Ade Adeniji

Journalist, Inside Philanthropy

Born and raised in Manhattan, Ade headed west to attend Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. and later the American Film Institute Conservatory where he received his MFA in screenwriting. As a philanthropy journalist for Inside Philanthropy, Ade has interviewed and profiled major donors including Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark, Wall Street billionaire Robert F. Smith, Brooklyn Nets owner Clara Wu Tsai, and the world’s only known transgender billionaire Jennifer Pritzker. Ade also has a deep interest in cultural writing, where his work has been published in such outlets as CBS News, WIRED, Newsweek, PBS, Mic, and The Rumpus. He is an approved Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Critic through his blog.

Contributions

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Pérez Family

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

“Miami Is Our City.” How Two Generations of the Billionaire Pérez Family Give Back in the late 1970s, Argentina-raised Jorge Pérez linked up with Stephen Ross and his affiliated Related Companies, the developer of New York City’s Hudson Yards. The Related Group, founded in 1979, began with a focus on building affordable housing before branching out to high-end condos. And… Read More
Voices from the Field

The Intergenerational Philanthropy of the Eisner Foundation

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

The Eisner Family EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Portsmouth and Shrewsbury Town. From L to R: Anders Eisner, Breck Eisner, Jane Eisner, Michael Eisner, Eric Eisner. Photo courtesy of the Eisner Family
Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. If there were a Disney film about family philanthropy, it might open with a scene from Michael Eisner’s childhood. The L.A.-based philanthropist, former chairman and CEO of… Read More
Voices from the Field

Passing the Torch: A Family Foundation Empowers Dozens of Young Philanthropists

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Tarsadia Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that provide educational opportunities for the underserved, support health and wellbeing of the… Read More
Voices from the Field

Here’s How a Longtime Family Foundation Fractured, and Shifted Gears for a Meaningful Final Act

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. In 1894, Missouri native William H. Danforth founded what would become Ralston Purina Company as a balanced food production company for animals. The company revolutionized the feed… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: Tegan and Brian Acton

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Brian and Tegan Acton
How Billionaire Couple Tegan and Brian Acton Are Giving in the Bay Area and Beyond Brian and Tegan Acton, in their 40s and worth some $3 billion, are among a new cohort of Silicon Valley donors engaging in major philanthropy. Stanford computer science graduate Brian Acton worked at Yahoo! with Jan Koum, where the two would link up for ultimate… Read More
Voices from the Field

How the Family Behind a Sportswear Behemoth Is Expanding Its Philanthropy for Rural Communities

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. In 1937, Paul Lamfrom fled Nazi Germany and later founded Columbia Hat Company, a modest hat manufacturer in Portland, Oregon. When Paul passed away, the company’s reins… Read More
Voices from the Field

The Personal and the Collective: How Three Generations of the Sobrato Family Give

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. The Sobrato Organization in Silicon Valley has developed more than 21 million square feet of office space, R&D and multi-family projects since the 1960s. Today, the company’s… Read More
Voices from the Field

How Multiple Generations of the Disney Family Come Together to Fund Social Justice in LA and Beyond

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. It all began at Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in October 1923. Here, bright young cartoonist Walt Disney and his older brother Roy O. Disney established the upstart… Read More