Engaging in Successful Rural Philanthropy

It’s a critical time for Rural America, but what do we know about it? There are 60 million rural people in the United States, roughly 19 percent of the nation’s population. Yet, the level of (under)investment by philanthropy in rural communities is still staggering—at less than 7% of all grantmaking.

The rewards of rural philanthropy for both communities and funders can be transformative in ways…

Striking a Balance ~Giving Now or Creating an Endowment? Should a Foundation Have a ‘Sunset Provision’?

In 2006 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—the largest private foundation in the world—announced its intention to spend down its endowment within 50 years after the death of its founders. And, in June 2006, Warren Buffett announced the largest charitable donation in history, a pledge of Berkshire Hathaway shares worth approximately $31 billion at that time, to the Bill & Melinda Gates…

Water 1st: The Power of Community Organizing

BANGLADESH WATER TOUR

Water1ststaff and donors returned from a visit to our project communities in Bangladesh. We are grateful for the warm welcome from the people living in the slum settlements of Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna and for the hospitality of our extraordinary local partner, DSK (Dushtha Shasthya Kendra). We thank them for the curry meals, cricket games, and rickshaw rides, and for…