Philanthro News

The Friday Rewind offers a snapshot of PhilanthroNews —  that means news stories, articles, events of note, or information updates — from around our network and throughout the broad world of philanthropy. Whether you take a quick skim of the material or a deep dive through each item we hope to help inform your work and inspire your thinking.

1. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, a new foundation dedicated to supporting the underserved populations of New York, this month opened an online portal for its grants program. Also this month, the foundation announced its executive leadership team. The foundation is seeking to increase health care access in underserved communities, including low-income individuals and families, older adults, immigrants and migrant workers, formerly incarcerated individuals, persons with special needs, veterans, young children, pregnant women and new mothers, and youth and young philanthropists. Read more about the foundation here
2. Socially responsible investing (SRI) has grown in popularity over the past 50 years. Funds that invest in social goals, such as the environment, social justice, or public health, are launched regularly and available worldwide. But they invariably face a tension between two competing logics: the financial one of making money and the social one of promoting nonmonetary value. How do investors resolve these competing logics, and what factors inform their decisions? And how important is the prevailing logic of the economy and society in which the funds are launched? Read more here
3. In New York, 43% of children under five years old are at risk of not being counted in the census, according to information provided by the New York State Council on Children and Families during a series of presentations at a Friday public hearing about the 2020 census at the Utica State Office Building. The public hearing – hosted by the state Complete Count Commission – focused on presentations regarding census topics such as the under reporting of children and other specific populations in the last census. The commission is tasked with finding ways to ensure all state residents are accurately counted in the upcoming federal census. Read more about this meeting in CNY to help advocate for vulnerable populations
4. Like other areas of philanthropy, the early childhood space is in considerable flux as major new funders arrive on the scene, including ones with some very deep pockets. There’s the formal care sector, where foundations can push government to do more or make sure caregivers get professional development. Meanwhile, working a different set of muscles, philanthropy needs to think about how to reach kids in informal care settings, when they’re at home with parents or cared for at a neighbor or relative’s. How can a foundation reach those informal caregivers where they are to make sure they have the resources to create an enriching, nurturing environment for infants and toddlers? Then, of course, there’s the child’s health and physical development to consider. Foundations can get involved by funding developmental screenings and home visits, or by supporting efforts to insure both kids and adults. Early childhood work encompasses each of those areas, and where funders choose to focus can look different from foundation to foundation. Packard is one of the few grantmakers that takes on all three of those components of early childhood work. And lately, it’s worked to meld them together in a more holistic way. Read more here
5. For the past two years, CEP has been shining a bright spotlight on positive-outlier funders who are deeply invested — financially and in many other ways — in the performance of their grantees. One recent profile is on the Raikes Foundation, and focuses on how Jeff and Tricia Raikes have applied a “growth mindset” to their philanthropic journey. After helping grantees clarify the areas they want to improve, the foundation often helps the grantees gain exposure to “improvement science,” a discipline imported from the world of sophisticated healthcare institutions. The Raikes emphasis on improvement science has not only helped individual grantees achieve better results; it’s also helped foundation staff understand which organizations have a growth mindset—and which don’t. Read more here