10.28.19 US News

Oct 28, 2019 | News, Philanthropy Journal

Pew Center for Arts & Heritage awards 39 grants totaling more than $8.4 million, the Marguerite Casey Foundation names Carmen Rojas, Ph.D. as its next President and CEO, the Aspen Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth create the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy, and more.

News about grants, gifts

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage awarded 39 grants in support of the Philadelphia region’s cultural organizations and artists. The 2019 awards total more than $8.4 million and provide funding for 12 Pew Fellowships and 27 project grants.

JPMorgan Chase is committing $7 million in new community investments to support people with criminal backgrounds in communities such as Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Seattle, New York and Delaware that focus on career development, financial health and entrepreneurship and encourage more companies in growing industries to hire them. This commitment comes as part of a new effort from JPMorgan Chase to give individuals with criminal backgrounds a second chance by supporting their reentry into the workforce and community.

Southern California philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist donated $1 million to Sharefest Community Development, enabling the launch of the Lundquist Youth Leadership Center, which will greatly expand the organization’s programs that support the academic achievement of at-risk students in the Los Angeles Harbor area.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) raised more than $5.8M as part of the 32nd Anniversary Awards Gala, presented by Ally Financial Inc. Proceeds from the event will go to supporting scholarships and programmatic support for nearly 300,000 students at TMCF member-schools.

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded $2.2 million through its Innovator Awards to advance Inflammatory Bowel Disease research and improve patient outcomes. This funding supports innovative methodologies from scientists worldwide.

The Boston Foundation awarded $2,637,000 in single and multi-year discretionary grants to 29 organizations, and also acknowledged another $3,242,134 paid out between cycles through other discretionary programs of the Foundation.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with Pink Zone awarded a $150,000 grant to Mount Nittany Health. The grant will provide additional funding for a cancer navigator program focused on removing barriers to care among the underserved.

The Wells Fargo Foundation awarded $5.4 million in grants to nine organizations that help struggling households manage their finances, reduce debt, improve credit and gain access to other life-changing economic opportunities. The nonprofits will develop and scale new approaches to improving financial health through collaboration with healthcare agencies, homeless shelters and others across the public and private sectors. 

News about people, groups

The Marguerite Casey Foundation named Carmen Rojas, Ph.D. as its next President and CEO.  Dr. Rojas currently serves on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and will transition into her new role on June 1, 2020. 

Tracy Callahan, founder of The Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation, is the inaugural recipient of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery’s Sun Safe Hero Award, which launched during the Society’s May 2019 Skin Cancer Awareness Month campaign, to recognize consumers who advocate for skin cancer awareness in their communities. Callahan used her multiple melanoma diagnoses to form the Foundation’s mission of awareness, prevention and early detection.

Charity Navigator named Stephen Rockwell as the organization’s Chief Ratings Technology Officer.

Leading Edge released a series of case studies profiling CEO transitions at six different major Jewish organizations across the country. The case studies series showcases challenges and best practices in leadership transitions, and address key issues for Jewish organizations today.

American Muslim Fund will receive the Outstanding Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter for National Philanthropy Day: November 15, 2019. In addition to American Muslim Fund’s award, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and his wife Stanford alumni Akiko Yamazaki will be recognized as Outstanding Philanthropists, with James Hormel and Mal Warwick each receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has added the cape that Bela Lugosi wore in his legendary performance as the title character in Dracula (1931) to their iconic movie costumes collection.

Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee continued her commitment to providing invaluable support to underprivileged youth by visiting the Illinois 4-H Memorial Camp as part of the Pollinator Habitat Program.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy will honor four U.S.-based grantmakers with their 2019 Impact Awards for boldly supporting frontline social movements with funding for new rapid response strategies, narrative shifts through pop culture, challenges to white supremacy, and investing in community change by putting families first. The bi-annual awards will be given during the Change Philanthropy UNITY Summit on Wednesday, November 20th in Seattle, WA.

The Arkansas Arthritis Foundation is partnering with Tree of Life Seeds, Arkansas-based hemp genetics and CBD product manufacturer, to highlight the foundation’s mission to provide research, advocacy, resources, and community support for arthritis patients and their families.

New Horizons was honored with an Access Award from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, after being nominated for recognition by LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl (3rd District).

News about opportunities, initiatives

Common Impact is collaborating with Fidelity Investments to expand Impact Week, its 4th annual wide-scale flash consulting event, to connect nearly 500 employees with 85 nonprofit teams to solve key operational challenges.

The Aspen Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth created the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy. The multi-year Mastercard-Aspen partnership, anchored by a $26 million investment from Mastercard, will combine the ideas, talents, and resources of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address income and information inequality through the lens of inclusive growth.

FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) will host the Contains: Courage FARE Summit 2019 November 1st through 3rd in Washington, DC.


If you are interested in having your organization’s news announced in the next News Bits, please send announcements or press releases to news@philanthropyjournal.com.

Related Posts

Creating Job Descriptions that Work for You

Understanding the components of a great job description will help you meet your staffing needs. If you take the time to explore those needs, all of your job descriptions will become much more valuable tools for your organization.

Stepping Up for Sickle Cell

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas uses a community-first approach through initiatives like the Carolinas Sickle Cell Collaborative which increases awareness of sickle cell anemia, identifies possible blood donors, and involves African American donors and organizations in the fight to ensure sickle cell patients receive the blood they need.

Categories