Philanthropy
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Organizing vs. Advocacy: A Primer for Donors
Organizing is the process of building power from the bottom up—which is very different than advocacy, which often flows from expertise and access. Both are important. Read more
Feb 28, 2022
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Hate the Conservative Supreme Court? Thank the Liberal Establishment
The American Constitution Society has long embodied liberal complacency around the courts. But the last few years seem to have finally lit a fire and the ACS is moving in the right direction. Read more
Nov 30, 2021
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Progressive Donors Must Invest Now to Change the Courts
For years, liberals sat on their hands as the right rewrote the Constitution through the courts. A handful of new progressive organizations have found a way to fight back, but they need a lot more funding. Read more
Oct 12, 2021
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The Case for Supporting a Newer, Younger “Federalist Society for the Left”
Many progressives hunger for a more aggressive approach to the courts and to judges. The People's Parity Project is one group taking such an approach—and it's attracting donors. Read more
Sep 22, 2021
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Organizing in the South: Lots of Energy, Lots of Pushback
Donors looking to the South will find a lot of hard-working and effective groups and organizers on the ground—along with entrenched obstacles to advancing progressive change. Read more
Jul 27, 2021
Texas Jail Project
How a Tiny Group of Activists Built a Criminal Justice Reform Organization
The Texas Jail Project has statewide and even national reach. It was founded by four women who knew nothing about criminal justice. This is what they did—and how others can follow. Read more
Mar 30, 2021
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How a Top Criminal Justice Group Backs Reform Efforts Across the U.S.
Civil Rights Corps has been moving fast and growing fast in recent years. It provides a range of supports to local groups working to reform criminal justice systems. Here's a peek inside. Read more
Mar 9, 2021
Gara LaMarche on Wealthy Donors, Philanthropy and Progressive Politics
As LaMarche prepares to leave his role heading the Democracy Alliance, a network of wealthy donors, he talks to Blue Tent editor David Callahan about his quarter-century in philanthropy. Read more
Mar 8, 2021
IMAGE VIA TED EYTAN/CREATIVE COMMONS
Four Important Groups to Know in the Transgender Funding Space
A handful of philanthropic players have emerged as high-impact supporters of transgender rights. Each has its own definition of trans justice and its own theory of change. Read more
Mar 3, 2021
Photo credit: Transgender Law Center
“Stay Diligent, Stay Strong.” A Leader on Trans Rights Urges Funders to Ramp up Support
While transgender rights activists have made real progress, philanthropic funding remains scarce. Kris Hayashi of the Transgender Law Center is challenging funders to do more. Read more
Feb 26, 2021
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With an Impressive List of Backers, a New Fund Supports Black-Led Groups in California
A coalition of more than 20 funders recently launched the California Black Freedom Fund, with $100 million to support Black-led power-building groups. Organizers share the details of how it came about. Read more
Feb 16, 2021
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New Initiative Calls for 30% of Climate Funding to Back Justice Groups Led by People of Color
Environmental justice receives just 1.3% of all foundation giving to green groups. A new campaign hopes to raise that to 30% to transform the climate movement and fuel more wins. Read more
Feb 9, 2021
Julia Galilker
Criminal-Justice-Impacted People Are Just Starting to Realize Their Power
Ad-hoc, small organizations across the country that originally came together "just to survive" having a locked-up loved one are starting to wield political power alongside incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people alike. Read more
Jan 28, 2021
The Fight of a Lifetime: 30 Key Players in Progressive Philanthropy
While progressive ideas are gaining traction across the funding world, only a small sliver of foundations and major donors clearly identify as social justice funders. We look at who’s in that vanguard. Read more
Jan 26, 2021
Exit Interview: How Fred Ali Reinvented the Weingart Foundation
Over the past twenty years, Weingart has emerged as a top funder in Los Angeles of organizing and advocacy work. Blue Tent editor David Callahan talks to its outgoing president, Fred Ali, about that transformation. Read more
Jan 22, 2021
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Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Focuses on Empowering Girls and Youth
Like many contemporary top athletes, Sloane Stephens is serious about philanthropy. Her foundation has been dipping its toes into education work, while Stephens herself is speaking out more often on social issues. Read more
Jan 19, 2021
Wall Street Greens: The Top Givers to Environmental Causes from Finance
Leading philanthropists from finance have given more than $2 billion to environmental causes in recent years, transforming this funding landscape. We analyze the giving of these donors, looking at who’s giving to which organizations. Read more
Jan 11, 2021
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How the Latino Community Foundation is Building a Network of Latino Philanthropists
This community foundation wants to recast the civic and political position of Latinos in California. Here's how they're doing it. Read more
Dec 6, 2020
The Arc of Change: A Philanthropist Reflects on Decades of Giving for Social Justice
Long before it was common for foundations to talk about empowering frontline activists, Mary Ann Stein steered her family foundation, the Moriah Fund, to back grassroots organizing work. Read more
Dec 5, 2020
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Vanguard Defenders: What Top Foundations Are Doing to Protect Abortion Access
Every year, U.S. foundations spend hundreds of millions on reproductive health and justice, including abortion care. Where are the biggest players directing their money, and what role do grassroots and youth movements have to play? Read more
Nov 29, 2020
