Live Today: Is There Really a Great Wealth Transfer Underway?
The Great Wealth Transfer has been hyped. Overhyped, frankly. Most of the research on it comes from the private sector — wealth management firms, in particular — and their rosy framing isn’t surprising: it tends to gloss over the economic reality for most Americans and the growing squeeze on the assets people actually have left to pass down. As a result, a lot of people in the social change field have written the Transfer off entirely.
But. However you slice the numbers, a genuinely large transfer of generational wealth is underway, and it carries real potential to open up pathways for societal change. Realizing that potential is another matter — it will take serious, deliberate work to direct those resources toward community benefit rather than let them concentrate further.
Today I’ll be hosting a live forum on exactly this. I’ll walk through some of the research, lay out what’s at stake, and open the floor for discussion.
Join me at 10am PT / 1pm ET.
Link to register: https://www.owntheask.com/wealthtransferjuly9-1
Abelard Foundation - East - Grants for local progressive social change activities for organizations east of the Mississippi River with budgets under $350,000. - September 15, 2026.
Abel Foundation - Funding for arts, social services, housing, family assistance, and more in Nebraska’s Lancaster and Lincoln counties - August 15, 2026.
Venable Foundation - Funding for civic, art, legal, health organizations across 8 major metro areas. LOI approval is required before applying. - September 1, 2026.
Akron Community Foundation - Millennium Fund provides grants to orgs in northeast Ohio for youth, art, family assistance, education, and more - September 1, 2026.
Mary Allen Lindsay Branan Foundation - Grants to organizations in Georgia to assist those in need - September 1, 2026.
Berkeley Short Film Program - Award for narrative short film projects from directors in the East Bay on the topic of environmental or social justice - August 24, 2026.
American Eagle Foundation - To support local nonprofits helping teens and youth in mental health, social development, and authentic lives - August 10, 2026.
Zable Foundation - Grants for nonprofits in San Diego County for youth, underrepresented communities, veterans, sports - August 1, 2026.
Access Fund Climbing Conservation - Funding for projects that improve access and conservation of climbing environments in the U.S. - August 1, 2026.
Bothin Foundation - Capital grants for organizations serving low-income youth and families in the North Bay Area counties - July 31, 2026
Find more at http://HowtoBuildaNonprofit.org
Craft Archive Fellowship - For researchers, scholars, and artists conducting research on history of underrepresented craft artists - rolling deadline
Women inPower Fellowship - For women who are 3-5 years away from C-suite positions or women based in NYC (separate cohorts) - November 2026
Ford Philanthropy Fellowship - Leadership development and mentorship program for community leaders with organizations under 5 years of age, in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and Vietnam - August 15, 2026.
Loghaven Artist Residency - Artists across mediums get support and a stipend during a residency in the Tennessee woods - July 15, 2026.