Funding

Jul. 19, 2016 8:44 am

MacArthur is granting to cities such as Philly, and folks in Chicago aren’t happy about it

Should big foundations in big cities stick to fighting local problems or look to solving ones beyond their city limits?

Chicago ain't happy with its hometown foundation.

(Photo by Flickr user Ken Douglas, used under a Creative Commons license)

Big foundations in big cities have a big problem on their hands: Should they be solving local problems by funding local organizations, or should they use their assets to help fight larger-scale problems?

It’s a controversy that’s become a frontline issue for Chicago’s MacArthur Foundation. Earlier this year, the foundation deployed $25 million to lower prison rates in 11 jurisdictions (including $3.5 million to lower Philadelphia‘s prison population by 34 percent).

Last month, MacArthur announced a competition to make a single $100 million grant to one “big idea” looking to solve a big problem.

Here’s the thing: Some folks in MacArthur’s hometown ain’t happy with those grants — especially many in Chicago’s Black community who feel the foundation should be doing more to solve problems a little closer to home.

Philadelphia has had a handful of similar qualms with smaller local funders such as GreenLight Fund, which has brought non-local nonprofits into the city rather than solely scale hometown organizations. But the city has also been lucky enough to have big funders like Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lenfest and William Penn foundations — all of which, for the most part, stick to their respective missions of improving conditions in Philadelphia.

From our Partners

-30-

From our Partners

We need blended capital to address racial inequities in Philadelphia’s capital access landscape

Commitments to Social Justice and Inclusion

Standing on the Promise

SPONSORED

Generocity Philly

Meet Kim Andrews, new executive director for The Fund for Women and Girls

Philadelphia,PA

DiverseForce

Director of Communications

Apply Now
8033 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118

harp-weaver LLC

Administrative & Grants Associate

Apply Now
Hamilton, NJ

Grounds For Sculpture

Manager of Wellness Programs

Apply Now

Going Beyond the Dollar: Strengthening the Support System of Grandfamilies

By sunsetting, the Douty Foundation makes a strong case for limited-life philanthropy

The uncomfortable truth: Confronting cultural inequities in grantmaking

SPONSORED

Generocity Philly

Be the leader to bring a 26-year mission into the future in Chester County

Central Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Prison Society

Prison Monitoring Manager

Apply Now
Philadelphia, PA

Play On Philly

Director of Education

Apply Now
Philadelphia

Ceiba

Bilingual Program Coordinator

Apply Now
   
       
       

Subscribe to Generocity

       
* indicates required