Following every major national crisis, federal and state governments mobilize resources at a scale no other institution can. That public investment saves lives. But this spending is most effective when philanthropy steps up to fill critical gaps and help people in urgent need.

What follows demonstrates that the risks of going after private philanthropy show up in more than one part of public life. ⬇️ During the Great Recession, federal stimulus kept the economy going. What it didn’t do was meet some of the immediate needs of daily life, like whether a child could get to school and be ready to learn.

The Open Society Foundations stepped in with a $35 million initiative in New York state that provided families on public assistance $200 per child for basics like winter coats and school supplies. That effort helped unlock another $140 million in federal funds, a reminder that targeted action from philanthropies can strengthen public programs, not replace them.