The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

America at 250: A Time to Imagine, Not Just Reflect

Christine Costa — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:05:30 +0000

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, this is a moment to shift our perspective from nostalgia to imagination. At its best, the American project has always involved reinvention: expanding who belongs, whose needs matter, and what our citizens and institutions can make possible. That drive toward a better future is … Continued

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These Robotic Jellyfish Could Help Us Better Understand the Ocean

Caroline Roffe — Mon, 18 May 2026 19:55:32 +0000

The deep ocean is notoriously difficult to study. Collecting data with underwater drones requires immense power, and reaching its depths means navigating crushing pressure and total darkness. Inspired by creatures like jellyfish, sharks, and rays that already navigate the ocean with ease, Nicole Xu, a 2025 Packard Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder, and her team are building bio-inspired robots to monitor the ocean and track the effects of climate change. These … Continued

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U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Is A Devastating Setback for Voting Rights

Christine Costa — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:24:08 +0000

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on one of our nation’s most important civil rights protections, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, is a devastating step backward for a representative and inclusive democracy. For decades, the Voting Rights Act has been a cornerstone of efforts to ensure that all people — regardless of race or … Continued

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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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