Foundation Grants
Community Vital Signs
About Us
Philanthropists Embrace Collaborative Funding to Multiply Their Impact
Foundation: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
"It is incredible, but I would say that we still have only scratched the surface," says Nancy Roob, CEO of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, a New York-based charity that in 2015 launched Blue Meridian Partners, a platform that allows philanthropists and funders to invest in social change together.
"I think there is more opportunity to innovate and get more capital to these important causes," says Roob, who notes that the foundation originally focused on issues related to youth social mobility and the transition to adulthood, but decided to "get more capital off the sidelines" and expand its focus to issues affecting all Americans, including health, education, and justice.
Among its partners are multibillion-dollar endowments such as the William and Flora Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.
This year, BMP hit $4 billion in allocated capital, and it now directs hundreds of millions of dollars in giving each year.
The Guardian reports that research by the Bridgespan Group shows that since 2010, the number of funder collaboratives with assets larger than $1 billion has doubled, with more than $3 billion invested in non-profits and social movements by 2022.
Another funder collaborative, Farming the Future, a UK-based funder focused on making the industrial food system more sustainable
Read the Entire Article
Selected Foundation News
A customized collection of news from foundations from around the Web.
Northwestern is set to eliminate more than 400 staff positions as it continues to grapple with a $790 bill.Indie pop act Del Water Gap announced an upcoming album and performed "How to Live" for the...more
Rapp suggests dividing Jewish education into two tracks: functional academic learning during school hours, and informal, inspirational experiences run by organizations like NCSY afterward."The...more
Holland College's School of Performing Arts (SoPA) has partnered with WAVMAKR to present the Creative Music Workshop Series this August at The Guild.The workshop series offers musicians of all levels...more
A group of Loughborough University students from the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, recently embarked on an international journey.They exhibited their pavilion 'Strands of...more
The Muckenthaler's Arts Education Department offers classes year-round, including seasonal sessions, weekend workshops, and school-break camps.Classes include the visual arts, ceramics, dance,...more
Alpha School, an "AI-powered" private school, is preparing to make its mark on Charlotte and Raleigh this year.The North Carolina campuses each come with a $45,000 price tag and will offer K-3 for...more
Plastic pollution is projected to triple by 2060, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) UNEP-led talks follow a decision in 2022 by Member States to develop an international legally...more
This piece is part of the weekly series "Growing Forward: Insights for Building Better Food and Agriculture Systems" It's fraught to depend on global supply chains for food security given trade wars,...more
Foundations Launch $50 Million Adaptation and Resilience Fund for Communities Facing Climate Risks.Funding fulfills a $50 million commitment made by philanthropies last year in response to the UN...more
Boosting Canada's agricultural productivity through investment and innovation.Report provides some key recommendations for boosting agricultural investment.Future of Canadian agriculture lies in our...more
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
When it Comes to Social Enterprises, Failure is the Best Platform for Innovation
In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.