This week's newsletter includes news about the Aliko Dangote Foundation's $688 million pledge for education in Nigeria; the Dalios commitment of $75 million to Invest America accounts; and pledges to the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. For more great content, including news, RFPs, reviews and commentary, visit us at philanthropynewsdigest.org.
The Lagos-based foundation aims to focus on students in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math) and well as on teacher training and the education of girls....
Giving Pledge signatories Ray and Barbara Dalio have announced they are following the Michael and Susan Dell model of seeding Invest America accounts with an additional $250 per child for approximately 300,000 children in Connecticut, to help them save for the future....
Commitments made during LACI’s leadership summit include $70 million from the Clean Power Alliance to install clean energy power backup systems at 11 municipal sites....
In the largest collaboration of its kind in Indiana history, a $40 million investment from the Lilly Endowment was matched by $35 million in state funds to bolster literacy, STEM education, summer learning, and career development programs....
The latest funding from Colossal Biosciences will enable the foundation to expand global conservation programs and accelerate on-the-ground, partner-led projects focused on critically endangered species, genetic rescue, wildlife monitoring, and rewilding....
In their own words
“Traditional conservation remains essential but is no longer sufficient on its own. With wildlife populations plummeting and ecosystems unraveling, relying solely on conventional methods is unsustainable. We...have found emerging tools that expand the conservation toolkit, increasing resilience, restoring lost functions, and preventing future extinctions....”
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Matt James, executive director, Colossal Foundation (“The Colossal Foundation doubles funding to $100 million to prevent mass extinctions.” Colossal Foundation press release 12/17/2025)
Selected by a committee of the German Research Foundation from a pool of 144 nominees, the 10 prize winners will each receive €2.5 million ($2.9 million) over a period of up to seven years in support of their research....
This week's roundup includes news from the McKnight, Meyer, Winthrop Rockefeller, and ASCAP foundations, as well as amfAR, the Children's Scholarship Fund, and the Northeast Wilderness Trust....
PND poll
PND Poll: What is the most influential aspect of the Dalios’ new commitment for Connecticut youth?
