Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Working to Gather 20,000 Teen Opinions Across Western New York & Southeast Michigan

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Working to Gather 20,000 Teen Opinions Across Western New York & Southeast Michigan

Foundation launches “Teen Opinions Count” project to help inform future investments in afterschool programs (more…)

The 10 biggest charitable donations in the past decade

Wilson Foundation to grant $200 million for waterfront parks, trail connections in Detroit, Buffalo

How fortune left by late Bills owner Ralph Wilson is benefiting Detroit and Buffalo

Wilson Foundation helping remake parks in Detroit, Buffalo

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces $200 Million Investment in Parks & Trails Initiative

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces $200 Million Investment in Parks & Trails Initiative

The gift honors the Foundation’s namesake, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr, on the 100th anniversary of his birth and celebrates his legacy in the communities he was most devoted to. The funds will be split evenly, dedicating $100 million to each region to help develop signature legacy parks, advance the vision of completed regional trail systems, and support the sustainability of these public spaces. (more…)

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Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces STEM 2035 Cohort

September 6, 2018

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has announced its cohort for STEM 2035, a $5.5-million initiative through which grant funding and technical assistance will be provided to existing afterschool and summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs in Western New York and Southeast Michigan.

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Right-on-Time Philanthropy at Ralph C. Wilson: Big Money Meets a Looming Problem

April 4, 2018

In 2016, NPQ wrote about the founding of the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation in Michigan. The emergence of the new philanthropy was made notable by a number of factors, including its $1.2 billion endowment and the fact that it will sunset or spend down within twenty years of its founding.

Read the full article at Nonprofit Quarterly »

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Expands its Opportunity to Impact Caregivers with $4 million Investment and Partnerships with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Expands its Opportunity to Impact Caregivers with
$4 million Investment and Partnerships with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York

RCWJRF provides $2 million grant to each organization to endow new Program Officer positions focused on strategies and program to support caregivers of older adults, Kenneth M. Genewick joins the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Tim Niyonsenga joins the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

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Child’s Play: Why Are More Foundations Giving for Playgrounds and Skateparks?

April 2, 2018

Play is critically important to a child’s development. Kids learn how to interact with the world around them through play. It helps them learn the cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills that they need to thrive. Play is considered so essential to child development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights see it as a right of every child.

Despite that, not many foundations support initiatives that support play outside of broader education work. However, there’s a small—and growing—number of funders that do. A recent gift that fits the bill came from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

Read the full article at Inside Philanthropy »