which is just one of the worrying signs of climate change showing up throughout the country and around the world. This summer has delivered unrelenting, record-breaking heat, ferocious … [Read more...] about The Future of Climate Action Is Collaborative. Both Water and Philanthropy Are at the Center
The Giving of America’s Richest Family Can Be Hard to Track. Here Are 12 Foundations of Walton Heirs
Note: This article was originally published on October 7, 2021.The heirs to the Walmart retail empire are believed to be America’s—and the world’s—wealthiest family. With such massive dynastic wealth at their disposal, they have the capacity to make … [Read more...] about The Giving of America’s Richest Family Can Be Hard to Track. Here Are 12 Foundations of Walton Heirs
A Decade of Ocean Philanthropy: As Threats Rise, Funding Levels Double but Remain Modest
Over the past decade, global philanthropic giving to marine conservation issues doubled, jumping from $520 million per year in 2010 to $1.2 billion in 2020, according to the new “Our Shared Seas” report by CEA Consulting.While that’s an encouraging … [Read more...] about A Decade of Ocean Philanthropy: As Threats Rise, Funding Levels Double but Remain Modest
“Water Is Life.” In a Time of Crisis, Ocean and Freshwater Fundraisers Emphasize Interdependence
As the pandemic underscores global interdependence, many fundraisers are focusing on another set of crucial connections: those drawn by oceans and waterways. With one foot on land and one in water, organizations in this field have worked with funders … [Read more...] about “Water Is Life.” In a Time of Crisis, Ocean and Freshwater Fundraisers Emphasize Interdependence
These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look
In the world of philanthropy, America’s richest family is best known for its namesake foundation: The $5.6 billion-plus Walton Family Foundation.But the Waltons’ giving is hardly limited to that vehicle, with several family members overseeing their … [Read more...] about These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look
As Plastic Waste Spirals Out of Control, Foundations Struggle to Protect the World’s Oceans
Although the world experienced a slight drop in carbon emissions during the pandemic in 2020, another threat to the environment grew more dire: plastic waste. Plastic pollution has mushroomed during the COVID-19 crisis. Besides trash bins overflowing … [Read more...] about As Plastic Waste Spirals Out of Control, Foundations Struggle to Protect the World’s Oceans
How a Group of Funders and NGOs Aims to Conserve 5% of the World’s Oceans
A new alliance of nonprofits and funders that launched last week is aiming to protect 5% of the world’s oceans—an area larger than South America—over the next five years.The effort is the latest international, multi-partner, funder-backed effort to … [Read more...] about How a Group of Funders and NGOs Aims to Conserve 5% of the World’s Oceans
How Funders Can Support Clean, Reliable Water for All
It’s time to redesign water systems in the United States to meet the needs of all people and communities—not just the privileged. Our present water system structure leaves many, particularly poor people, at risk of significant health and safety … [Read more...] about How Funders Can Support Clean, Reliable Water for All
Can the Private Sector Save Coral Reefs and Turn a Profit? A New Global Fund Hopes So
It is, unfortunately, not hyperbole to say that coral reefs may die out in our lifetime. Warming oceans are cooking them to death. Rapidly rising sea levels could drown them. Half of reefs have been lost in the last 30 years. Scientists say we could … [Read more...] about Can the Private Sector Save Coral Reefs and Turn a Profit? A New Global Fund Hopes So
Saving the Whales: A Crowdsourced Philanthropic Project Targets Fatal Collisions
Four years ago, Marc and Lynne Benioff committed $10 million to establish a new center dedicated to ocean conservation, joining a long list of mega-philanthropists trying to preserve and protect our planet’s watery depths and the animals who call … [Read more...] about Saving the Whales: A Crowdsourced Philanthropic Project Targets Fatal Collisions
Pandemic Hurting Fundraising? Not So Much for This Aquarium and Others
More than two years ago, the leadership of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium announced that they wanted to build a new facility. Their goal: a four-story, 110,00-square-foot building on a 12-acre site in Sarasota, Florida, with 1 million gallons of … [Read more...] about Pandemic Hurting Fundraising? Not So Much for This Aquarium and Others
Hedge Fund Titan, Chinese Billionaires Partner for the Oceans. Is More to Come?
Is it the yachts? The possibilities of those fathomless depths? Whatever the draw, billionaire captains of industry—particularly from tech and finance—have been increasingly putting their philanthropic muscle behind ocean conservation. A new … [Read more...] about Hedge Fund Titan, Chinese Billionaires Partner for the Oceans. Is More to Come?
