Inside Philanthropy is a news website about large philanthropic foundations and wealthy donors, created by David Callahan in 2013. It aims to increase oversight and transparency in large-scale philanthropy.

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Effective Family Philanthropy: The Tow Foundation

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

After 35 Years, the Tow Foundation Reflects on the Past and Looks to the Future Founded by Leonard and Claire Tow, the Tow Foundation recently held a 35th anniversary event called “Past Informed, Future Focused,” which nicely sums up this unique moment in time for the Connecticut-based family foundation. In addition to a major milestone for the foundation, Leonard Tow… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Eisner Foundation

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Wendy Paris, 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
The Intergenerational Philanthropy of the Eisner Foundation 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 the Walt Disney Company and former head of Paramount Studios before that, grew up sitting in on conversations about family giving during Thanksgiving in Vermont. After… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Roundhouse Foundation

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

How the Family Behind a Sportswear Behemoth Is Expanding Its Philanthropy for Rural Communities 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 were handed over to his son-in-law, Neal Boyle, who’d been working for him. After Neal died suddenly in 1970,… 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