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A $3 billion boost in commitments to reduce global warming. A $300 million effort to revive local journalism. A $158 million Gates Foundation pledge to take on poverty in America.
These are among the big bets in philanthropy that the Chronicle has examined during the past year or so.
We also took a closer look at the legacy of Julia Stasch, one of the most prominent boosters of big-bet philanthropy, who will step down in August from the helm of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
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Corporate GivingWells Fargo Pledges $1 Billion for Affordable Housing
The financial-services giant’s Wednesday announcement means a shift away from narrowly targeted efforts to improve diversity to address “systemic” issues that hurt minorities. -
Opinion
Grant Makers Boost Climate-Change Commitments by $3 Billion
The pledge, announced at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, raises questions about how best to deploy the infusion of cash without inflaming deep divisions over the issue. -
News
Knight Foundation Commits $300 Million to Support Local Journalism
Grant maker support for media research is growing, but Knight’s commitment is an unprecedentedly large move to support front-line journalism. -
Grant Seeking
TED Plans $280 Million More in Funding for ‘Audacious’ Projects
The announcement follows a $250 million commitment announced last year. Projects funded by the latest round focus on causes such as climate activism and using data to do good. -
News
MacArthur Doubles Its 100&Change Program to $200 Million
The grant maker’s first $100 million went to Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee to help children affected by the Syrian conflict and had spinoff benefits for other nonprofits including Catholic Relief Services. -
News
Gates Announces $158 Million U.S. Anti-Poverty Effort
The foundation says it hopes the data-driven effort will attract experts and other heavyweight grant makers to join in a collaboration to address an issue that affects 40 million Americans. -
Giving Pledge
Gates, Skoll, and Others Pool Funds to Give First $80 Million in Grants
The fund supported by some Giving Pledge signers is going toward large-scale international efforts to improve health and education and bring people out of poverty. -
News
Clark Foundation Spins Off Blue Meridian as It Works to Spend All of Its Assets
The grant-making collaboration that Clark created, which has attracted $1.7 billion in commitments from wealthy philanthropies, will become an independent nonprofit organization. -
News
MacArthur’s Julia Stasch, Leader of Transition to ‘Big Bets,’ to Step Down
Under Stasch, the foundation narrowed its focus to criminal justice, climate change, nuclear disarmament, and a handful of other issues.
