News & Insights

The latest perspectives, news, reports, and resources from around the Foundation.

News
December 5, 2018

How NFG is Disrupting Funder-Grantee Dynamics

Helen Chin has just led the Surdna Foundation’s Sustainable Environments Program through a strategy refinement process. “Now,” she says, with satisfaction, “We are able to connect more robustly with what’s bubbling from the ground…

Staff Perspectives
October 11, 2018

Philanthropic Leadership Means Following the Frontlines

When we talk about “building the capacity” of frontline and grassroots leaders who are changing structures, policies, and systems, what does that really mean for funders? Many funders use antiquated and static systems of inquiry to identify and…

News
October 10, 2018

Surdna Foundation Announces $3 Million in Grants

During the period of July-September 2018, 15 grants totaling $3,035,000 were approved by the Surdna Foundation staff and board to further the Foundation’s mission of fostering just and sustainable communities in the United States – communities…

News
September 25, 2018

Surdna Foundation Announces Refined Program Strategies

The Surdna Foundation announced today refined strategies for its grantmaking programs, intended to reflect the Foundation’s belief that racial justice must underpin social justice. These refined strategies are the culmination of a yearlong…

Staff Spotlight
September 25, 2018

Shuaib Siddiqui, Director, Impact Investing

Shuaib A. Siddiqui is the Surdna Foundation’s director of impact investing. For the past two years he has led the Foundation’s efforts to go beyond its mission-aligned investing strategy to also build up the field of impact investing. “The…

News
August 20, 2018

Don Chen Selected as Surdna Foundation’s Third President

NEW YORK – The Surdna Foundation’s board of directors announced today its unanimous and enthusiastic selection of Don Chen as the foundation’s new president. “Don has the track record, experience and deep commitment to social justice values…

Staff Perspectives
August 3, 2018

What Love Looks Like in Philanthropy: Shared Power and Transparency

How does philanthropy stay accountable to the values we claim to espouse? As the National Creative Placemaking Fund (NCPF) at ArtPlace America came to a close at the end of 2017, we decided to interrogate how effective we had been at aligning our…