News
Answering the Challenge of our Times
Progress is possible, if our society is willing to make big investments that tackle inequity at scale and remove the impediments that systematically erode the gains we achieve. Our mission at Lever for Change is aligned with these goals.
MacKenzie Scott funds members of our Bold Solutions Network
Last week, MacKenzie Scott announced $1.67 billion in grants to 116 organizations, following up on her Giving Pledge commitment to give away her personal fortune during her lifetime.
Business Journal: Birmingham scientist tapped for $30M grant selection committee
Local biological scientist Dr. Adrienne Starks has been selected to serve on a committee that will award $30 million to expand the power and influence of women in the United States by 2030.
Bold Solutions Network Member Update
Highly-ranked applicants in the competitions Lever for Change manages are eligible to become Bold Solutions Network (BSN) members. BSN members have access to ongoing learning opportunities offered through Lever for Change. These opportunities are designed to continue to help strengthen members' project design and plans, as well as to increase the impact of their work.
The Plight of Refugees in the Face of COVID-19
On June 20, the world marked World Refugee Day—a global tradition established in 2001 to celebrate and highlight efforts to address the plight of refugees and displaced people. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, World Refugee Day came and went with little fanfare or awareness.
Bold Solutions Network Curated Lists
Launched in February, the Bold Solutions Network is a searchable online collection of summaries of highly-rated, rigorously evaluated proposals, or “bold solutions,” that emerge from the competitions Lever for Change manages. The Bold Solutions Network helps donors find and fund highly-rated, vetted proposals on topics they care about.
A Message from our CEO
One of my early memories of my mom is watching her being arrested on the evening news. She and several friends were “sitting in” at the Trailways bus station lunch counter in Dallas, Texas. My mother, who designed and sewed her own clothes, always dressed up for marches and sit-ins. Even as a young child, I appreciated the performative aspect of her appearance—wearing a Chanel-inspired suit with matching handbag, shoes, and leather gloves, eating lunch at a counter where she might never have eaten voluntarily in a desegregated world.
FINALISTS NAMED IN MACARTHUR COMPETITION FOR $100 MILLION GRANT
Six bold solutions to critical social challenges were named finalists today in 100&Change, a global competition for a single $100 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The proposals address diverse and systemic problems, such as ocean health, homelessness, oxygen therapy, health disparities, news deserts, and mosquito-borne disease.
Better Magazine: An Interview with Changemaker Cecilia Conrad
Cecilia Conrad is that rare individual who can do more work than multiple high-level executives combined, makes it look easy and charms in the process. She is CEO of Lever for Change and Managing Director of the Fellows (Genius Grants) and 100&Change programs. at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Mayor Lightfoot Announces $11 Million Allocation in Grant Funding for Projects in INVEST South/West Community Areas
On June 29, 2020, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined Maurice Cox, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, to announce the recipients of $11 million in grant funding to support key INVEST South/West projects. The funding will help to close capital stack gaps for two critical developments in the Auburn Gresham and North Lawndale neighborhoods.