May 2023

Donors and foundations that seek to improve education, health, and economic opportunity are backing solutions to fix the housing crisis.

The nonprofits offer homes at low rates, but in exchange buyers have to give up some of the equity they would typically build up with a standard mortgage. That allows the trusts to offer homes to more people.

Churches and other religious organizations are developing vacant or underutilized land in their own backyards to meet the need for affordable housing. Nonprofits are helping them navigate the financial and political challenges.

Instead of focusing mainly on ways to help low- and middle-class people buy affordable housing, grant makers are paying for community organizing and advocacy designed to protect renters. Plus: See the rest of our special report on affordable housing.

Investments that foundations and businesses make are put into revolving funds that provide loans, housing down payments, and more. Plus: Read more about what grant makers are doing to boost the availability of affordable housing while addressing health and education.

The first comprehensive study to measure public attitudes on foundations and nonprofits shows Americans have little knowledge of the difference organizations make in their lives. Just a third say they make a lot of difference to society.

Grant makers are hiring historians and taking other steps to learn whether their founders harmed people or the environment to get rich and then deciding how best to make up for what has caused the problems of today.

A humanitarian group called IsraAID remains in disaster areas long after the news cameras leave, working with community leaders and local organizations to help people recover and build resilience.

What works — and what doesn’t — when building ties with financial professionals to attract DAF gifts.

How groups have squeezed their work — and impact — into schedules that aren’t Monday through Friday

Six philanthropy leaders with differing views about how to address societal problems say it’s time to stand up for the importance of diversity in philanthropic giving and ideas — and against the notion that only one perspective is valid or worthy.

Lawsuits are not as risky or costly as many grant makers believe — and are one of the best strategies for achieving lasting effects on a wide range of environmental issues.