Higher Education
Most Recent
Will Bloomberg’s Big HBCU Gift Spur Other Donors to Narrow the Racial Wealth Gap in Higher Ed?
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $600 million commitment more than doubles the endowments of three of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools. Is a paradigm shift toward broader big-donor HBCU support underway?
Who’s Backing Rural Ed? A Selection of Key Funders to Know
In the second of a two-part series on funding for rural education, we look at some of the national, regional and community grantmakers supporting rural learners in the U.S. today.
ATL Giving: A Hip Hop Photographer’s Rising Philanthropy Focuses on Where It All Began
Thirty-five-year-old Cam Kirk has made millions working with the hip hop elite, and he’s looking to give back to Atlanta. That includes support for students at his alma mater, Morehouse College.
Community Colleges: Making the Most of Philanthropic Dollars to Bring Equity to Higher Education
Only a minuscule fraction of higher ed funding goes to community colleges. Guest author Keetha Mills argues donors can get a lot more impact for their buck by giving the community institutions another look.
Steven Rales Pumped $1.5 Billion into His Foundation in 2021. Is Money Reaching Nonprofits?
A mega donation from the billionaire elevated his Indian Paintbrush Foundation into the philanthropic elite. Much of its recent spending has gone to a DAF, but that may be changing.
What the Collapse of a Major HBCU Donation Tells Us About Structural Inequities in Philanthropy
Gregory Gerami’s $237 million gift to Florida A&M would have been the largest-ever HBCU donation, but it wasn’t meant to be. Institutional missteps aside, the whole saga speaks to deeper inequities plaguing the sector.
Mellon Gives Another Boost to the Humanities in Higher Ed Amid Waning Student Interest
To help dispel the perception that majoring in the humanities is a career killer, the bellwether liberal arts funder is standing up an initiative to provide paid internships for students in those fields.
From CZI to Carnegie: A Leader in Education Philanthropy Talks About Her New Role
After years in the education space, including at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Brooke Stafford-Brizard now hopes to help transform education from a post at the venerable Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Behind a Latina Donor’s Big Gift for Critical Race Studies at UCLA
Critical race theory is still drawing some significant support, despite conservative attacks and mischaracterizations. We take a look at Alicia Miñana de Lovelace’s recent gift for critical race studies at UCLA Law.
A Look at the Trellis Foundation’s Work to Reduce Barriers to Success for College Students
Based in Texas, the Trellis Foundation is all about boosting the success of low-income students and students of color. We dig into its two-year mental health learning collaborative, programs serving specific student groups and more.
Universities Raised a Staggering Amount of Money Last Fiscal Year, Despite a Tepid Stock Market
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s latest survey shows that last fiscal year, universities raised the second highest total since CASE started keeping track. We walk through key findings with the report’s author.
A Huge Gift to Cut Medical School Tuition Looks to Make a Dent in a Deep Systemic Problem
Crushing medical school debt has been contributing to a shortage of physicians and steering doctors away from needed but lower-paid specialties. A $1 billion gift will make tuition free at a New York med school.
This Higher Ed Funder Recognized the Growing Crisis of Student Mental Health Over Ten Years Ago
The Duke Endowment started working with four colleges back in 2013 to support students’ emotional wellbeing. With mental health concerns on the rise among youth, those efforts could serve as a model for other grantmakers.
A Family Foundation’s Refreshingly Accessible Approach to Funding Research and Education
Established in 2001 by investing legend Gary Brinson, the Chicago-based Brinson Foundation focuses on education and scientific research. We take a closer look at this uniquely transparent and accessible family foundation.
The Dollar Amounts Are Historic, But Here’s Why We’re Really Bullish About Two Recent HBCU Gifts
Spelman College and the UNCF received $100 million apiece in recent weeks. We dig into the common ingredients in each donation, and why they’re an encouraging sign for the HBCU field as a whole.
Culture Wars On Campus Are Raging, and Megadonors Are Key Figures on the Battlefield
On the heels of Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation, activists are pivoting to hot-button issues like dismantling DEI programs. Major donors have played a key role, and will likely continue to do so.
Ed Donors Take Note: Scholarships Have to Amount to More Than Just Feel-Good Stories
According to guest author Mike Nylund, scholarships as they’re currently awarded tend to exacerbate inequities in higher ed. His argument: Donors should adopt a sharp focus on students with clear financial need.
After a Trailblazing Career in Tech, a Donor Couple Boosts Black History, Higher Ed and More
Drawing wealth from a successful run as an IBM engineer, Rodney C. Adkins and wife Michelle Adkins are big backers of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, along with universities and STEM education.
A Look Back at the Giving of Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s Right-Hand Man
The legacy of the late Charlie Munger, second-in-command at Berkshire Hathaway, will be closely connected to that of his business partner. But his philanthropic record was quite different from Warren Buffett’s.
A Closer Look at the Philanthropy of First Wave Tech Billionaire John Morgridge and His Family
The former Cisco CEO hails from the generation of givers who made their fortunes in tech’s first wave. We dig into his family’s grantmaking and meet the heirs who’ll carry that philanthropy forward.
What Does the Billionaire Donor Revolt at Ivy League Schools Mean for Higher Ed Philanthropy?
Affluent donors have threatened to withhold support to protest school administrators’ responses to the Israel-Hamas war, among other related issues. We dig into its potential implications for the field.
Big Giving, Low Profile: Digging into the Philanthropy of the Billionaire Chan Family
While they have a penchant for higher ed mega-gifts, billionaire businessmen Ronnie and Gerald Chan keep things fairly low key with their Morningside Foundation. Here’s a look at the family’s backstory and the brothers’ priorities.
Why This Major Antipoverty Funder Is Ramping Up Its Investment in HBCUs
Against the backdrop of rising funder interest and a controversial Supreme Court decision, the big-donor funding collaborative Blue Meridian Partners is tripling its investment in the HBCU Transformation Project.
“A More Even Playing Field.” How Would the End of Legacy Admissions Impact Alumni Giving?
Across the country, it’s looking as if the days of legacy preferences may be numbered. Will ending the policy hurt revenues, or bring about a welcome change in the higher ed fundraising landscape?
The Wealthy Donors Behind the Assault on Affirmative Action
The campaign against affirmative action isn’t a lonely crusade by a committed activist and a band of disgruntled students; it’s an organized effort bankrolled by a powerful network of conservative funders.
HBCU Moves: Seven Questions for Mildred Whittier, Spelman College Alumna and Fundraiser
Mildred Whittier helped launch Women for Golden Futures, a fundraising effort to support her alma mater Spelman College. We heard from her about the initiative, her history with Spelman, and how HBCUs can pull in more funding.
Don’t Leave Home Without It: A Quick Look at Ken Chenault’s Philanthropy
The longtime American Express chief was one of the first Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 firm. Chenault backs a range of causes alongside his wife Kathryn, with HBCUs and arts and culture looming large.
Nine Ways Funders Can Increase Diversity in Higher Ed in a World Without Affirmative Action
The Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action sent a shockwave throughout higher ed philanthropy. Leaders in the field offer a to-do list to help fellow funders carry out their missions in this new legal landscape.
Who Are the Top Black Donors to HBCUs?
HBCUs are poised to become a larger philanthropic cause following the Supreme Court ruling rejecting affirmative action. But for years, Black donors have been among their largest backers. Here are some of the biggest donors.
Charles Barkley Made a Big Commitment to Diversity in Higher Ed. What Drives His Giving?
This basketball and broadcasting star has been supporting higher ed and other causes for years. The Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action ruling influenced one of his biggest commitments to date.
