Martha Ramirez

We spoke with Monique Couvson, Ed.D. about her latest book on investing in women and girls, and got her take on the retrenchment in support for racial and gender justice.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/5n7myt42

#GirlsOfColor #GenderEquity #YouthJustice

What’s Up With Jack Dorsey’s Philanthropy? In 2020, Dorsey pledged $1 billion to back COVID relief, universal basic income, and girls’ education and health. More than five years later, where does his giving stand?

In 2020, Dorsey pledged $1 billion to back COVID relief, universal basic income, and girls’ education and health. More than five years later, where does his giving stand?

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/2u37dafu

#JackDorsey #BillionairePhilanthropy #StartSmall

How One Minnesota Foundation Is Responding to the ICE Crisis Black Collective Foundation Minnesota’s rapid support for immigrant-serving organizations offers a window into what funders can do in the state and across the U.S.

Black Collective Foundation Minnesota’s rapid support for immigrant-serving organizations offers a window into what funders can do in the state and across the U.S.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/y5rrwcdd

#ImmigrantRights #RapidResponse #RacialJustice #Minnesota

How One Minnesota Foundation Is Responding to the ICE Crisis Black Collective Foundation Minnesota’s rapid support for immigrant-serving organizations offers a window into what funders can do in the state and across the U.S.

Inside Philanthropy recently spoke with Lulete Mola, president and cofounder of Black Collective Foundation Minnesota (BCFMN). Launched in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, BCFMN and has been active as a rapid-response funder and is working to support immigrants in the state.

Who’s Funding AI Regulation and Safety? Is philanthropy beginning to rally around addressing the challenges and dangers of AI? These funders and collaboratives signal gathering momentum.

Is philanthropy beginning to rally around addressing the challenges and dangers of AI? These funders and collaboratives signal gathering momentum.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/3k4ayeyp

#AISafety #ResponsibleAI #AIForGood #Philanthropy #TechPolicy #AIRegulation

Much More to Come? 26 Young Giving Pledgers We take an updated look at the youngest donors who've signed the Giving Pledge and what they've prioritized so far.

Ranging from entrepreneurs and investors to commercial astronauts and cryptobillionaires, here's an updated look at the youngest donors who have signed the Giving Pledge, and what they’ve focused on with their giving.

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/much-mo...

Akonadi Foundation’s Ray Colmenar on Backing Racial Justice at a Fraught Time The Oakland-based foundation's leader speaks about its work, its reaction to Trump’s attacks on social justice and equity, and how funders can work together to respond.

The Oakland-based foundation's leader speaks about its work, its reaction to Trump’s attacks on social justice and equity, and how funders can work together to respond.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/bdh6e4y8

#RacialJustice #Philanthropy #CommunityOrganizing

Here’s Who Signed the Giving Pledge in 2025 This year saw 14 new donors commit to giving away most of their fortunes to charitable causes.

This year saw 14 new donors commit to giving away most of their fortunes to charitable causes.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/effbs7up

#GivingPledge #BillionairePhilanthropy #MajorDonors #WealthGiving #PhilanthropyTrends #LivingDonors #ImpactGiving #NewGildedAge

A Republic of Letters: Carnegie Recommits to Funding Libraries The Carnegie Corporation of New York is getting back into library funding in a big way, starting with gifts to every Carnegie Library in the United States.

The Carnegie name has long been synonymous with libraries. In honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, Carnegie has awarded gifts of $10,000 to every Carnegie library in the U.S.
www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/a-repub...

Class Traitors: Can Billionaires Back Structural Economic Reform in a New Gilded Age? Very few ultra-wealthy people support efforts to bring about systemic economic change. There are, however, some exceptions to note.

Very few ultra-wealthy people support efforts to bring about systemic economic change. There are, however, some exceptions to note.

@martharamirez.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/ycxzy859

Check out all the articles here: tinyurl.com/28xk5d8j

#BigPhilanthropy #WealthGap #MegaDonors #Billionaires

Class Traitors: Can Billionaires Back Structural Economic Reform in a New Gilded Age? Very few ultra-wealthy people support efforts to bring about systemic economic change. There are, however, some exceptions to note.

As part of @insidephilanthropy.com's series on the new Gilded Age, we take a look at the few billionaires who have sought to address the wealth gap at a systemic level.

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/class-t...

As trust in the press hits all-time lows, there’s actually a lot that funders can do to help restore confidence in a critical institution for democracy.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/2m4nudts

#Journalism #LocalNews #Philanthropy #MediaLiteracy #Disinformation

Five Things Philanthropy Can Do to Restore Trust in Journalism As trust in the press hits all-time lows, there’s actually a lot that funders can do to help restore confidence in a critical institution for democracy.

For all the good that philanthropy has done to support journalism, especially when its comes to preserving and expanding the local news ecosystem, it may all be for naught if the majority of people don’t trust the information they’re receiving.

Philanthropy Powers Habitat for Humanity’s Search for New Housing Solutions Backed by donors like Ron Terwilliger, the NGO is working to develop scalable ways to build homes for the billions worldwide who lack access to adequate housing.

Backed by donors like Ron Terwilliger, the NGO is working to develop scalable ways to build homes for the billions worldwide who lack access to adequate housing.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/576v2nvy

#HousingIsAHumanRight #AffordableHousing #HabitatForHumanity

7 Billionaires Funding Efforts to Address the Homelessness Crisis As homelessness in the U.S. reaches record levels, here's what some major billionaires are funding.

As homelessness in the U.S. reaches record levels, here's what some major billionaires are funding.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/dx7rxdnj

#HomelessnessCrisis #HousingForAll #Philanthropy #AffordableHousing #WealthGap #SocialImpact #HousingJustice #EndHomelessness

7 Billionaires Funding Efforts to Address the Homelessness Crisis As homelessness in the U.S. reaches record levels, here's what some major billionaires are funding.

Even as philanthropic funders writ large seek to address homelessness — with mixed success — billionaires’ relationship to the homelessness crisis is a complicated one.

Philanthropy’s Response to SNAP Cuts Highlights Government’s Abdication The shutdown showed that for all philanthropy can and should do to address hunger and poverty, it’s ultimately the government that is responsible for the wellbeing of its people.

The shutdown showed that for all philanthropy can and should do to address hunger and poverty, it’s ultimately the government that is responsible for the wellbeing of its people.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/3aaam6m2

#FoodSecurity #SNAPBenefits #PovertyCrisis

Philanthropy’s Response to SNAP Cuts Highlights Government’s Abdication The shutdown showed that for all philanthropy can and should do to address hunger and poverty, it’s ultimately the government that is responsible for the wellbeing of its people.

As this administration and a Republican-led Congress continue to make broad cuts in federal funding, philanthropy has been met with mounting pressure to play a bigger role in funding human services programs, including SNAP.

Lessons from Prop 50: Why Safeguarding Elections Needs Year-Round Support California’s special election prompted some funders to act quickly to ensure access to the polls. Maintaining and growing that support will be key going into 2026.

California’s special election prompted some funders to act quickly to ensure access to the polls. Maintaining and growing that support will be key going into 2026.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/2t5t3d26

#DemocracyFund #ElectionProtection #VotingRights

What Can We Make of Timothy Mellon’s $130 Million Donation to Pay the Military? The 83-year-old heir and rail investor is one of Trump’s top political donors. His gift, meant to pay troops during the government shutdown, has raised eyebrows.

The 83-year-old heir and rail entrepreneur Timothy Mellon is one of Trump’s top political donors. His recent gift, meant to pay troops during the government shutdown, has raised eyebrows.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/2p9rjken

#TimothyMellon #MegaDonors

What Can We Make of Timothy Mellon’s $130 Million Donation to Pay the Military? The 83-year-old heir and rail investor is one of Trump’s top political donors. His gift, meant to pay troops during the government shutdown, has raised eyebrows.

"The possibility remains that [Timothy] Mellon is trying to influence military personnel to his or Trump’s favor, while also giving the White House a way to argue that as Democrats extend the shutdown, big Trump donors have the troops’ interests in mind."

As the federal government threatens to revoke the 501c3 status of nonprofit organizations, a new California law will allow organizations to continue to receive grants and contracts from the state.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/3aakwvav

#NonprofitLaw

New Law Will Protect California Nonprofits Targeted by the Feds As the federal government threatens to revoke nonprofits' 501c3 status, the law will allow organizations to continue to receive grants and contracts from the state.

“In the spirit of trying to figure out how to protect a...crucial part of California’s resilience and resistance to the Trump administration’s agenda, we wanted to ensure that California would be in a position to continue to...grant and contract with our nonprofit organizations that we depend on.”

The Trust for Civic Life Tackles Polarization in Rural America Now in its second year, this pooled fund is bringing people together in underserved rural communities with backing from around two dozen philanthropies.

Now in its second year, the Trust for Civic Life is bringing people together in underserved rural communities to tackle local issues that matter most to them.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/ycxrcnww

#CivicEngagement #Philanthropy #Democracy #RuralDevelopment

Appalachia Funders Network Aims to Make Climate Disaster Giving Easier With a new tool, the network is hoping to guide funders to where their dollars can do the most as the region recovers from Hurricane Helene and prepares for future disasters.

With a new tool, the Appalachia Funders Network wants to guide funders to where their dollars can make the most impact as the region strives to recover from Hurricane Helene and prepare for future climate disasters.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/px4xz7jv

Free Speech Is Under Attack. Here’s What Funders Are Doing — and What Else Is Needed With civil liberties under increasing threat, it’s critical that philanthropy retains its voice and defends free speech, both to protect nonprofits and democracy writ large.

“If our democracy is to survive, the freedoms of speech and the press need a vigorous, determined defense."

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/free-sp...

Seven Women’s Giving Circles and Networks to Know Women make up the majority of members in 70% of all giving circles. Here are a few to know focused on women, trans and nonbinary people.

Women make up the majority of members in 70% of all giving circles, which are steadily popular and more democratic ways of giving. With more than 4,000 giving circles in the U.S., here's some women’s giving circles to know.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/4vm6p555

This Philanthropic Partnership Aims to Reduce Youth Incarceration in L.A. How Is It Faring? With a renewed contract and an injection of philanthropic dollars, Ready to Rise will continue its work to support youth in Los Angeles for another seven years.

With a renewed contract and an injection of philanthropic dollars, Ready to Rise will continue its work to support youth in Los Angeles for another seven years.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/mpsnxxfy

#YouthJustice #JusticeReform #YouthDevelopment

Voting Rights Are Under Attack. It’s Time for All Funders to Take Action With Trump now taking aim at mail-in voting, philanthropy’s role in supporting the right to vote has become all the more critical, and it’s not just “democracy funders” who need to step up.

Trump has taken aim at mail-in voting. With the midterm elections on the way, philanthropy’s role in supporting the right to vote has become all the more critical, and it’s not just “democracy funders” who need to step up.

Martha Ramirez(@martharamirez.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/ummnm85j

Voting Rights Are Under Attack. It’s Time for All Funders to Take Action With Trump now taking aim at mail-in voting, philanthropy’s role in supporting the right to vote has become all the more critical, and it’s not just “democracy funders” who need to step up.

“You can never have a real democracy with mail-in voting. We as a Republican Party are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots,” President Trump said.

For philanthropic funders and the nonprofits they support, this is a moment of truth.