Lever for Change

?? We have exciting news: Lever for Change has reached its goal of influencing $2.5 billion in grants!? ?? To mark the occasion, our team has created an Impact Report that details Lever for Change’s success and the people who made the achievement of this $2.5 billion milestone possible. ?? Since Lever for Change launched in 2019, our mission has been to help donors find and fund bold solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. Six years in, we are more confident than ever. After reading this report, we hope you will share our excitement! ?? Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gx4FJ_hK

In a recent article published by Stanford Social Innovation Review, Lever for Change explores six keys to success for durable impact of large-scale philanthropy, highlighting The Studio @ Blue Meridian and investee Per Scholas for “Encouraging Experimentation.” Through flexible resources and tailored coaching, The Studio helped Per Scholas test new training models—expanding its reach from 2,000 to 5,000 learners in just three years. Our investment also fueled the launch of the Career Accelerator program, aimed to support 2,000 tech workers in 2024 and 10,000 annually by 2030. By encouraging experimentation, we’re empowering nonprofits to overcome barriers to scaling and prepare for transformative growth. Learn more about the six keys to success: https://lnkd.in/eFb7vk5J?

?? DEADLINE APPROACHING ?? Registrant organizations, don't forget: tomorrow, March 19, at 5:00pm EST is the deadline for registrants to submit applications for The Trust in Institutions Challenge. We are so excited to review all your amazing proposals!

Since Lever for Change launched in 2019, our mission has been to help donors find and fund bold solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. To date, we have influenced more than $2.5 billion in funding – but we couldn’t have done it without our incredible partners. ?? ?? We are grateful to work alongside so many dedicated partners who help us realize our goal of accelerating social change. Read our 2025 Impact Report to learn more about our partners: https://lnkd.in/gx4FJ_hK

Can we reverse the trend of declining trust in institutions? Philanthropist Reid Hoffman and LinkedIn co-founder is looking for ideas. He has launched a $10 million open call for organizations working to build faith in government, the media, public health, universities, and more. In a live conversation on March 26, Hoffman will talk about his funding goals when he joins Chronicle editor-in-chief Andrew Simon and Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change, over on LinkedIn for a The Commons in Conversation event. ??? This live event is free. ??? Registration required. ?? https://lnkd.in/ee3AWe4w About our guests: Reid Hoffman is a philanthropist and the co-founder of LinkedIn. Conrad has managed philanthropy competitions for MacKenzie Scott and the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change program. #TheCommons

We’ve influenced more than $2.5 billion in grants. Here’s what that means: ?? 500+ high-impact organizations from over 100 countries have joined our Bold Solutions Network ?? ~2,000 global evaluators vetting applications ?? 450+ gifts of over $1 million ?? 15+ completed or active open calls ?? 40% of Bold Solutions Network members have received additional funding (2019-2024) ?? 70% of Bold Solutions Network members identify as having proximate leadership But our work is so much more than just numbers! Read our 2025 Impact Report to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gx4FJ_hK

The buzz around "Big Bet Philanthropy" has captured headlines—super-sized grants aiming to create transformative change. But behind the scenes, particularly now that nonprofits are facing funding crises, experts are questioning how to ensure that these large-scale gifts truly deliver long-term impact. At?Lever for Change, we believe we must embrace "Durable Capital"—flexible funding that allows nonprofits to grow and achieve their goals into the future. Through research and with real-world examples, we've identified six keys to success?for Durable Capital investments: ?? Strengthening Organizational Durability?– Grants should help nonprofits build long-term resilience, not just short-term programs. ?? Providing Larger, Longer-Term Support?– Multi-year, substantial investments provide stability and flexibility for strategic growth. ?? Targeting Well-Positioned Organizations?– Supporting nonprofits that can maximize large investments leads to greater impact. ?? Catalyzing Scalable Innovations?– Investments should help proven solutions reach critical mass. ?? Encouraging Experimentation?– Grantees must have the flexibility to test, learn, and refine approaches. ?? Embracing Collaboration?– Partnerships across sectors amplify impact and sustainability. Without durability, big bet philanthropy risks leading organizations to a funding cliff—rapid expansion followed by drastic cuts when the funding runs dry. But when structured with the future in mind, these investments become sure bets, not risky gambles. As our case studies show, Durable Capital is already proving to be a wise investment. Now, we need more donors to take bold action and bet on the long game. ?? Read more about durable capital’s impact in this Stanford Social Innovation Review article by our CEO Cecilia Conrad, our President Kristen J. Molyneaux, Ph.D., and our partner David Bowermaster (with research and support from Apoorva Baheti, Lana Halima, and Marc Moorghen): https://lnkd.in/gZtrHDyi #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #DurableCapital #BigBetPhilanthropy #LeverForChange

Bold solutions grow stronger together. ?? ?? We loved reading through fascinating perspectives piece from MacArthur Foundation's Chris Cardona on the trends in top proposals for #100andChange. ??

The Chronicle of Philanthropy hosted a session on Ultrawealthy Donors: How They Give and What's Next. Our inspiring CEO of Lever for Change, Cecilia Conrad, shared a valuable piece of advice for non-profits applying for major gifts from donors: Think beyond the year-to-year horizon. Rather than only addressing the symptoms of a problem, a major gift creates the opportunity to think big and make real progress toward solving the underlying issues of a problem.

? Last chance to register for our #PhilForum on March 11! How are the ultrawealthy giving? What's next in philanthropy? And who are the next generation of mega-donors? Join us for a free online forum as we dig into the exclusive data captured in the Chronicle's Philanthropy 50 list — our annual ranking of the 50 most generous U.S. donors. We'll explore forces shaping the future of big giving, such as the impact of MacKenzie Scott’s unrestricted giving, the advocacy philanthropy of Melinda French Gates, recent donor revolts, and growing dissatisfaction over wealth accumulation. Meet the panel: ? Cecilia Conrad, CEO, Lever for Change ? Sarah Fonder-Kristy, Chief Development Officer, Atlanta Community Food Bank ? Matti Navellou, Head of ICONIQ Impact, ICONIQ Capital ? Maria Di Mento, Senior Reporter, Chronicle of Philanthropy ? Jim Rendon, Senior Writer and Fellowship Director, Chronicle of Philanthropy Register today! ??? https://lnkd.in/edMgzjER ??? This #PHIL50 event is made possible with support from: DonorPerfect, CCS Fundraising, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).