America has defined itself by its strong democratic principles for centuries, although the struggle to perfect that democratic experiment for the benefit of all citizens has been ongoing since the country’s founding. Now more than ever, the integrity of that system is visibly at risk. Despite the divisive discourse that surrounds democratic backsliding, this is … Continue reading Bolstering Democracy: Behind the Scenes at the Horizons Project
Anyone who’s turned on a TV or opened a social media feed in recent years already knows that hateful, divisive rhetoric is all around us. But this type of messaging can signal more than an increase in partisan polarization or the kind of cruelty that’s easier to deploy from behind a screen. It can also … Continue reading Inside the Dangerous Speech Project’s Work to Prevent Atrocities
New Venture Fund is the fiscal sponsor for hundreds of individual charitable projects that work independently to make the world a better place. NVF’s model is an important part of the philanthropic community, and it is a source of pride that changemakers come to New Venture Fund to help solve some of society’s greatest challenges. … Continue reading New Venture Fund’s 2021 Impact: Five Projects that Showcase NVF’s Work in 2021
With back-to-school season in full swing, parents across the country are engaged in similar conversations about school choice and quality, including families with our youngest learners. The landscape of early childhood education is vast, and not all options are created equal. Connecting young children to quality learning environments is a critical step in supporting their … Continue reading Making Strides For Educational Equity With Trust For Learning
It’s commonly said in philanthropy that those closest to the problem are best positioned to develop the solutions. However, understanding this in principle and implementing it in practice can be two different challenges. In 2018, the Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation began a conversation about how to … Continue reading Bringing Participatory Practices to Life at Fenomenal Funds
With polarization on the rise across the country and individuals retreating still further into their own bubbles of like-minded peers, the adage of “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” can seem like a quaint relic of the past. Indeed, the Pew Research Center reports that 77 percent of Americans believe the country is more … Continue reading Empathy Plus Action: Behind the Scenes of the Compassion Project
The New Venture Fund was proud to see a number of our fiscally sponsored projects listed among the recipients of MacKenzie Scott’s latest philanthropic contributions. In the essay that accompanied her list of donations, Ms. Scott notes that “equity can only be realized when all people involved have an opportunity to help shape it.” She … Continue reading Helping the Organizations that Help Us All
When Congress passed its $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill in November of 2021, communities across America were suddenly poised to receive a massive federal investment. While this is a tremendous victory for cities across the country, organizations like Next Century Cities know that significant work remains before every community can use those federal dollars effectively. … Continue reading Next Century Cities’ Big Opportunity to Bridge the Digital Divide
Water has always been at the center of the environmental movement, and for good reason. It’s universal and essential—the source of life on Earth. But for decades, the movement of those dedicated to protecting this invaluable resource has not fully reflected the diversity of people affected by it. Structural inequities, not lack of interest, have … Continue reading How the Fund for Lake Michigan Combines Racial Equity and Environmentalism
The events of 2020 fundamentally changed our country and the philanthropic sector, as donors and changemakers raced to respond to challenges including COVID-19, growing threats to democracy at home and abroad, and ongoing racial injustice. In this context, the value of fiscal sponsorship became readily apparent, and New Venture Fund experienced unprecedented growth in our … Continue reading How Three New Venture Fund Projects Are Helping to Advance Equity
