In 2023, the executive director of a youth-serving nonprofit in Chicago got a call she had been dreading. The 12-month grant that had kept her after-school program running was ending. The program was working, graduation rates among participants were up, and families on the waitlist were growing. But the funder had moved on to other priorities. She had 90 days to find new funding or shut the program down.
She is not alone.
Now, imagine asking a startup to transform an industry with one small investment and a one-year deadline. Most investors understand that building a successful company requires time, talented people, and flexible capital. Nonprofits are no different. They also need the freedom to hire staff, strengthen operations, invest in technology, and plan for the future before they can expand what works.
Yet philanthropy has often operated differently. Research from The Bridgespan Group found that the median grant from a large U.S. foundation is less than $50,000 and lasts under 18 months, leaving many organizations focused on replacing funding instead of advancing their mission.
Recognizing the need for a different approach, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation launched 100&Change in 2017, awarding a single $100 million grant to help solve a critical social challenge. That first competition leveraged an additional $511 million in funding, demonstrating how bold investments can mobilize broader support.
Building on that success, Lever for Change was established in 2019 to connect donors with rigorously vetted, high-impact organizations through customized open calls. Since then, it has partnered with philanthropists and funders including MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and others to direct large-scale funding to organizations tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The results show what becomes possible when nonprofits receive flexible, long-term support. Sesame Workshop and International Rescue Committee, the first awardees of 100&Change’s $100 million grant, created Ahlan Simsim, its early childhood development initiative for children affected by conflict and displacement across the Middle East. Following their award, an additional 14 donors joined the project, contributing more than $200 million in funding beyond the $100 million from the initial award.
Yield Giving awardee Servicios de La Raza took a different approach. Rather than spending its $2 million award immediately, the organization used it as durable capital to strengthen its financial foundation. The strategy allowed Servicios de La Raza to expand its programs and services, nearly doubling the number of people it serves from 94,643 to 171,966 in just two years.
These organizations are part of Lever for Change’s Bold Solutions Network, a global community of more than 500 organizations identified through rigorous open call evaluations. The network gives philanthropists an evidence-based alternative to relying on internet searches or existing relationships to find organizations. A donor interested in improving maternal health, expanding educational opportunity, or strengthening climate resilience can identify organizations that have already undergone extensive expert review, including many that may never have had the resources or visibility to rise to the top of a search engine result.
To date, Lever for Change has influenced more than $2.6 billion in grants. Its next goal is to unlock $10 billion in funding for bold solutions by 2030.
That ambition depends on more than philanthropy alone. Major donors can commit more flexible, multi-year funding and look beyond familiar names to discover high-potential organizations. Nonprofit leaders can engage with open calls that provide funding opportunities, expert feedback, and access to a broader network of supporters, regardless of whether they receive an award. And anyone who wants to make a difference can champion organizations investing in long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.
Big problems rarely have quick fixes. But when philanthropy matches the scale of the challenges it seeks to solve, it creates the conditions for lasting progress.
How to Help
Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized open calls and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. To learn more, visit leverforchange.org.
Michelle Sybil Melendez serves as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Lever for Change. She brings over 15 years of experience in philanthropy and strategic partnerships, with a focus on high-net-worth individuals and corporate relationships. Immediately prior to joining Lever for Change, she was a member of the partnerships team at The Clinton Foundation, where she was responsible for strategic research, briefings, and partner development.
This post was submitted as part of our “You Said It” program.” Your voice, ideas, and engagement are important to help us accomplish our mission. We encourage you to share your ideas and efforts to make the world a better place by submitting a “You Said It,” which can earn a nonprofit that you champion a $1,000 donation from the Make It Better Foundation and eligibility for a Philanthropy Award, grant content partnership, and greater engagement with our audience.
