Philanthropy

News

Giving Blueday: Record-setting day of giving

Apr 12, 2023

On March 15, the Ford School community raised the bar once again for the number of donors in a single day, garnering more than $43,000 for student support. It was part of U-M’s Giving Blueday celebration, a day devoted to philanthropy for U-M causes...

A close-up photo of the entrance to Weill Hall, with "Joan and Sanford Weill Hall" etched into the stone and light reflecting off the large glass windows

News

Tompkins-Stange weighs in on no-strings-attached donations

Dec 5, 2022

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is changing the world of education philanthropy by giving no-strings-attached, multimillion-dollar donations to schools. Megan Tompkins-Stange, associate professor of public policy, analyzed the donations, and the...

News

Goldman Sachs Foundation invests in Ford School’s Center for Racial Justice

Mar 7, 2022

As part of its One Million Black Women (OMBW) initiative, Goldman Sachs becomes the inaugural funder of the Ford School’s Center for Racial Justice Visiting Fellows Program. The investment will fund one visiting fellow for the 2022-2023 academic...

In the Media

Tompkins-Stange discusses "hazy rules" of donating

Jan 5, 2022 The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Debating the hazy rules of donating to charities, Megan Tompkins-Stange, assistant professor of public policy, discussed how the rules and donations affect politics. “We don’t know exactly what company and what special interest or high net-worth...

In the Media

Tompkins-Stange on Bloomberg's push to expand charter schools

Dec 10, 2021 Chalkbeat

Megan Tompkins-Stange, who studies philanthropic investments in education, calls former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $750 million push to expand charter schools "unprecedented." But charter schools face fierce political opposition. "Bloomberg...

In the Media

Consultants can skew philanthropic funding, says Tompkins-Stange

Nov 16, 2021 The New York Times

Consultants are often called in to help guide philanthropic giving. Some say that makes the field more effective, while critics question the extent of their influence. “Consultants at places like Bridgespan are setting the menu of what...

In the Media

Tompkins-Stange on "breaking up the philanthropy boys club"

Sep 30, 2021 The New York Times

Although philanthropy used to happen in a room full of men, the sector is shifting. There has been an uptick in not only women involved in philanthropy, but also the sector's support of women and girls' organizations. “Philanthropy has been a...

News

Gates divorce sends shockwaves through global philanthropic community

May 7, 2021

The news of the divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates shook the international philanthropic community, with speculation about the the split would mean to the foundation that bears their name. Megan Tompkins-Stange, who studies philanthropy, was widely...

In the Media

Billionaires not stepping into policy spotlight, says Tompkins-Stange

Mar 30, 2021 Vox

“Billionaires don’t have the same reverence in the eyes of the public that they had five years ago and so I think that some of their purchase in the policy process is not necessarily as palpable as it was even four or five years ago,” said Megan...

Philanthropist, entrepreneur discusses U-M fellowship that aims to help students, major cities

Apr 21, 2020

Entrepreneur and philanthropist David Bohnett sees big cities as laboratories for humanity, and seized upon an idea that could help them as well as budding civic leaders by putting the latter in service to the former. The University of Michigan...

Tompkins-Stange talks COVID-19 relief trade-offs

Apr 10, 2020

Ford School professor Megan Tompkins Stange is asking: What should the role be of philanthropy during the COVID-19 crisis? She studies the power and influence of philanthropy on public policy and politics. In a recent Vox article, “These are the...

Megan Tompkins-Stange receives 2018 Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize

Apr 27, 2018

The U-M Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) awarded Megan Tompkins-Stange a 2018 Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize (TIP) for her project, "Bringing philanthropy to life through critical pedagogy: Philanthropic foundations in the...

Jandernoas give $4.3 million for teacher training, Ross scholarship, Ford Presidential fellowship

Feb 15, 2018

Grand Rapids business and community leaders Mike and Sue Jandernoa are intensifying their efforts to improve the mathematics proficiency of Michigan schoolchildren through a partnership with the University of Michigan.Their $4.3 million gift will...

As Gates Foundation signals shift on education, the media turns to Tompkins-Stange

Nov 9, 2017

When the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced changes in its approach to education philanthropy, many in the media turned to Megan Tompkins-Stange, author of Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence (Harvard...

Philanthropist Sandy Weill makes Forbes magazine's list of 100 greatest living business minds

Sep 20, 2017

Sanford Weill, former CEO of Citigroup and a philanthropist who has made game-changing contributions to the Ford School, is recognized by Forbes in the magazine’s centennial celebration of the 100 greatest living business minds. In the feature,...

Center on Finance, Law, and Policy secures grant to assist Detroit entrepreneurs

Aug 30, 2017

Students interview a pop-up restaurateur in Detroit as part of the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project.Photo credit: Abigail DeHart '19LThe Center on Finance, Law, and Policy, run by faculty director Michael Barr, has received a $125,000...

Sam Geller, 2017 Riecker Fellow, serving in the office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters

Apr 6, 2017

The Ford School is delighted to announce that Sam Geller (MPP ’17) is serving as the 2017 Margaret Ann (Ranny) Riecker Michigan Delegation Fellow in the Washington, DC office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member of the Senate...

Welcome Fleming, Hamp, and Thompson: New members of the Ford School Committee

Feb 7, 2017

The Ford School Committee is pleased to welcome three new members: Michael Fleming, Steve Hamp, and Peggy Thompson.Committee members support the Ford School in a number of ways, including raising the school's visibility among policy leaders,...

Megan Tompkins-Stange addresses the influence of private foundations on education policy

Sep 20, 2016

This week, Megan Tompkins-Stange and her research were featured in a variety of programs: Michigan Radio's Stateside program, Prospect magazine, and the Tiny Spark podcast.In each, Tompkins-Stange discusses her new book, Policy Patrons:...

Following national search, Sue Johnson to join the Ford School as director of development

Jan 15, 2016

Following a national search, the Ford School is delighted to announce the appointment of Sue Johnson as director of development.“Sue is a mission-driven, strategic fundraiser with a passion for building philanthropic relationships,” says Susan M....

News

Elective courses by new and returning faculty experts in health, social welfare, and more

Nov 11, 2015

This fall, the Ford School added six governing faculty members and two policymakers-in-residence while welcoming home three faculty members who had been on leave for high-profile policy service in Washington, DC. These new and returning faculty...

Inside Philanthropy profiles Russell Sage Foundation’s crucial role in "moving inequality to the center of politics and policy”

Apr 15, 2015

“The [Russell Sage Foundation’s] research has played a crucial, if subtle role in moving inequality to the center of politics and policy in recent years” writes David Callahan for Inside Philanthropy. The article, “Inside the Russell Sage...

How foundation-funded 'advocacy research' makes its way into policy proposals

Nov 12, 2014

“Despite the centrality of high-profile funders in the production of advocacy research, scholars have not closely examined their influence,” write Megan Tompkins-Stange and Sarah Reckhow (MSU) in the proposal for their research project, “Financing...

Undergraduate class uses $55,000 grant to study the art and impact of philanthropy

Apr 28, 2014

Students in Public Policy 475: "Philanthropic Foundations in the Public Arena" spent the semester getting a taste of what it means to be a philanthropist in a nonprofit organization. Taught by Lecturer Megan Tompkins-Stange, the class used a $55,000...

Book Talks @ The Ford School

Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, education reform, and the politics of influence

Mar 20, 2017, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT

Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium

Policy Patrons offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of decision making inside four influential education philanthropies: the Ford Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

HAIL YEAH! Student day of thanks

Mar 14, 2018, 9:30-11:30 am EDT

Weill Hall, Great Hall

Come thank an alum, get a t-shirt, and celebrate the impact all gifts have on our university. Does every gift matter? Hail Yeah!

Megan Tompkins-Stange talks Policy Patrons!

Jun 15, 2016, 7:00-8:45 pm EDT

Literati Bookstore

Literati is pleased to host Megan Tompkins-Stange in support of her book Policy Patrons: Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence.

PubPol 474.001

PubPol 474.002: Values & Ethics: Philanthropy

Megan Tompkins-Stange

PUBPOL 474

PUBPOL 474: Values & Ethics: Philanthropy

Megan Tompkins-Stange

Private philanthropic foundations in the U.S.