The Indicator from Planet Money How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?
19 snips
Jan 12, 2026 
Kyle Caldwell, a leader in Michigan's philanthropic scene, dives into the complexities of philanthropy in the face of dwindling government support. He discusses how foundations in Michigan provided rapid aid during a SNAP pause, leveraging technology to help thousands. However, Caldwell points out the unsustainable nature of such initiatives, cautioning against setting long-term precedents. He emphasizes the mismatch between the scale of philanthropic efforts and federal needs, highlighting philanthropy's role in funding innovative projects over large-scale solutions.
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Foundations Rally To Cover SNAP Pause
- During the SNAP pause in Michigan, 160 foundations convened and mobilized about $2 million to help more than 2,000 families.
- The rapid response relied on an app already tracking beneficiaries and existing philanthropic coordination channels.
Avoid Becoming Permanent Gap-Fillers
- Foundations intentionally avoided setting a precedent of permanently filling public-sector gaps after the SNAP intervention.
- Boards approved one-time aid but limited it to short-term relief to preserve philanthropic missions and resources.
Philanthropy Lacks Scale To Replace Government
- Kyle Caldwell explains philanthropy can only provide short-term, limited patches because it lacks the scale of government.
- Even pooling Michigan foundations couldn't cover a single year's SNAP costs and national philanthropy would fund government only briefly.