Philanthropic practice

Back in 2016, local Pittsburgh artists Jerome Charles and Max Gonzales were arrested for being the "Most Wanted Graffiti Artists in Pittsburgh," local media reports recall.

In 2012, Giving Tuesday (the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the US) was launched by the 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation to encourage global giving focusing on the holiday and end-of-year giving.

The article How Grantmakers Can Use Power Mindfully to Advance Equity, part of the "Power in Philanthropy" series presented by Stanford Social Innovation Review and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, addresses that even if there may be barriers to utilizing power ethically and responsibly, "funders can —and must—overcome them to truly advance equity and justice."

In a recent interview with Philanthropy News Digest, Lori Villarosa, founder and executive director of the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE), discussed racial equity, racial justice, and how the philanthropic field is working towards a more just society.

One of philanthropy’s responses to the horrific Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that left 11 people dead came from Grant Oliphant, president of The Heinz Endowments, in a poignant blog post. (See the full post on GIA's Arts Funders Respond page.)

In a recent blog post, Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), reflected on the role of the Council on Foundations (COF) and how a strong voice for foundations is needed, in Washington and with the public, "to articulate the unique role of institutional philanthropy."

LISC NYC, in partnership with Upstart Co-Lab, a national organization that connects impact investing to the creative economy, launched the NYC Inclusive Creative Economy Fund, "an opportunity for accredited investors to finance affordable, inclusive creative workspaces," states the press release.

In February 2018, the portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Within this institution of power, a Greek Revival building lined with marble floors and white columns, images of presidents and other US leaders are captured in traditional oil paintings. In envisioning their own portraits, the Obamas made bold choices, which differed from most of their predecessors’ in the artists who were chosen to paint them and the styles in which they were portrayed.

When I was asked to contribute a book review of adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds for the GIA Reader, I immediately perked up in disbelief and excitement. How could I possibly represent this book and this artist whom I admire so much? It seemed like a tall order for someone like me since I felt like just a fangirl. This book truly enhanced my life, giving me clarity in the relationship between my work and daily lived reality. It taught me about living purposefully.

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