By Ben Lazarus and Nesib Shamah Satterberg’s Moral Courage program is a vital part of the legacy of the late Kate Lazarus (Ben’s mother), a founding member of the Satterberg Board who is remembered for convening deep discussions on the moral consequences of choices and actions we take.  Telling stories about moral courage is an important way to honor her and uphold that tradition.  That is why since 2018, the Satterberg Foundation has been funding filmmakers with diverse experiences and...

By Neelima Shah and Caroline Miceli These are challenging times to work on climate.  From the federal level, concerted rollbacks of climate policy are arresting progress that had gained momentum with the passage of the federal climate legislation (the Inflation Reduction Act) in 2022. Even here in Washington State, which defended its landmark climate law from a ballot challenge in 2024, climate advocates face new problems like attempts to prolong the life of coal plants slated for closure, and...

By Sarah Walczyk Looking back on the legacy of two founding Satterberg Board Members, two words rise to the top: learning and collaboration. With their endless curiosity and strong relational skills, Mary and Judy have done so much to build the ethos of the Satterberg Foundation. I am personally proud to consider them both mentors and friends. As we begin the intergenerational transfer of leadership at the foundation, it’s time to reflect on how we got here and to express our gratitude to...

By LaShanda Robertson and Sarah Walczyk We’ve read the alarming reports and heard about the disturbing trend from grantee partners:  funders are now pulling back on commitments to racial justice funding, especially Black-led organizations.  For some in philanthropy, there was a “moment” in 2020 (after the murder of George Floyd) when it was seen as urgent to make high profile pledges to fund BIPOC-led groups.  This wave is now receding for a whole host of reasons, including political attacks...