Philanthropy - Magic Cabinet

Charting New Paths for Philanthropy: Magic Cabinet’s Next Stage of Growth

As we enter the next stage of our journey as a funder, we’re excited to share our multi-year strategic roadmap, outlining the foundational elements that will guide our work, approach, and desired impact moving forward.

Half Her DAF: A Conversation with Jen Risher

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#HalfMyDAF is paving the way for donors to double their giving and catalyze community impact. The campaign’s co-founder, Jen Risher, recently talked with Proximate about wealth, money stories, and what’s on the horizon for DAF reform.

Molly Judge Joins Magic Cabinet to Lead New Philanthropic Solutions Team

Magic Cabinet announces Molly Judge as the new Director of Philanthropic Solutions. With over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, Judge will lead efforts to support funders in adopting participatory and community-informed approaches.

Magic Cabinet Commits $7.5 million to Native Voices Rising to Strengthen Native-led Organizations

Magic Cabinet has committed $7.5 million over five years to Native Voices Rising to strengthen Native-led organizations. The partnership combines Magic Cabinet’s community-driven model with NVR’s grassroots approach, providing long-term investments and flexible funding to support Native sovereignty and nonprofit capacity.

Move Fast and Trust in Community: Rewriting Our Capacity-Building Rules

Sometimes, getting to yes means rewriting the rules. When our capacity-building model became too limiting, we trusted the expertise of our partners—seeding an idea that took root among multiple Magic Cabinet cohorts.

2024 | Our Year in Review

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It was a year of new beginnings and fond farewells at Magic Cabinet. Check out this recap of our year and where we’re headed in 2025.

Reporting is Broken. It’s Time To Do a Hard Thing and Fix It.

A woman appears in the foreground of a dark blue background that reads 'Column Equity Overhaul By Rachel Kimber' in pink.

In a column for Proximate, Rachel Kimber explores alternatives to traditional grant reporting structures.

Insights from the Native Voices Rising Funder Learning Fellowship & Native Americans in Philanthropy Conference

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Our team shares insights from the Native Voices Rising Funder Fellowship and 2024 Native Americans in Philanthropy Conference and what we plan to bring forward in our Native Partnerships work.

Community-Driven Philanthropy: Fostering Trust Through Reciprocal Grantmaking

Two women sit next to each other in front of a semi-transparent background of a brick wall and share smiles and laughter.

In a guest post for Philanthropy Northwest, Magic Cabinet CEO Christina Engel shares how funders can embrace a reciprocal approach with nonprofits, helping them realize their missions on their own terms.

Not Waiting Around: The Foundation Transforming DAFs from Within

A graphic of a windmill with sails made of money releasing coins in the wind.

As federal reform on DAFs stalls, some foundations are experimenting with self-regulation, implementing strategies to ensure that DAFs are transparent, equitable, and accountable to communities.