NEW YORK, NY, Sep. 22, 2026 – Today, Carmen Rojas, PhD, President and CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation, joined former Secretary Hillary Clinton at the opening main-stage plenary of the 2026 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting.

Titled How Do We Get It Right?, the plenary introduced the central question guiding this year’s two-day gathering. The conversation explored how leaders can choose action over cynicism, and articulate a clear, compelling vision of what success looks like—and the commitments, collaborations, and courage to achieve it.

Rojas brought the perspective of a foundation that recently committed to giving a minimum of $500 million over the next decade—a 50 percent increase above its average annual giving over the last ten years—and that tripled its grantmaking in 2025 to over $100 million, drawing from its endowment to meet the urgency of the moment. Under her leadership, MCF has become a leading voice urging philanthropy to treat its legally required 5 percent payout as a floor, not a ceiling.

“At Marguerite Casey Foundation, our duty isn’t to the infinite perpetual growth of our endowment but to supporting organizations that best advance our mission,” Rojas said. “This increased funding commitment is how we put into action our understanding that our duty to mission is paramount.” 

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“Put simply, we need to be moving money, lots of it, right now,” Rojas added. “It is unconscionable for funders to talk about the crises we face and withhold resources from the communities confronting them on the frontlines.”

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Earlier this year, TIME Magazine named Rojas to its TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognizing her as one of the 100 most influential people shaping the future of giving. TIME cited her challenge to fellow grant makers to stop hoarding endowment funds and move money “like it’s our only job” in response to federal funding cuts and threats to nonprofits.

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You can find Rojas’ full remarks here (begins around the 1 hour mark), and photos of Rojas speaking with Sec. Clinton here.

On Marguerite Casey Foundation’s pledge to give at least $500 million over the next decade, a 50 percent increase over its average giving:

“Foundations have a duty to meet the moment they’re in. They should expand or retract their giving based on what’s happening in the world. That’s why we tripled our giving last year. And it’s why we made a half a billion dollar commitment. The people and organizations we fund are on the frontlines, we needed to make sure they had the resources to meet this moment.”

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On fiduciary duty:

“Most foundations operate as if their primary fiduciary duty is to grow their endowment forever.  At Marguerite Casey Foundation, we take a different view. We believe fiduciary duty is a duty to the mission. That means aligning our investments with our values. It also means treating the traditional 5% payout as a floor, not a ceiling. We think it’s irresponsible to hoard money during a time of crisis. If our mission is to transform government so that it delivers for all people, then right now is precisely when we need to make the deepest commitment we can.” 

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On potential risks to MCF’s approach:

“Risks? Of course. But there’s a greater risk of inaction—the risk that we keep our money while the communities we exist to support are starved of what they most need right now.”

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On the power of community organizing:

“So much of what we take for granted today—the 5 day work week, fair housing, public education—exists because ordinary people came together and fought for it. There is no stronger antidote for our current moment than bringing people together through community organizing.”

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About Marguerite Casey Foundation

Marguerite Casey Foundation supports efforts, leaders, scholars, and initiatives focused on shifting the balance of power in government—building power for communities that continue to be excluded from shaping how society works and from sharing in its rewards and freedoms. MCF board members, leadership, and staff are committed to building a just economy and fully realized democracy, and to providing unfettered support to the bold strategies and leadership that are required to bring about major change in our lifetime. In 2026, MCF committed to giving at least $500 million over the next decade, increasing its grantmaking by 50 percent and urging philanthropy to move more money to communities now.

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About the Clinton Global Initiative

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders across philanthropy, business, government, and civil society to take action on the world’s most pressing challenges. The 2026 Annual Meeting is organized around the theme How Do We Get It Right?, charting an affirmative vision for the future amidst rising turmoil, division, and continued cuts to government funding.