#philanthropy

#philanthropy

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco's "Golden Girl" Pat Montandon has died at 96 years old. She was known for her legendary parties in the 1960s with guests like the Gettys, Andy Warhol and Frank Sinatra. Following an ugly divorce, Montandon became a philanthropist, founding a peace group called Children as Teachers for Peace and making 37 international trips on its behalf.

For decades, philanthropy has reinforced a media landscape that favors the biggest (and whitest) news organizations, whether they be nonprofit, for-profit, or startups, while chronically underinvesting in ethnic and community media. I predict that 2026 will see one or more failures of newsrooms conceived of or propped up by funders, forcing a reckoning about how we support journalism in America.

"I feel like there's a narrative sometimes that our little actions don't matter," Neurodiversity Alliance CEO David Flink said. "That's just not true. And this proves it. Lots of little actions that happen every day in our work, collectively over time, reached the ears of folks like Lauren and Jeff."

Many have witnessed the challenges within their neighborhoods firsthand, but for some, this need becomes a personal mission. That's precisely what Chef Aarón Sánchez has embraced through his work with Emeril Lagasse Foundation. As a chef and restaurant owner, Aarón launched a scholarship program to support young aspiring chefs pursuing formal culinary education-opening doors to mentorship, professional training, and the opportunity to transform passion into long-term careers.

When the U.S. government cut funding for local news stations, the Knight Foundation moved quickly to help stabilize a rapidly eroding industry. President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth unpacks the evolving roles of philanthropy and government, and why philanthropic organizations must learn to move at the speed of the news cycle. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by former Fast Company editor-in-chief Robert Safian.

It's nearly impossible to describe the "Queen of all Media" in one sentence. Oprah Winfrey is a multihyphenate: A daytime talk show host who changed the business. A producer. An author. A philanthropist. An actress with accolades. A billionaire. An avid gardener. A champion of books and education. A media powerhouse. In 2014, a few years after ending the talk show that catapulted her to international renown, she was asked about the secret to her success.

The driver of a minivan hit and killed a philanthropist who was cycling north up Riverside Drive in Washington Heights late on Sunday, according to friends and cops. Cops say the wreck unfolded a little after 9 p.m. on Sunday at Riverside Drive and 158th Street when a 37-year-old driver of a white Toyota minivan struck the 78-year-old biker from behind. The driver remained at the scene and has not been charged. The investigation is ongoing, the NYPD said.

We're transforming this building into a hub that will deliver meaningful impact for people who need it most, said Christopher Baker, chief executive officer of Goodwill of Silicon Valley.

This holiday season, many families are feeling stretched. Budgets are tight and life feels heavy. But there is a quiet evolution happening across the country. More Americans are discovering that generosity speaks many languages. According to the Johnson Center for Philanthropy's 2025 Trends Report, nonprofits are creating new pathways for people to give through service, mentorship and in-kind support. These opportunities complement traditional philanthropy and together they are making giving more accessible than ever.

It brought tears to my eyes seeing this little baby and seeing her flourish,

The historic gift has little precedent, with few single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion, much less multiple billions. Announced on GivingTuesday, the Dells believe it's the largest single private commitment made to U.S. children. It is also unusual in that it will operate through investment accounts set up by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that will be managed by private companies.

I agree with love of humanity, and I think we should try to do things that help our fellow human beings,

Six million dollars can buy a lot of things, but they do not guarantee a place in the pantheon of immortality. The amount, give or take a cent, is what Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have ponied up as star sponsors of the next glitzy gala organized by the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, to be held on the first Monday of May 2026.

The Plaza Hotel has always performed a kind of alchemy in November. Its marble floors gleam with a wintered radiance, its chandeliers scatter light like finely cut glass, and its famed Palm Court transforms into a microcosm of New York's holiday anticipationtwinkling garlands, gold-ribboned wreaths, evergreen branches flirting with crystal ornaments. This year, the magic of that storied setting carried a deeper resonance, because earlier this month, the Plaza became the stage for one of the most emotionally charged and intellectually vital gatherings in the city's philanthropic landscape: the 19th Annual Hope for Depression Research Foundation Luncheon

As "narrative change" has become a trending topic in philanthropy, the work of liberation movements risks being overshadowed and co-opted by funder-driven frameworks that have a history of eroding the deeper, more durable efforts led by the individuals, organizations, and networks on the front lines of change. In a time of political targeting of civil society, it becomes all the more important to protect and build from the groundwork that's been laid