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Remembering Urvashi
On Monday, May 16, I woke up to the devastating news that Urvashi Vaid had died. A pioneering LGBTQ+ civil rights activist, she leaves behind organizations, books, networks, movements, and ideas that will continue to inspire for decades to come.…
May 17, 2022
Remembering Franklin Thomas
In a difficult year, in which the world struggled to break free from the grip of Covid-19, only to be set back by a new variant, the news of Franklin Thomas’ death came like a sock to the gut. Many…
December 23, 2021
In conversation: Using data to deepen understanding
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is making a bold and public move to use Candid’s GuideStar profile and demographic survey to track data from grant applicants and recipients. Part of this effort includes a coordinated communication strategy—led by Packard…
August 25, 2021
Philanthropy and policing
Policing in America is fundamentally flawed. And philanthropic foundations can help fix it. Convicting ex-police officer Derek Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in killing George Floyd could be an inflection point. Widespread activism, growing recognition…
April 21, 2021
Thank you for being Vartan Gregorian
Like so many in the small world of philanthropy I was saddened to learn of the passing of Vartan Gregorian today, April 16, 2021. He was so many things to so many people. The articles now pouring out about Vartan…
April 16, 2021
Candid’s (not so terrible) twos
It seems hard to believe, but Candid has reached its second birthday. Without a doubt the last two years have reminded us once again, as John Lennon liked to say: “Life is what happens while you are busy making other…
February 1, 2021
America’s foundations can grant democracy room to breathe
If you’re like me, you have been reading and listening nonstop to make sense out the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Amidst all the confusion, there is one thing I know for sure: foundations have a unique…
January 20, 2021
Can philanthropy save the courts?
Just when I thought I’d figured out a survival strategy for this pandemic-slammed, economically bleak, racially charged, wildfire-ravaged, election-crazed year, an acrimonious firefight has begun over the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With Senate Majority…
September 22, 2020
There *is* a better way to practice philanthropy
This blog was originally published as part of MacArthur’s Perspectives on 100&Change blog series about the competition. I repent. After many years working at the Inter-American, Ford, and Oak Foundations, I now realize that the way we went about finding proposals, analyzing…
June 23, 2020
Are Foundations Equipped to Help Nonprofits Survive the Pandemic?
With close to 100,000 active foundations and collective annual giving of nearly $87 billion, America has the largest philanthropic sector in the world. While that pales in comparison to the trillions of dollars the federal government and Federal Reserve are…
April 16, 2020
Are foundations equipped to help nonprofits survive the pandemic?
With close to 100,000 active foundations and collective annual giving of nearly $87 billion, America has the largest philanthropic sector in the world. While that pales in comparison to the trillions of dollars the federal government and Federal Reserve are…
April 14, 2020
It’s been a year: Candid’s 2019 annual report
It’s been a year. Technically, it’s been 431 days since we officially became Candid. And it’s really been quite a year. In this annual report, we wanted to show you what made this first year at Candid special, challenging, and everything…
April 7, 2020