Undervaluing Social Return Carries Hidden Costs for Philanthropy
Foundations often set grantmaking payouts by comparing financial returns (Rf) to estimated social returns (Rs), using finance‑derived metrics like SROI. Because social outcomes are hard to monetize, Rs is typically measured conservatively, making Rf appear more reliable. This asymmetry drives low payout rates, as institutions favor preserving capital over deploying it for impact. The article argues that undervaluing social return hides the true cost to philanthropy and limits societal change.
Advancing Disability Inclusion in Agricultural Philanthropy and Rural Development Funding
Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest nations, faces severe infrastructure gaps, with only 29% electricity access and a subsistence‑based agricultural economy strained by rising fertilizer costs. An estimated 500,000 citizens—about 5.5% of the population—live with physical disabilities, many stemming...
The Nonprofit Supporting Homeownership for a Black Town in Rural Mississippi
But God Ministries is constructing a 10‑home neighborhood in Jonestown, Mississippi, a 100% Black town of 852 residents with a median household income of $21,700 and 56% of residents living below the poverty line. The nonprofit’s effort follows earlier community...
Honoring 2 Community-Centered Leaders in Health Philanthropy
Grantmakers In Health announced Mark Constantine of the Dogwood Health Trust as the 2026 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award winner and Gladys Vega of La Colaborativa as the 2026 Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy recipient. Both leaders are recognized for centering...
India’s Social Sector: Scaling Momentum to Improve Resilience and Close Funding Gaps
Research by The Bridgespan Group shows Indian funders are increasingly entering multiyear partnerships and covering core operational costs for nonprofits, signaling a shift toward true‑cost funding. The Pay‑What‑It‑Takes (PWIT) India Initiative, backed by six philanthropic partners and 15 nonprofit leaders,...
Spurring Investment in Movement-Rooted Philanthropic Intermediaries
In early 2026 thought leaders highlighted turbulence across philanthropy—democratic fragility, government overreach, funding cuts, and pressure on nonprofits—but omitted movement‑rooted philanthropic intermediaries. Collaborative funds, which move $4‑7 billion annually across more than 500 global pools, consistently rank in the top 15...
Rising Sea Levels and Sinking Coastal Lands: 2 Studies Reshape Our Understanding of Climate Threats
Two new peer‑reviewed studies reveal that real‑world sea levels are roughly one foot higher than most global models predict, and that many coastal regions are sinking faster than the oceans rise. Researchers examined 385 tidal‑gauge sites and found baseline sea‑level...
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Tracking the World’s Rarest Chimpanzees Despite Conflict [Video]
Nigeria’s Gashaka Gumti National Park, home to the world’s rarest Nigeria‑Cameroon chimpanzee, saw research halt in 2018 due to insecurity. A 2023 co‑management deal between the Nigerian government and Africa Nature Investors Foundation revived the effort, hiring over 180 rangers....
Protecting Flowering Plants Is Crucial to Our Future
Ecologist David George Haskell argues that flowering plants ignited a massive biodiversity surge and now underpin modern ecosystems. In his new book How Flowers Made Our World, he explains how floral genetics enabled angiosperms to colonize new habitats for over 130 million...
Cash Flow Underwriting Expands Economic Opportunity by Looking at Behavior in the Present, Not the Past
Cash flow underwriting replaces reliance on historical credit data with real‑time analysis of transactional accounts. By monitoring spending patterns, income streams, and debt management, lenders gain a dynamic view of a borrower’s current financial health. The approach complements traditional credit...
How Inexpensive Rooms Once Prevented Homelessness
In the mid‑20th century, single‑room occupancy (SRO) housing made up roughly a tenth of rental units in major U.S. cities, offering rooms for $100‑$300 a month—far below today’s median rent of $1,200. A 1955 New York City ordinance banning new SRO...
Colombian Night Monkeys: New Research Looks at These Primates, Little-Known Due to Their Nocturnal Nature
Colombian night monkeys (genus Aotus) have long evaded scientific scrutiny because their nocturnal habits make field observation difficult. Researchers like doctoral student Sebastián Montilla are now pioneering in‑situ studies in Colombia’s coffee‑growing regions, aiming to document behavior that has mostly...
Changing Philanthropy’s Source Code for a Brighter Future
The 2026 Global Philanthropy Leaders Summit, themed “Architecting the future: Operating systems for a new era of philanthropy,” highlighted a shift toward more flexible, multi‑year grants and ecosystem‑focused funding. Participants emphasized the need to address geopolitical fragmentation, rapid technology change,...
What Does It Mean for Funders to Stay Rather Than Surrender Amidst Attacks on Civic Life?
Sadé Dozan’s recent piece urges donors and funders to stay engaged and defend civic life amid growing attacks on community organizing. Drawing on a personal pepper‑spray incident at a queer Brooklyn club, she frames joy as a vital piece of...
Scientists May Be Overestimating the Amount of Microplastics in the Environment – and the Culprit Is Lab Gloves
University of Michigan researchers discovered that standard laboratory gloves can contaminate microplastic samples, leading to severe overestimates of environmental microplastic levels. The gloves release stearate salt particles that spectroscopic tools often mistake for polyethylene, inflating counts by up to 7,000...