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Access Philanthropy

Impact of Mega Grants on smaller nonprofits

October 19, 2022 by Mary Anne Welch

Most philanthropoids seem okay with the huge McKenzie Scott-size grants that foundations are putting out for good causes. But some foundation employees are side-barring concerns about the impact these grants are having on everyday grant programs.

Two Ford Foundation (low level) grant people point out the $420 million commitment the Foundation made for equity last month takes away $80 million/year from the grants budget.

These guys believe it won’t be the big annual grantees who will suffer from this decrease, but small, newer, less well-known groups, who will have an $80 million smaller chance to develop a relationship with Ford and other funders.

Hopefully, the mega-mega $400 million commitment will have a larger-than-life impact on equity, and this will overshadow and justify fewer grants to smaller, newer, community-led groups. It worked for health, libraries, and school lunches at the beginning of the 20th century. So, maybe.

Filed Under: Philanthropy Trends, news & Resources