News
The MacKenzie Effect: How Billionaire MacKenzie Scott Is Changing the Giving Game
A $36 billion fortune made Scott one of the richest women in the world. How she’s giving it away makes her fascinating.
Seeking Insights in the City that Never Sleeps
This year’s UNGA Week—the nickname for various activities surrounding the United Nations’ annual General Assembly—once again convened the global international development and social impact communities in New York City. Lever for Change was well represented, with four members of our team participating in events. While UNGA is often perceived as a sprawling and endless series of meetings, there was an undeniable sense of urgency in the air, with protests on nearby streets and activists demanding action in every arena.
Lever for Change announces leadership reorganization and expansion of team
Kristen Molyneaux, formerly Vice President, Program Strategy & Learning, will become President of Lever for Change, with responsibility for building a strong organization, delivering high-quality services for donors and nonprofits, and maximizing the impact of funding for social change. Cecilia Conrad will continue to serve as CEO, with responsibility for strategy development, business development, and financial viability.
When Philanthropy Speaks
When philanthropy leaders speak out, we all listen. Who are the “we” that we are talking about? “We” are the educators, the activists, and the people from all fields and disciplines who apply for funding to do work that furthers our missions.
How ‘big bet philanthropy’ is transforming the sector
Big bet philanthropy, the practice of making multimillion-dollar investments in a single organization with the intention of transforming a sector, issue, or organization, has gone mainstream.
This $50 Million Funding Challenge Seeks Solutions for a Resilient and Sustainable Gulf Coast
It was 15 years ago that the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and caught fire, killing 11 crew members and triggering the largest marine oil spill in history.
Newsletter | July 2024
In this edition of our quarterly newsletter, we share about our two open challenges totaling $150 million in funding opportunities, a knowledge piece about emerging best practices in prize philanthropy, and our headline-making news about previous and upcoming challenges.
Building Hope: Lessons Learned and Innovations in Refugee Support
Given the rise in global displacement across the globe, in honor of World Refugee Day, we gathered our Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award finalists for a discussion on how to best support the lives and well-being of refugees– and we are delighted to share these key learnings with our community of nonprofits, funders, and partners who are also committed to addressing this pressing global challenge.
New $50 Million Gulf Futures Challenge Launched to Support a Safer, More Resilient, and Sustainable Future for the U.S. Gulf Coast Region
A $50 million open challenge designed to discover and invest in bold ideas that apply, translate, or communicate science, engineering, and medical knowledge to address critical challenges in the Gulf.
An illuminating, rewarding journey toward racial equity
While pursuing $20 million challenge grants, two organizations focused their long-term vision and learned about racial equity. After receiving the award, they’re expanding innovative, effective work.