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PEAK Grantmaking

Weekly Reader – February 26, 2018

What we’re reading and recommending this week. We add to this post throughout the week and look for your suggestions in the comments.

Monday, February 26

Philanthropy in Shondaland: A Hollywood Producer Turns to Giving (Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy) African-American Hollywood producer-writer Shonda Rhimes has been on our radar for a while. On the philanthropic end, besides her Smithsonian gift, Rhimes made another big donation through her recently-minted Rhimes Family Foundation, which has given at least $1 million to the Obama Foundation.

Tuesday, February 27

Foundations Regroup to Meet Shifting Public Policy (Myron Miller and Amy Segal Shorey, Exponent Philanthropy) Responding to dramatic changes in public policy in 2017, many foundation leaders have tailored their strategies and tactics in continued pursuit of their missions. Armed with clear focus, experience, and strong networks, these foundations are modeling good philanthropic practice that is worth noticing.

Wednesday, February 28

Answers on grant proposals if nonprofits were brutally honest with funders (Vu Le, NonprofitAF) A while ago, a colleague imagined what our answers would be like on grant proposals if we nonprofits were allowed to be completely and brutally honest. Here are some of these honest responses.

Thursday, March 1

More Than 80 Philanthropic Leaders Commit To Working Across Borders To Achieve The SDGs In North America (Council on Foundations) Coming out of a historic meeting that brought together philanthropic leaders from Canada, Mexico and the United States, more than 80 philanthropic leaders have joined in solidarity and pledged to work to reduce poverty and increase opportunity for all across North America.

Friday, March 2

The Civic Science Imperative (Elizabeth Good Christoperhson, Dietram A. Scheufele, and Brooke Smith, SSIR) At a time of rapid scientific advances, philanthropy has a vital role to play in building a culture of “civic science”: one in which scientists take active roles as citizens, and citizens from all walks of life engage with scientific research and its social and ethical implications.


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