Michael Kavate

Meet a New Billion-Dollar Fund from a Billionaire Crypto-Science Power Couple With a distinctive funding process and asset base, the Navigation Fund offers one more glimpse at where the giving of the rising mega-rich may be headed. Also, it's looking into sentient AI.

With a distinctive structure, funding process and asset base, The Navigation Fund offers one more sign of where the giving of the rising mega-rich may be headed.

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/35bfsrw7

#Philanthropy #CryptoGiving #AIFunding #DigitalSentience

Meet the Head of the New Ballmer Outfit Set to “Become the World’s Largest Climate Funder” Tom Steinbach is a master billionaire whisperer who has spent his career at the summit of climate philanthropy. How will he direct Rainier Climate’s billions?

Tom Steinbach is a master billionaire whisperer who has spent his career at the summit of climate philanthropy. How will he direct Rainier Climate’s billions?

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/4r467ha8

#ClimatePhilanthropy #RainierClimate #TomSteinbach #BallmerGroup

Nine Things to Know About Bezos Earth Fund’s New Leader Tom Taylor The former Amazon senior vice president is tasked with spending the fund’s remaining $6.7 billion over the next five and a half years.

New Bezos Earth Fund leader Tom Taylor, a former senior vice president at Amazon, is tasked with spending the fund’s remaining $6.7 billion over the next five and a half years. What should you know about him?

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/3xnx5523

#BezosEarthFund

Ford Foundation chose Heather Gerken as its new leader. Meet the Yale law school dean, expert on democracy, introvert, “intellectual guru,” podcaster and fan of peer pressure (but not Justin Bieber).

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/bdhuhy4u

#FordFoundation #HeatherGerken

More Stealth Foundations: 5 Mega Foundations That Lack Websites These five philanthropies have 10-digit endowments but no presence on the internet. Here’s what we know about them.

These five philanthropies are transparency paradoxes: They have 10-digit endowments but no presence on the internet. Here’s what we know about them.

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/yznypjc7

#StealthPhilanthropy #Philanthropy #Transparency #NonprofitSector #BigPhilanthropy

Will Philanthropy Get a Cut of the $3.3 Billion Murdoch Succession Deal? Here's a look at what James Murdoch, Liz Murdoch and Prue Murdoch MacLeod’s giving histories tell us about what they might fund with their shares of the payout.

As the family settles its succession drama, what can James Murdoch, Liz Murdoch and Prue Murdoch MacLeod’s giving histories tell us about what they might fund with their shares of the payout?

Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) reports: tinyurl.com/ye5jvjmy

#MurdochFamily #WealthTransfer

Billionaires to the Rescue? The Megadonors Who Might Fund the Fight for Democracy The ultra-rich have the resources to fund the fight against looming authoritarianism — if they step up. Among these top philanthropic billionaires, how likely is that to happen?

💸🛡️ As billionaire influence grows on both sides of the political divide, who’s willing to fund the fight for democracy?

We take a closer look at which megadonors might step up — and who’s staying quiet👇
📖 @kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/3tacet7t

#Philanthropy #BillionaireDonors

Can Working Together Triple U.S. Climate Funding? New Group for Advisors Aims High The Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition is bringing together top consultants, billionaire funders and support organizations to talk about how to convince donors to fund climate action.

🌱🔥 Climate giving is stuck at 2%. A new coalition thinks it can change that.

Meet the Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition — a growing alliance working to unlock serious dollars for the planet 👇
📖 @kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/vdupmmc8

#Philanthropy #ClimateFunding #ClimateCrisis

990 Watch: Four Billionaires in Trump’s Cabinet, Healthcare and Investing What do recently released tax disclosures tell us about the philanthropy of Kelly Loeffler, Jeremy Grantham, Thomas Frist and Eric Wepsic?

🧾🔍 IRS 990s reveal what billionaire foundations won’t say out loud.

From political ties to climate grants, here’s what we learned from the latest filings—before tax changes make this info vanish.

📖 @kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/yc3vbxzv

#Philanthropy #Transparency #BillionaireGiving

Great Wealth Transfer Watch: Three Newly Large Foundations Trillions due to be passed down to the younger generations are already supercharging the endowments of foundations across the country, including these notable examples.

A highly successful Tennessee auto dealer. An early investor in Warren Buffett’s conglomerate. The widow of a Johnson & Johnson heir.

What do they have in common?

@kavate.bsky.social reports on the Great Wealth Transfer — to foundations. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/great-w...

The Quiet Donors of America’s Richest Family: Three Low-Profile Walton Foundations Walmart’s stock price has been rising for more than a year. Here are three quiet Walton philanthropies that may get even larger as the family’s fortunes rise.

Many members of America's richest family channel their charitable giving via foundations with little if any public profile. A look at 3 of them: Town Branch Foundation, Alumbra Innovations Foundation & Penner Family Foundation.

@kavate.bsky.social reports: www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-qui...

Fear and Tension: What’s Going On at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors? After layoffs and a wave of resignations, many former and current staff at the famed consulting firm and fiscal sponsor are concerned about its new leadership — and its future.

🏛️ What’s happening at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors?

Reports of fear, leadership tension & staff discontent raise big questions about the firm guiding billions in philanthropic dollars. 💰👀

@kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/3wssj3f3

#Philanthropy #Rockefeller #LeadershipCrisis

Thanks to all of those who trusted me to tell the story of what is happening at RPA.

On retaliation:
“A lot of the people who were vocal about things that were happening were [let go] in the round of layoffs."
“The harsh reaction of the leadership every time you even say something remotely critical or ask questions — I think that’s also an indication that there will be retribution.”

“It was ‘you do as I say,’ jump when I say ‘go,’” said one another former staffer. “Everything was to please them and do something for them, whether it made sense for the organization or not.”

On the new executive team:
“There was a sense that the leadership didn’t understand our business model, or didn’t care to understand,” said one source.
"It’s not really clear what the logic behind the restructuring was, and what the restructuring even looks like.”

On the layoff of 27 staff:
“The way that this was all handled was so unjust and so unbelievably callous that goes against the grain of everything that RPA values,” said one former employee.
“It was just absolute chaos, that was obviously not well thought out."
“Some clients are very upset.”

Fear and Tension: What’s Going On at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors? After layoffs and a wave of resignations, many former and current staff at the famed consulting firm and fiscal sponsor are concerned about its new leadership — and its future.

I heard from eight former and current Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors staff about their concerns over the consultancy's new leadership -- and the organization's future.

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/fear-an...

Three major environmental funders up their spending | Inside Philanthropy Top green funders backed by Laurene Powell Jobs, C. Frederick Taylor and Barbara Picower increased their funding in 2023, according to tax filings.

🌱 Green megafunders Waverley, Sequoia, and Freedom Together are upping their climate spending. Inside Philanthropy explores their growing impact.

@kavate.bsky.social Reports: www.insidephilanthropy.com/ho...

#Philanthropy #ClimateAction #SocialImpact #GreenFunding #EnvironmentalPhilanthropy

Green 990s: What Are Four Major Donor Couples Funding? In 2023, a number of big green funders significantly raised their spend. Michael Kavate reviews the foundation 990s of four major donor couples to see where the money’s going.

🌱 What are top climate donors like Schmidt, Grantham, Simons, and Doerr funding?
Inside Philanthropy breaks down their latest environmental investments.

@kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/3bhab9cj

#Philanthropy #ClimateAction #Sustainability #SocialImpact #EnvironmentalFunding

What Will Climate Philanthropy Look Like Under Trump? Experts Weigh In The Trump administration is a massive roadblock to climate progress, but advocates still see many opportunities for effective climate giving.

What Will Climate Philanthropy Look Like Under Trump?

“We are going to go to the mat to defend the Inflation Reduction Act," said Lena Moffitt, executive director of Evergreen Action.

Read more from @kavate.bsky.social in @insidephilanthropy.com

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/what-wi...

"Tens of billions of dollars hang in the balance. Climate Program Portal estimated in October that $33 billion in IRA funding has yet to be awarded" @kavate.bsky.social reports

What Will Climate Philanthropy Look Like Under Trump? Experts Weigh In The Trump administration is a massive roadblock to climate progress, but advocates still see many opportunities for effective climate giving.

🌍 How will climate philanthropy shift under Trump?
Funders are pivoting to state & local initiatives, legal action, & global partnerships to sustain progress. 🔥

@kavate.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/5n7ev7xt

#Philanthropy #ClimateAction #Sustainability #EnvironmentalFunding #ClimateResilience

A Wave of Departures in Environmental Philanthropy as Diversity Falls Last year brought a wave of retirements and departures in climate philanthropy. While some say it is normal turnover, others see a generational shift and a “new era of leadership.”

“It’s notable, there’s no question about it,” said Sacha Spector, program director for the environment at Doris Duke Foundation, describing the year’s turnover as a “super wave.”

@kavate.bsky.social reports for @insidephilanthropy.com on: www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/a-wave-...

Larry Page Steps Out of Philanthropy’s Shadows as a Climate Donor Long secretive about their giving, the Google cofounder and his wife have revealed that millions of their foundation’s grant dollars went to climate causes in 2023. It’s a small step though: 77% still...

I've long been fascinated with how Google cofounder Larry Page uses a loophole to keep his $6.3 billion foundation's grants secret. But that changed in 2023, albeit slightly.

www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/larry-p...

How Generous Are Healthcare’s Richest? A Look at Five Sector Billionaires | Inside Philanthropy The wealthiest Americans in healthcare engage in relatively little philanthropy given the scale of their fortunes, based on a review of public records.

💰 How generous are healthcare’s richest billionaires? Inside Philanthropy dives into their giving priorities and impact. 🌟✨

@kavate.bsky.social reports: www.insidephilanthropy.com/ho...

#Philanthropy #Healthcare #SocialImpact #BillionairePhilanthropy #HealthcareInnovation #Equity