Martha Ramirez

Los Angeles

Staff Writer at Inside Philanthropy

Journalist @InsidePhilanthr | Formerly: Staff Writer @Blue__Tent; News Intern @kcrw; Editor-in-Chief @The_Corsair

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Articles

The Inatai Foundation: A 501c4 Funder “Staying the Course” on Racial Justice

3 weeks ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

From left to right: Pa Ousman Joof of the Washington West African Center, Julieta Altamirano Crosby and Van Dinh-Kuno of Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest, and Inatai Foundation president and CEO Nichole June Maher. Credit: Inatai FoundationAlthough the Inatai Foundation may not be a national name, with about $2.3 billion in assets, it has already made a big impact in the state of Washington since it began its grantmaking in 2019.
5 Funders Working to Expand Public Access to Knowledge

3 weeks ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Access to knowledge and information may seem like a strange issue to prioritize in the 21st century. After all, the digital age has put an endless wealth of information at the tips of our fingers thanks to smartphones and other devices. But this isn’t the case for everyone. Stubborn barriers to equitable access to knowledge persist, including affordability, lack of access to broadband, shortcomings in infrastructure, institutional interference and issues around language justice.
Carnegie Corporation Launches New Funding Consortium to Advance Nuclear Security

1 month ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Alongside climate change, nuclear weapons represent one of the biggest existential threats facing humanity, and indeed, life on the planet. Although nuclear weapons have existed for 80 years, given current geopolitics, the risks of nuclear proliferation are arguably higher now than they’ve been in the recent past. Despite this, philanthropy’s investment in nuclear security has lagged behind.
A Look at the New York Community Trust’s Approach to Homelessness

1 month ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Although the western part of the U.S. — California, in particular — draws much of the national attention around the dual crises of housing and homelessness, the east coast also faces its share of struggles. In New York City, homelessness levels have risen to their highest since the Great Depression.
Here’s a Look at Prince Harry’s Charitable Work Over the Years

1 month ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is no stranger to making headlines. He made a few more in the nonprofit world recently as he stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, a charity he cofounded alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006.
As the Trump Administration Targets Funding for Libraries, Who Has Their Back?

1 month ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Libraries are an important part of the philanthropic history of the U.S. — and the subject of one of the sector’s most well-known funding efforts. Famously, between the late 19th and early 20th century, Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the steel industry, built thousands of libraries, almost 1,700 of which were located in the U.S. Public libraries remain popular institutions, with most Americans viewing them as important parts of their communities.
A Steep Hill to Climb: Six Workers’ Rights Funders to Know

2 months ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Despite the nation’s long history of organized labor, workers’ rights haven’t typically been a priority for philanthropy — though there are some exceptions, including a few stalwart funders, plus a few new faces. Far more funders focus on strategies like workforce development, job training and backing small businesses and entrepreneurs, which are important needs that at the same time do not tend to raise tough questions around structural inequality and corporate power.
“We Need Other Funders to Step Up”: Philanthropy Reacts to Trump’s Attacks on Immigrants

2 months ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

After he campaigned on harsh, misinformation-laden anti-immigrant rhetoric and promises of mass deportations, President Donald Trump’s first few days in office saw a slew of executive orders targeting immigrants and refugees, and threatening birthright citizenship, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and sanctuary cities, among other issues.
As Billionaire Owners Throw Their Weight Around, Journalism Support Is Even More Vital

2 months ago | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

Billionaires already have an outsized role in the nation’s public square. Alongside their ever-increasing predominance in philanthropy, controlling media and communications is another way for the super-rich to exercise their power. Even as outlets turn to the wealthy for much-needed support, it’s incumbent on the nonprofit sector — especially funders themselves — to remain steadfast in backing an independent press.
Who’s Funding Wikipedia and Why Is It Under Attack?

Mar 6, 2025 | insidephilanthropy.com | Martha Ramirez

When the Library of Alexandria first burned in 48 BC, it was entirely by accident. Julius Caesar had ordered a siege on Alexandria, and as his soldiers burned Egyptian ships docked nearby, the fire spread to parts of the city, destroying about 40,000 of the library’s scrolls. In 391 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius I forbade pagan worship and ordered the temples, including the temple where the library of Alexandria was housed, to be destroyed.