The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

New Emergency Relief Fund Helps Packard Fellows Continue Research

Caroline Roffe — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:53:19 +0000

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Packard Fellows Emergency Relief Fund, a $3.3 million rapid-response initiative created to support Packard Fellows affected by recent shifts in federal research funding. Administered by the Science Philanthropy Alliance, the fund was created to preserve the postdoctoral workforce by providing short-term … Continued

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New Partnership Connects Health Care and Child Care for Oakland’s Expecting Families

Caroline Roffe — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:24:37 +0000

The weeks before a baby arrives can be filled with one long checklist of questions for mothers and caregivers. What doctors do I need to meet with? When do those appointments need to be scheduled? How do I find child care once the baby arrives? And how will I afford it? What will I do if my housing becomes an issue? Or if my baby … Continued

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How One Bold Idea for Birth Control Became a National Lifeline

Caroline Roffe — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:47:11 +0000

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, leaders across local Planned Parenthood health clinics saw a crisis coming and needed a solution if they were to continue providing birth control to their patients. Contraceptives were getting more expensive every year, and they saw a future when Planned Parenthood clinics wouldn’t be able to afford to purchase them at a reasonable cost so they could provide them … Continued

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This MBARI Expedition Reveals Impacts of Climate Change on the Antarctic Seafloor

Caroline Roffe — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:50:10 +0000

MBARI scientists recently returned from a seven-day expedition in Antarctica exploring how groundwater and gases like methane are moving under the seafloor are impacted by a rapidly warming polar environment. Working aboard the Spanish polar research vessel Hespérides, the team focused on the Bransfield Basin in the northern Western Antarctic Peninsula, a region that is experiencing some of the fastest warming in the Southern Hemisphere. Their work was … Continued

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AI and Democracy: Perspectives from an Emerging Field

Christine Costa — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:21:03 +0000

Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting both the machinery and the preconditions that underpin democratic life, reshaping everything from elections and government, to information ecosystems, civic participation, labor markets and the economy. But AI is not emerging into a neutral landscape. It is interacting with institutions already under strain, where trust is declining. AI is an … Continued

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The Packard Foundation Names Courtney Chandler as Chief Operating Officer

Christine Costa — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:59:40 +0000

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation announced they have selected Courtney Chandler as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective April 21. In this role, Chandler will lead the Foundation’s core administrative and operational functions to translate its strategic vision into actionable results. She brings extensive experience in mission-driven organizations, deep operational expertise, and a collaborative … Continued

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Civil Society at Risk: Why Philanthropy Cannot Look Away

Christine Costa — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:57:01 +0000

Over the past few months, and especially in moments of upheaval, we’re reminded of a simple truth: enduring progress depends on people’s ability to come together, speak up, and act—peacefully and with care. When the world feels volatile, the institutions and networks that hold communities together become even more essential. Civil society is the sector of public life made up … Continued

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Packard Foundation Names Ruth Levine Vice President of Families and Communities

Christine Costa — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:38:49 +0000

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation announced today that Dr. Ruth Levine, Vice President of Just Societies and Chief Learning Officer, will also serve as its Vice President of Families and Communities. In this expanded role, she will continue to lead the Foundation’s commitment to learning and impact while guiding the grantmaking strategies of the … Continued

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eDNA is Changing the Way We See the Ocean

Caroline Roffe — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:23:47 +0000

When Dr. Ryan Kelly says he can see whales in a bottle of water, he means it. At least, he can tell which whales and other species have passed through that water sample by sequencing the DNA inside. All living things shed tiny traces of DNA in their environments. Water, soil, and even air hold clues about which species have been present. Over the past decade, Kelly and his colleagues have helped bring these genetic traces … Continued

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Making Way for Much-Needed Housing in the Monterey Bay Region

Caroline Roffe — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:26:18 +0000

Stable, affordable housing helps families put down roots in their communities. It also supports a strong local economy across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. To help California families find high-quality homes they can afford, the Packard Foundation is supporting the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) with a $450,000 grant to expand housing options … Continued

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