This Earth Day is like no other. As a war upends Europe and reshapes its climate future, the latest report from the International Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounds the alarm on the need to quickly reduce and reverse emissions before it’s too late. Still, we are heartened by the many people working diligently across…

We are used to thinking of foundations as instrumentalities or conduits endowed by donors (living or deceased) to change the world, hopefully for the better, via their grantmaking. As I prepare to wrap up my eight-year term as director of the foundation’s grantmaking in support of U.S. democracy, I am struck by how much the…

In March of 2014, the Hewlett Foundation launched the Madison Initiative, the precursor to what is now our U.S. Democracy Program. It has been my privilege to lead the grantmaking and field building that the foundation has undertaken to strengthen democracy in America in the years since. We embarked with a clear eye on the…

I’ve dedicated most my life to education and equity — whether as a program officer in the Hewlett Foundation’s Education Program, as a leader at two education nonprofits that were also funded by Hewlett, or as a Congressional staffer. I’ve done this because I believe deeply in the power of learning to change lives and…

This piece was originally featured in The New Common Sense newsletter from our Economy and Society Initiative. Read more from this edition.  As readers of this newsletter know well, the neoliberal project has been a truly global effort. And as recent developments in Chile remind us, it’s path has not always been straight, with advances and…

Dear Partners, As I wrap up an incredible five years at the Hewlett Foundation and gear up for a new job at the Open Philanthropy Project, I’ve been reflecting on which developments in the evidence-informed policy field I’m most excited about. Top of mind is your work on responsive, decision-focused evidence. To celebrate and spread…

Governments make thousands of decisions a year — big and small — often with insufficient relevant information. How might we increase the likelihood that those decisions improve people’s lives? Policymakers need trusted, locally grounded partners to curate timely evidence that is relevant to the problems and decisions they face. The urgency of COVID-19 accelerated a…

I arrived at the Hewlett Foundation as a new program officer in January 2014. I quickly became a data revolutionary, supporting African governments’ use of data to improve decision making and advance the Sustainable Development Goals as part of our Evidence-Informed Policymaking (EIP) strategy. Along the way I learned that government use of data can…

I have been fortunate to attend the UN’s Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) on three separate occasions over the past decade. Each time I leave inspired by the dedication of those who show up, work tirelessly, and refuse to give up on cooperation or on our climate. This year in Glasgow, as I met…

This year marks a milestone for Open Educational Resources (OER)—20 years of investment and commitment to an idea that grew into a field. In this time, open education has evolved from a handful of projects supported by the Hewlett Foundation to an ecosystem reflecting the collective contributions and efforts of governments, NGOs, and educators across…