With shrinking budgets and growing uncertainty in global development funding, many organizations are eyeing philanthropy to fill critical gaps. But landing a large philanthropic grant — especially through competitive open calls — can feel like a black box.
At a recent Devex Pro event, Jenna Schornack, managing director for awards and social impact at Lever for Change, shed light on how her organization is working to change that. Since its launch in 2019, Lever for Change has helped channel $2.5 billion to organizations worldwide. Its ambitious goal: to reach $10 billion in funding mobilized by 2030.
What sets Lever for Change apart is its focus on large-scale philanthropic capital. Through its open competitions, the organization deploys multimillion-dollar grants — sometimes up to $100 million, as seen in the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition — to bold, high-impact projects.