Philanthropy
Latest news on corporate and nonprofit efforts aimed at changing our world for the better through benevolent initiatives, such as fundraisers, grants, and charities.
Cooperation beats contracting for affordable homeless housing
A developer, homeless service providers, local church leaders, and a social impact investment manager have teamed up to demonstrate that cooperation between the private sector and non-profits can beat our traditional contractors when it comes to building housing for the unsheltered. They’ve Read More...
The Optimist View: ITP Small grants change the world
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead The Optimist View is our long-form edition weekend publication which dives deeper on the critical solutions we cover on The Optimist Daily. Read More...
Largest private US employer commits to covering employees' tuition fees
There’s never been a better time to be a student with a part-time job at Walmart. Walmart, the largest private employer in the US, has pledged to help its associates obtain post-secondary education without the stress of student loan debt through its Live Better U education program. If you are Read More...
THE OPTIMIST VIEW: Invoking the Pause 一 Funding environmental changemakers
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead We’re all familiar with major names in philanthropic giving like MacArthur, Rockefeller or Ford, but there are hundreds of lesser known Read More...
SCSU cancels $9.8 million in debt to help students resume their studies
Back in May, we wrote about Delaware State University's decision to cancel more than $700,000 of its students’ debt. Now, South Carolina State University (SCSU), another Historically Black College or University (HBCU), is following in its footsteps to wipe out a whopping $9.8 million in student Read More...
New Mexico celebrates largest private land donation for conservation
New Mexico is celebrating the state's largest private land donation which adds 15 square miles to the Sabinoso Wilderness Area. The donation, made by the Trust for Public Land, was accepted by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. It increases the wilderness area by 50 percent and offers both Read More...
This simple app supports both local restaurants and food insecure individuals
You may have never heard of Bento, but you might have seen it in action at a local restaurant without even realizing it. Created during the pandemic by Not Impossible Labs, Bento is a program that pulls together restaurants, individuals who are food insecure, and those wishing to make a difference Read More...
This organization in California gives cash directly to crime victims in need
Victims of crime, such as those of domestic abuse or those who experience the loss of a loved one to gun violence, are often faced with unexpected expenses on top of healing from their trauma. In California, the state has a victim compensation fund to cover expenses such as mental health services Read More...
Australia is minting coins that are designed to be given away
Australia has created a coin unlike any other in the world. It is a new Australian $1 coin that can be spent like any other money but is intended to be given away to people in need. With an image of Queen Elizabeth II on one side of the coin, the other side is stamped with the message: “Donation Read More...
These CEOs gave up their salaries to avoid layoffs and closures
COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our economic system, but some CEOs stepped up and forgoed their own salaries to protect workers from layoffs and store closures. Many key players in the airline industry, which has taken a particularly large hit during the outbreak, sacrificed corporate income for Read More...