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Statement From Dr. Rajiv Shah on The Rockefeller Foundation's 2025 Impact Report
NEW YORK, May 19 -- The Rockefeller Foundation issued the following statement by President Rajiv J. Shah on the 2025 Impact Report:* * *
Statement From Dr. Rajiv Shah on The Rockefeller Foundation's 2025 Impact Report
Disruption changes how we work, but not who we work for.
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Since our founding, we have believed that humanity's greatest challenges are solvable with bold, committed action. That belief has never mattered more than it does right now. Over the past year, we've all watched with deep concern as governments in Washington and other capitals made the decision to pull back from humanitarian ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, May 19 -- The Rockefeller Foundation issued the following statement by President Rajiv J. Shah on the 2025 Impact Report: * * * Statement From Dr. Rajiv Shah on The Rockefeller Foundation's 2025 Impact Report Disruption changes how we work, but not who we work for. * Since our founding, we have believed that humanity's greatest challenges are solvable with bold, committed action. That belief has never mattered more than it does right now. Over the past year, we've all watched with deep concern as governments in Washington and other capitals made the decision to pull back from humanitarianwork -- decisions that are already causing real harm to real people, and it will only get worse.
But the challenges we faced in 2025 also revealed something else: The uncommon courage of leaders -- many of them our own grantees and partners -- across the United States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Rather than shrink away from the challenges of a new era, they decided to raise their ambitions and go big: on regional partnerships, new tools, and fresh answers to modern threats. We're proud to be their partners and stand with them in this challenging time.
The work of those leaders is vitally important, but so is their example. They are showing all of us it's still possible -- with the right partners, the right ideas, and the right commitment -- to deliver results for vulnerable people, even with the disruption that makes their lives worse and our work harder.
We share an Impact Report every year because we believe not only that philanthropy can deliver at scale, but that we must show our results. We believe deeply in empowering others: through the partnerships we build, the convenings we host at our Bellagio Center, our Big Bets Fellowship, and reports like this one. We hope it offers something you can carry back to your own work and build upon.
Disruption might change how we work, but not who we work for. The farmer who once worked late nights, the only time electricity was available, who can now power their irrigation pumps in the day. The hungry child who now arrives at school knowing she'll have a healthy meal waiting for her. The community health workers who, thanks to new early warning systems, can respond to outbreaks faster and save more lives.
Those human stories are the real results we strive for every day. They -- and this report -- show how The Rockefeller Foundation delivered in 2025, and how we will deliver for hundreds of millions more in the future.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/statement-from-dr-rajiv-j-shah-2025-impact-report/
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust: Men Can Be Safely Treated With Two Radiotherapy Sessions for Localised Prostate Cancer With No Increase in Side Effects
LONDON, England, May 19 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:* * *
Men can be safely treated with two radiotherapy sessions for localised prostate cancer with no increase in side effects
New research data from the HERMES study shows that just two higher-dose treatments are as safe as a standard five-session regimen.
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The findings from the HERMES study, led by Dr Alison Tree, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Leader of the Uro-oncology Clinical Trials Group at The Institute of Cancer Research, ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, May 19 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news: * * * Men can be safely treated with two radiotherapy sessions for localised prostate cancer with no increase in side effects New research data from the HERMES study shows that just two higher-dose treatments are as safe as a standard five-session regimen. * The findings from the HERMES study, led by Dr Alison Tree, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Leader of the Uro-oncology Clinical Trials Group at The Institute of Cancer Research,London were presented today at the Congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) in Stockholm, on Sunday 17 May.
Radiotherapy is one of the main curative treatments for localised prostate cancer. Many hospitals currently treat patients for localised disease with five sessions delivered over two weeks. The HERMES study investigated whether the same effective overall dose could be safely delivered in two sessions, over an eight-day period, using advanced MRI-guided technology.
What is the HERMES study?
The HERMES trial recruited 46 men with localised prostate cancer, 24 patients received a five-session course over two weeks, while 22 received an equivalent dose delivered in two sessions over eight days. All treatment on the trial was delivered using a state-of-the-art MR Linac system, which combines MRI imaging with radiotherapy delivery to enable highly precise targeting of the prostate, while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.
The Royal Marsden together with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), was the first in the UK to treat patients with the MR Linac in 2018. The MR Linac was funded by a pound sterling10 million grant from the Medical Research Council to the ICR and supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Researchers set out to determine whether delivering the equivalent dose in just two sessions could be safe and feasible, while also assessing its impact on side effects such as urinary and bowel function. The results show that the approach is both feasible and safe, with no increase in side effects compared with a standard five-session schedule. Larger studies are now needed to confirm this finding.
Findings of the HERMES study
Around one in four patients in both groups experienced moderate urinary side effects, such as increased frequency or urgency, at some point between six months and two years after treatment. No severe urinary or bowel side effects were reported in either group. Bowel side effects were very low overall, with no moderate side effects in the two-session group, although some mild side effects were observed in the two-session group.
After two years, patients reported minimal changes in quality of life, with no meaningful difference between the two treatment approaches. Overall, condensing treatment into two sessions had no impact on patient side effects.
"I went through radiotherapy without pain or side effects"
"When I was told I had cancer, I was terrified. I lost my dad to cancer when I was a child, so I thought I was going to die," said Damien Garland, a 64-year-old delivery driver from London. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 and joined the HERMES trial at The Royal Marsden.
"I was told I wouldn't need surgery and would instead have radiotherapy and hormone treatment. I've had a few side effects from the hormone therapy, but I went through the radiotherapy without pain or side effects. I can honestly say I haven't had a bad day; my life didn't stop in the way I thought it would.
"My cancer has remained in remission, I'm still working, and I enjoy staying active and going for walks with my partner. I consider myself extremely lucky."
New understanding of using radiotherapy in prostate cancer treatment
Dr Sian Cooper, Clinical Research Fellow at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, shared her insight into the impact of the HERMES trial on patients.
"Radiotherapy is one of the main treatments used to cure localised prostate cancer and until recently it was thought that delivering multiple treatments over a longer period was most effective," she explained. "This study suggests that delivering patients' treatment in fewer, higher doses is both effective in treating the cancer and has minimal impact on the side effects that patients might experience.
"For patients, a two-session treatment course is more convenient with fewer hospital visits and clear benefits for work, family life, and travel. For clinicians and hospitals, fewer sessions mean faster treatment pathways and improved efficiency, allowing patients to receive the right treatment more quickly."
Smarter, kinder treatments for patients
Professor Emma Hall, Director of the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, which managed the trial, also celebrated the findings of the HERMES study:
"Being able to treat cancer with fewer, higher doses of radiotherapy means patients can spend less time in hospital and travelling to appointments. It's an example of how the ICR, in partnership with The Royal Marsden, is developing smarter, kinder treatments, and it builds on decades of research we have led to transform radiotherapy into the highly targeted, personalised treatment that it is today."
The HERMES trial was funded by the Jon Moulton Charity Trust and also received support from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
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Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/men-can-be-safely-treated-two-radiotherapy-sessions-localised-prostate-cancer
Rockefeller Foundation Awarded $350M+ to Reach 731 Million People Amid 2025's Historic Decline in Global Aid
NEW YORK, May 19 (TNSrep) -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release on May 17, 2026:* * *
Rockefeller Foundation Awarded US$350M+ to Reach 731 Million People Amid 2025's Historic Decline in Global Aid
2025 Impact Report, "Big Bets, Real Results," highlights $32 billion in total capital mobilized into solutions for millions of people in Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean, Europe, the United States, and more
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The Rockefeller Foundation today released its 2025 impact report, Big Bets, Real Results, detailing a year of strategic investments aimed at lifting up ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, May 19 (TNSrep) -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release on May 17, 2026: * * * Rockefeller Foundation Awarded US$350M+ to Reach 731 Million People Amid 2025's Historic Decline in Global Aid 2025 Impact Report, "Big Bets, Real Results," highlights $32 billion in total capital mobilized into solutions for millions of people in Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean, Europe, the United States, and more * The Rockefeller Foundation today released its 2025 impact report, Big Bets, Real Results, detailing a year of strategic investments aimed at lifting upsome of the world's most vulnerable people and solving humanity's most persistent problems. The report details the Foundation's 2025 work, including big bets on Universal Energy Abundance, Food is Medicine in the United States Regenerative School Meals around the world, to accelerate the reach of frontier technology, community-driven models, and decisive data across its core focus areas. Amid a volatile global landscape and a historic decline in global aid, the 113-year-old philanthropic organization successfully awarded more than US$350 million, directly mobilized US$3 billion, and helped mobilize an additional US$29 billion in indirect capital -- reaching 731 million people worldwide.
"Disruption changes how we work, but not who we work for. Last year the world's commitment to helping those in need contracted sharply -- and people who depended on this paid the price. But it also revealed the uncommon courage of leaders across the United States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America who chose to raise their ambitions and go big. We are proud to stand with them and share this report, which proves it is still possible to deliver results at scale for vulnerable people, despite the disruption that makes their lives worse and our work harder," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. Read his full statement here.
2025 Impact by the Numbers
The Foundation awarded more than $350 million across 235 grants and program-related investments to 204 unique partners in 2025. The following metrics highlight the reach, capital mobilization, and environmental outcomes of the 2025 portfolio:
* Results for People: 731 million people accessed or used a charitable product or service funded by the Foundation. Of those reached, 3 million people experienced a clear, measurable outcome from a direct intervention.
* Unlocking Investment: The Foundation directly mobilized $3 billion and helped scale concepts that indirectly mobilized an additional $29 billion in capital -- $32 billion in total--for charitable interventions through the work of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and other partners.
* Protecting the Planet: Efforts resulted in 84 million tons of CO2e -- a metric that accounts for the total global warming potential of all greenhouse gases avoided, reduced, or sequestered -- and 23 million hectares of land protected or restored, an area roughly the size of Utah, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Laos, or Guyana.
* Global Funding Reach: Charitable investments reached every major region, including more than $133 million in Africa; $93 million in Asia and Oceania; $59 million in Latin America and the Caribbean; and $49 million in the United States and North America. Detailed regional breakdowns are available in the Full 2025 Financial Overview.
"When the world pulls back, philanthropy has to lean in," said Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "From AI-powered disease alerts in Latin America to school meals in Kenya and clean energy in Haiti, 2025 showed that the right investments -- made with the right partners -- deliver results at scale, strengthen markets, and create curable impact for communities."
Stories from the Field: Human Impact in Action
The 2025 report highlights the individuals at the center of the Foundation's work and its 'Big Bets' organized across three strategic pillars:
1. Frontier Tech: Bridging the public-private gap to ensure the latest technological breakthroughs reach the people who will benefit most, first.
2. Community-Driven Models: Strengthening local systems and infrastructure to ensure lasting progress is led by and for the communities it serves.
3. Decisive Data: Tapping into unconventional data and evidence to enable the swift decision-making required to save lives and scale world-changing ideas.
To access the full list of stories, click here (https://impactreport.rockefellerfoundation.org/stories/global-energy-alliance-mesh-grids), with following snapshots illustrating this work in action:
* Universal Energy Abundance (India, Zambia, Haiti): With Foundation support, the Global Energy Alliance is helping scale India's first standalone utility-scale battery energy storage system in New Delhi, India, which has helped 100,000+ people access reliable electricity. In Zambia families now are able to operate their oil extractors using clean, affordable solar power -- producing and selling cooking oils to their community, at a fraction of the cost. As result of investing modular, solar-powered mesh grids in northwest Haiti, 21,000 people were connected to reliable electricity. Together, these innovations are providing the reliable power necessary to stabilize grids and support livelihoods. Globally, the expected lifetime impact for all deployed and deployment-ready Alliance projects includes 91 million people reached with new or improved energy access, jobs and livelihoods improved for 3.1 million people, and approximately 296 million tonnes of carbon emissions prevented.
* Regenerative School Meals (Global): In Makueni County, Kenya, the introduction of omena fish into school menus through Lattice Aquaculture is helping small-scale producers stabilize food supply chains and improve student nutrition. The Foundation's partnership with the World Food Programme is helping improve how children are fed in Benin, Burundi, Ghana, Honduras, India, and Rwanda, ensuring every plate of food creates positive ripple effects, and the results show up where they matter most: in classrooms and communities.
* Food is Medicine (United States): Community Servings provides over a million medically tailored, nutritious, homemade meals every year to chronically- and critically-ill individuals in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Because Food is Medicine programs need to be covered by both public and private health insurance in order to be accessible to eligible people across the U.S., the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food initiative supported 28 studies across the country -- including in Alabama, California, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and Texas -- to generate evidence on which Food is Medicine programs are most effective.
* Climate-Smart Tech (Brazil, India, Kenya, United States): AI-powered app, FarmerChat, created by Digital Green, provides real-time, multilingual guidance, tailored to a farmer's specific location and weather conditions. Last year, 83% of women users reported being much more confident investing in their farms because of FarmerChat, which had more than 1.6 million downloads and handled more than 10 million queries across six countries, including Brazil, India, and Kenya. Across the United States, the Foundation supported Invest in Our Future to advance clean energy projects across 45 states, reaching more than 770 counties and 400 cities and towns.
* Embracing Local Practices to Speed Reforestation (Brazil): In northeastern Brazil, Health in Harmony is supporting women-led coalitions of forest guardians to establish nurseries to reverse rainforest deforestation and protect biodiversity, while creating sustainable economic opportunities. As a result, nearly 20,000 community members from nine Indigenous Peoples territories received support to protect 2 million hectares of rainforest.
* Innovating Early Health Alerts (Brazil & Colombia): Thanks to innovative data modeling through the Dengue.AI platform, health officials in Cali, Colombia are able to predict and prevent outbreaks with 93% accuracy, which has protected 2.2 million people from the mosquito-borne virus. In Brazil, the Alert-Early System of Outbreaks with Pandemic Potential (AESOP), which was developed with local health authorities, has helped prevent 86 outbreaks from becoming full-scale crises. These real-time interventions are protecting vulnerable communities from climate-sensitive health threats.
* AI for Civic Good (South Africa): The Foundation is investing in digital tools to increase civic participation. In Cape Town, South Africa, through Turn.io, it's collaborating with the city's data analytics hub to build the country's first AI-powered platform for residents to participate in local government -- in their own language and on their own terms -- reaching approximately 100,000 people.
"As The Rockefeller Foundation marks 60 years of its Africa Regional Office, it reflects a broader shift in the future of development. Amid aid cuts, geopolitical tensions and conflict, climate impacts, and political change, progress is becoming harder to sustain. Against this backdrop, the focus is increasingly on strengthening African capacity across health, education, and energy, and on African-led solutions and leadership, alongside the role of philanthropic capital. The Foundation's latest Impact Report highlights how we are reimagining progress through mission-driven action and partnerships." - William Asiko, Senior Vice President and head of The Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Office
"In 2025, our work in Asia proved that frontier technology like battery storage and AI-powered farming tools are not just innovations -- they are essential lifelines. By reaching nearly 94 million people across the region, we are demonstrating how decentralized energy and climate-smart data can secure livelihoods even as the global climate becomes more unpredictable." - Deepali Khanna, Senior Vice President and head of The Rockefeller Foundation's Asia Regional Office
"During the first year of activity of the LAC Regional Office, we prioritized local partnerships and community-driven models to protect both the planet and the people across Latin America and the Caribbean. From using Artificial Intelligence to predict dengue outbreaks in Cali (Colombia) to reforestation efforts in Maranhao (Brazil), our US$59 million investment in the region is focused on building local resilience that can withstand global volatility." - Lyana Latorre, Vice President and head of The Rockefeller Foundation's Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office
The full 2025 Impact Report is available for digital exploration and download at impactreport.rockefellerfoundation.org.
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About The Rockefeller Foundation
Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/2025-impact-report-big-bets-real-results/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: BUILD Housing Package is a Step Forward for Illinois
LOS ANGELES, California, May 19 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by Eliza Terziev, housing and land use policy analyst:* * *
The BUILD housing package is a step forward for Illinois
While the BUILD Act's proposed spending could harm the state budget, its deregulatory reforms are necessary to ease housing pressure across lllinois.
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Illinois is facing a severe and ongoing housing shortage. Current estimates suggest the state is short 142,000 housing units, with all 26 Illinois metro areas seeing a drop in inventory since 2019, the highest being Bloomington at 75%. As ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, May 19 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by Eliza Terziev, housing and land use policy analyst: * * * The BUILD housing package is a step forward for Illinois While the BUILD Act's proposed spending could harm the state budget, its deregulatory reforms are necessary to ease housing pressure across lllinois. * Illinois is facing a severe and ongoing housing shortage. Current estimates suggest the state is short 142,000 housing units, with all 26 Illinois metro areas seeing a drop in inventory since 2019, the highest being Bloomington at 75%. Asof February 2026, the average Illinois home value is over $285,000, up nearly 5% from just a year ago, and over 46% since January 2020. As of 2024, nearly one in three Illinois households is cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. In response to this mounting price pressure, Governor J.B. Pritzker proposed the Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) plan that is currently making its way through the state legislature.
This plan includes unnecessary spending in a state already strained by excessive government expenditure. However, the proposed deregulatory reforms have the potential to transform Illinois' housing landscape and create a more resilient housing market for both current and future residents. The Illinois Municipal League is opposing these efforts for fear of overriding local authority and is proposing its own alternative housing plan.
Given the severity of Illinois' housing challenges and the dangers of continuing to prevent housing market adjustment, the governor's housing package will help a great deal, and the concessions recommended by the Municipal League will make it less effective. While the spending is unnecessary and harmful to the state budget, deregulatory reforms are necessary to ease housing pressure for residents.
The housing package
Illinois's BUILD package includes multiple positive deregulatory measures that will make it easier to build housing. The full package is currently moving through the Illinois House in House Bill 5626, while each individual provision is moving separately in the Senate. Below are the Senate bills and their potential impact:
Senate Bill 4060: Missing middle housing
SB 4060 simultaneously addresses minimum lot size regulations and allows increased density across residential areas. In addition to not allowing a minimum lot size greater than 2,500 square feet for a single-family home, SB 4060 further allows the density increases described in Table 1 statewide.
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Table 1: Density requirements imposed by SB 4060
Lot size ... Dwelling units allowed by right
2,500 - 5,000 sq ft. ... 4
5,000 - 7,500 sq ft. ... 6
>7,500 sq ft. ... 8
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Further, this law provides a framework for converting single-family homes to "middle-housing" types and ensures that the review process for these units is no stricter than it would be for single-family detached homes. Enacting SB 4060 at the state level would make substantial progress toward standardization and predictability in the law and pave the way for starter homes.
In 2025, the median age of a first-time homebuyer in the United States reached an all-time high of 40 years old. The lack of smaller housing options has greatly contributed to this delay in life milestones, and exclusionary zoning codes are the driver of this gap. Data on the average size of new single-family homes reveal that they have been shrinking since 2015, suggesting consumers are willing to make the tradeoff in size to have a shot at homeownership. Allowing markets to respond to signals of housing demand is key to a healthy, balanced housing market. Enacting SB 4060 does not mean every new development will be at maximum density, but this law allows communities that desire these units to more easily align lot sizes with residents' needs.
Senate Bill 4061: Single-stair reform
Building codes for multifamily housing in the United States are based on the International Building Code, and typically require multiple stairways for residential buildings taller than three stories. Although this provision is typically justified on fire safety grounds, evidence from countries that permit buildings with only one stairway shows no worse fire safety outcomes than those in the United States.
Maintaining this standard adds substantially to the cost of multifamily residential development. Buildings with four to six stories and one stairway can cost 6% to 13% less than a similar two-staircase building. By reducing the cost of taking on these projects, removing dual-stairway requirements can encourage multifamily development.
If enacted, SB 4061 would allow buildings up to six stories to have only one staircase, provided they have smoke detectors, sprinklers, and no more than four units per floor with an emergency exit for each unit. This reform would open the door for more efficient multifamily development in Illinois.
Senate Bill 4062: Impact fee standardization
Impact fees are one-time fees charged to new developments for the additional strain they place on public services, including fire, police, and roads. These fees are necessary to ensure that new development pays for itself, but can raise concerns regarding proportionality and regressivity. Impact fees are passed on to homebuyers, with evidence indicating they raise the cost of new housing dollar for dollar. Ensuring these fees are not overly burdensome, especially for smaller homes, can encourage new housing development.
SB 4062 would establish a standard, transparent statewide formula for calculating impact fees charged to new development, reducing the ambiguity and variability typically associated with these fees. Municipalities can charge less if they deem the formula's results too burdensome for new development. Like the other bills in this package, SB 4062 advances a predictable and fair regulatory landscape and streamlines the process of building a new home.
Senate Bill 4063: Simplifying plan review and inspections
This law would require municipalities in Illinois to complete building permit reviews within set deadlines: 15 business days for single-family homes and duplexes, and 30 business days for multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial projects. If these deadlines are not met, developers could hire qualified third-party reviewers or inspectors, and municipalities would have to accept their findings if they show compliance with local building codes. The bill is intended to reduce permitting delays and create more predictable approval timelines statewide while still maintaining safety standards.
States like Arizona that have passed permitting reform similar to SB 4063 have seen their timelines speed up, and this is promising for Illinois. The state has significant permitting delays and variable approval timelines, making it difficult to plan projects. Standardizing this process is a straightforward way to increase predictability and spur housing development in Illinois.
Senate Bill 4064: Parking reform
Illinois' SB 4064 would reduce and standardize parking requirements for residential development in the state. Under this law, no more than 0.5 parking spots could be required per unit in a multifamily development, and no more than one parking spot could be required per single-family home. For units smaller than 1,500 square feet, assisted living facilities, or affordable housing developments, municipalities would not be able to institute any parking minimum.
Excessive parking requirements drastically increase the cost of development, which is especially burdensome to low-income residents. For these households, requiring one parking spot per apartment accounts for 6% of the annual budget.
Enacting this law would not mean that parking disappears. SB 4064 would simply give developers greater flexibility to build housing that reflects the needs of residents, rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all mandate. Expanding opportunities for more affordable housing options, including developments with fewer costly amenities like parking, is essential to creating choices for lower-income residents.
Senate Bill 4071: Accessory dwelling units
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are created on the same lot as a larger primary residence. They may be detached, such as backyard cottages, or attached, including units created within the main home, like basement apartments, or converted from existing spaces such as garages. ADUs are particularly attractive for adding new housing stock because they serve as infill, incrementally increasing density without an additional strain on local infrastructure. They can serve as student housing, affordable housing, and an opportunity for elderly relatives to age in place while maintaining their independence.
Where they have been allowed statewide, ADUs are widely utilized. California, for example, passed a series of laws that make it easier to build ADUs. Since 2018, when these reforms started, California has seen a massive increase in ADU permitting, indicating that residents are interested when the regulatory burden is not prohibitive (see Figure 1). Currently, Illinois has no statewide law allowing ADUs, so legality is determined on the municipal level. SB 4071 would allow ADUs on all single-family parcels and prohibit any additional regulations or parking requirements beyond those applicable to the primary structure, ensuring localities do not circumvent statewide rules.
Challenges by the Municipal League
The Illinois Municipal League (IML) has protested these regulatory changes since their initial proposal because they preempt local decisions on housing. In response, the IML proposed its own alternative, the Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local (REAL) housing package.
This package includes several notable requests. The first is the establishment of both a "Middle Housing Incentive Fund" and a grant program for comprehensive planning and zoning assistance, encouraging municipalities to increase their density allowances through financial incentives. The REAL housing package would further incentivize, but not mandate, the creation of by-right overlay districts where middle-density housing may be allowed by right. There is also a suggestion to create a blight-clearance grant program. The IML is effectively arguing that, rather than preempting exclusionary zoning practices outright, the state should subsidize municipalities to pursue weaker reforms on a slower timeline, with no guarantee of change.
Further provisions include setting a maximum commission on real estate transactions, exempting building materials from certain state taxes, limiting the use of artificial intelligence in housing, and price-controlling rent-related expenses, among others.
There is little evidence or economic suggestion that these kinds of regulatory interventions, particularly price controls and transaction limits, will meaningfully increase housing supply. Local governments have neither prevented nor resolved Illinois' current housing affordability crisis. Indeed, while preempting local authority is a last resort, decades of local housing policy decisions to restrict housing supply are the cause of the current crisis. If municipalities refuse to liberalize their land-use codes and allow more housing development, state preemption becomes necessary. Every community in Illinois is indeed very different, but the most granular decision-making level is not the municipality, but the individual parcel. Land-use decisions should be driven voluntarily by community members, developers, and markets, not by restrictive regulation. Illinois' housing policy should prioritize property rights and allow housing supply to adjust to demand. Evidence from across the country suggests that reforms like the BUILD Act, which liberalize land-use regulations, are an effective way to increase housing supply.
To establish a baseline, evidence from Florida shows that areas with more restrictive land use laws for residential development, including larger minimum lot sizes, more density restrictions, and more complicated approval processes, are associated with higher home prices. In contrast, Houston, Texas, while not without land-use regulation, has avoided traditional zoning and allowed greater housing flexibility than many peer cities. As a result, Houston has maintained strong permitting levels and experienced lower home price appreciation than similarly fast-growing cities.
Recent reforms in California, as previously discussed, enabled a boom in ADU development. In Florida, the Live Local Act, a slightly different program using state preemption to allow dense development, has seen over 62,000 units permitted under its provisions since it passed in 2023. If Illinois embraces deregulatory measures, it could see similar results.
Takeaways
The BUILD Act is far from perfect, most notably because of the $250 million in funding for housing programs, down payment assistance, and infrastructure grants. Including this funding undermines both the goal of impact-fee standardization, which would ensure new growth pays for itself, and the low-cost appeal that makes land-use liberalization an attractive policy proposal. However, the other deregulatory measures are essential for building a more resilient and adaptable housing market in Illinois.
While these laws may not pass this legislative session, their introduction marks a promising step forward for housing policy in the state. Adjusting Illinois' housing market is not a matter of minor tweaks and optional financial incentives. Creating a resilient housing market capable of overcoming current price pressures and future challenges requires a fundamental restructuring of land-use laws to establish a baseline of freedom and property rights enforcement to which all residents are entitled.
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A previous version of this story misstated the amount of spending under the Build ACT, which has been corrected to $250 million.
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Eliza Terziev is a housing and land use policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/the-build-housing-package-a-step-forward-for-illinois/
Jed Foundation Hosts Congressional Briefing on Scalable Mental Health Models in Educational Settings
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:* * *
The Jed Foundation (JED) Hosts Congressional Briefing on Scalable Mental Health Models in Educational Settings
For Mental Health Awareness Month, youth, mental health and educational experts, and lawmakers convened to center student well-being in education and policy.
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[Washington, D.C.] - As demand for mental health services continues to rise, schools and colleges are adopting comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to support student well-being nationwide. On May 14, The Jed Foundation (JED) held ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release: * * * The Jed Foundation (JED) Hosts Congressional Briefing on Scalable Mental Health Models in Educational Settings For Mental Health Awareness Month, youth, mental health and educational experts, and lawmakers convened to center student well-being in education and policy. * [Washington, D.C.] - As demand for mental health services continues to rise, schools and colleges are adopting comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to support student well-being nationwide. On May 14, The Jed Foundation (JED) helda Congressional briefing, "Scalable Mental Health Models for K-12 & Higher Education," on Capitol Hill with youth advocates, education leaders, policymakers, and mental health experts to share deeper insights into expandable K-12 and higher education strategies and the role federal leadership can play in supporting the well-being and success of America's students.
Moderated by Martha Sanchez, JED's director of policy, the event began with opening remarks from Dr. Zainab Okolo, JED's senior vice president of policy, advocacy, and government relations, who highlighted the organization's policy priorities, programs with school communities and community-based organizations, and the newly announced intent to merge with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
"JED is committed to advancing comprehensive approaches in schools, organizations, and communities that help prevent youth suicide and support student well-being. Federal investments in youth mental health are critical to building sustainable systems of care that connect young people to prevention, early intervention, crisis response, and treatment services," said Dr. Okolo. "Programs like the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Program and Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) help schools and colleges implement evidence-informed strategies that strengthen support for youth nationwide. Through initiatives like JED Campus and the JED and AASA District Mental Health Initiative, we are seeing how strong federal, state, and local partnerships can create scalable models that help students thrive."
Panelists and the sixty attendees explored how coordinated school, campus, and state level strategies, supported by federal funding, are shifting institutions toward proactive, prevention-focused models. The panels featured discussions around youth-focused initiatives supporting suicide prevention, early intervention, and crisis response. Key takeaways from the event included:
* Federal investments in mental health are critical to helping institutions build sustainable systems of care that extend beyond schools and campuses to include community-based and hospital services.
* Youth mental health requires a flexible, comprehensive approach. Programs such as the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Program support institutions in implementing a continuum of services ranging from prevention and early intervention to crisis response and treatment for students.
* Rural schools depend on initiatives like Project AWARE to expand access to mental health services and strengthen support systems for children and families in underserved communities.
Recent data highlights the urgency of JED's work in policy, advocacy, and government relations. A 2025 UNICEF study found that young people ages 14-25 often feel overwhelmed and disempowered, with 40% citing mental health shame and secrecy in schools and workplaces as a significant barrier to seeking support.
"Every young person deserves access to mental health support before they reach a point of crisis, and that starts with ensuring our schools and campuses have the resources to meet them where they are," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03). "The Garrett Lee Smith grants and Project AWARE are delivering real results for students and the educators who support them, and we can't afford to walk that back. I'm proud to join JED and my colleagues in this bipartisan conversation, because when we invest in youth mental health, we invest in the future of our communities."
Conversations also included what a scalable model in K-12 schools and higher education looks like, how federal support can close gaps and support student well-being, and an impactful perspective from Dartmouth College student Trace Ribble on youth mental health today and ways this demographic engages in policy discussions across all levels of government.
"I come from rural Oklahoma, where mental health resources are scarce, and the few that do exist are stretched thin. As a member of JED's Youth Advocacy Coalition, I advocate for eradicating mental health disparities in my hometown and in communities nationwide," said Dartmouth College student Trace Ribble. "Whether in big cities or rural communities, policymakers should prioritize and invest in student well-being. K-12 school districts and college campuses are where emotional health habits are learned, services can be more readily accessed, and meaningful opportunities for positive intervention exist."
Higher education institutions and K-12 school districts are actively adopting data-informed strategies such as JED's comprehensive approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention to support student well-being in response to growing demand. JED Campus partners with 551 colleges and universities, reaching nearly seven million students. This type of programming saw statistically significant improvements in student mental health at the end of the program, relative to baseline. Students reported they were 10% less likely to experience suicidal ideation, 13% less likely to make a suicide plan, and 25% less likely to suicide attempt in the last year.
The JED and AASA District Mental Health Initiative actively works with 32 K-12 districts representing 785 schools and over 543,000 students to create a strategic action plan that serves as a road map for systemic change. Adrienne Cronebaugh, community mental health coordinator for Park County School District #1 in Wyoming, supports JED's work protecting emotional health and preventing suicide in young people.
"Lasting progress in youth mental health happens through early intervention and strong community collaboration," said Cronebaugh. "I am grateful for the opportunity from JED to share how Wyoming Project AWARE has helped our schools build those life-saving connections to better support students and families."
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About The Jed Foundation
JED is committed to protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. JED partners with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. JED equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other, and encourages community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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Original text here: https://jedfoundation.org/the-jed-foundation-jed-hosts-congressional-briefing-on-scalable-mental-health-models-in-educational-settings/
Conservation Law Foundation: Federal Lawmakers Drive Us Decades into the Past with New Bill
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:* * *
Federal Lawmakers Drive Us Decades into the Past with New Bill
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Chairman Rep. Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larson of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have released draft text of a bill that guts progress on improving clean public transportation, decimates investments in electric vehicles, and blocks charging infrastructure. The bill also introduces a dangerous and punitive tax on EV and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Federal Lawmakers Drive Us Decades into the Past with New Bill * Chairman Rep. Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larson of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have released draft text of a bill that guts progress on improving clean public transportation, decimates investments in electric vehicles, and blocks charging infrastructure. The bill also introduces a dangerous and punitive tax on EV and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) releasedthe following statement in response:
"Every family across the country right now is alarmed at how expensive it is to get around. Instead of addressing that, this bill bows down to status quo fossil fuels and highways," said Paulina Muratore, CLF director of transportation justice and infrastructure. "This bill was an opportunity to address rising transportation pollution, asthma rates, the spiking cost of gas, and the lack of options for people to commute. Instead, the federal government is throwing that all away. It's nothing short of betrayal."
Our current fossil-fueled transportation system is a major trigger for worsening respiratory and cardiac illnesses, on top of being the single largest source of carbon pollution in the entire country. A well-designed system would allow people the choice to walk, bike, use public transport, or use cleaner, electric cars - addressing all the issues families face today. This bill does the opposite.
Now the bill must undergo Committee edits, after which it will go to the House for amendments and a final vote. The Senate is working on its version of the bill.
CLF urges Congress to reconsider this draft and set us back on the right path.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/federal-lawmakers-drive-us-decades-into-the-past-with-new-bill/
As Financial Scams Surge, New Tool Will Help Community-Based Financial Institutions Identify Risks and Reduce Financial Loss
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Economics] -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) posted the following news release:* * *
As Financial Scams Surge, New Tool Will Help Community-Based Financial Institutions Identify Risks and Reduce Financial Loss
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New initiative from Prosperity Now and Alumbra, supported by JPMorganChase, will help institutions identify suspicious activity and respond to scams in real time.
Financial scams are becoming more sophisticated, faster-moving, and harder to identify in real time, especially for community-based financial institutions ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Economics] -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) posted the following news release: * * * As Financial Scams Surge, New Tool Will Help Community-Based Financial Institutions Identify Risks and Reduce Financial Loss * New initiative from Prosperity Now and Alumbra, supported by JPMorganChase, will help institutions identify suspicious activity and respond to scams in real time. Financial scams are becoming more sophisticated, faster-moving, and harder to identify in real time, especially for community-based financial institutionsand the individuals and small businesses they serve.
To help address this challenge, Prosperity Now today announced a new partnership with Alumbra to develop an accessible, AI-powered scam prevention platform designed to help community-based financial institutions and their clients identify suspicious activity, better understand potential risks, and take action before financial losses occur. The initiative is supported through a new philanthropic investment from JPMorganChase as part of the firm's broader national efforts to strengthen fraud and scam prevention.
"Scams are evolving faster than many institutions can respond, particularly in communities where trust, timing, and access to clear information matter most," said Marisa Calderon, President and CEO of Prosperity Now. "Prosperity Now works closely with community-based financial institutions and practitioners across the country, which gives us a direct view into the challenges institutions and their clients are navigating in real time. This initiative is about turning those insights into practical tools, stronger coordination, and more effective ways to help prevent financial loss before it occurs."
According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), social media continues to play a major role in financial scams, accounting for nearly 30 percent of reported fraud losses in 2025 and contributing to approximately $2.1 billion in reported losses, more than any other contact method tracked by the FTC. The FTC has also noted that fraud reporting significantly underestimates the true scale of scam-related losses nationwide, suggesting the actual financial damage is likely far higher.
The platform is designed to support situations where individuals or small businesses may be persuaded to send money as part of a scam, and financial institutions are working in real time to determine whether and how to intervene. Through a text-based interface and companion tools, users will be able to identify potentially suspicious messages or requests, receive plain-language explanations of common scam tactics, access guidance on possible next steps before financial loss, and contribute to broader scam trend reporting and shared insights. The initiative will also help community-based financial institutions better understand emerging scam patterns affecting the communities they serve and strengthen internal response protocols over time.
"As AI-powered scams become an increasing threat, AI-powered prevention tools have become essential, especially when trust and timing matter," said Alexandra Villarreal O'Rourke, CEO of Alumbra. "We are proud to partner with Prosperity Now and JPMorganChase on tools designed to stay on top of the latest scam trends and tactics to help users better identify and respond to scam activity in real time."
The project will also contribute to a broader effort to better understand scam patterns affecting communities across the country and support stronger coordination among financial institutions, nonprofit lenders, and other partners responding to financial scams.
"Stopping scams takes collaboration across sectors-bringing together the private sector, tech partners, nonprofits, and public-sector stakeholders to identify emerging threats and help people take action before losses occur," said Mercedeh Mortazavi, Head of Financial Health, Corporate Responsibility. "JPMorganChase is proud to support Prosperity Now and Alumbra in building an accessible tool that can strengthen real-time detection, improve learnings on scam trends, and bolster prevention efforts across the communities we all serve."
About Prosperity Now - Since 1979, Prosperity Now has been a trusted leader in strengthening financial security, expanding access to capital, and ensuring economic stability for businesses, families, and communities. To learn more, visit prosperitynow.org.
About Alumbra - Alumbra is an artificial intelligence product and advising company building solutions to help individuals and businesses use AI responsibly, and to protect them from those who don't. Founded by experienced financial services executives, Alumbra pairs deep expertise in regulated industries with frontier AI to deliver practical, effective tools with trustworthiness at their core.
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Original text here: https://www.prosperitynow.org/news-and-insights/as-financial-scams-surge-new-tool-will-help-community-based-financial-institutions-identify-risks-and-reduce-financial-loss