New Leaders Want to Shift Community Foundations’ Role

Former program officer urge philanthropy not to avoid controversial topics (opinion); and the New York Mets owners make a big gift to LaGuardia Community College ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. TRENDS [A New Slate of Community Foundation Leaders Want to Leave a Mark]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( Dozens of community foundations have new presidents. The group is turning well-capitalized philanthropies into players in progressive policy battles across the country. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Former Program Officer’s Plea to Philanthropy: Don’t Run Away From Controversial Topics]( By Theo Kalionzes [STORY IMAGE]( I’ve come to accept the growing scientific consensus that nuclear energy is critical to addressing climate change. Other grant makers should, too. GIFTS ROUNDUP [LaGuardia Community College Scores $116.2 Million From the Owners of the New York Mets]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have given two unrestricted gifts of $50 million each through their Courage and Civility Award, and two former professors at the University of Maryland at College Park have donated $27.2 million to its math department. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [Identity Narratives Can Highlight Strength and Oppression — the Two Aren’t Incompatible]( It’s dangerous to dismiss the systemic obstacles that often accompany immigrant experiences. WEBINARS [April 18 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Affluent donors continue to take advantage of donor-advised funds. To better understand the motivations and giving preferences of those who hold these accounts, join us for How DAF Donors Are Giving Away Their Money. We’ll share insights to help you better connect with donors who give this way, and you’ll learn how nonprofits are successfully attracting contributions through DAFs. SPONSOR CONTENT | Ganbina [Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage, One Success Story at a Time.]( ONLINE FORUMS [April 23 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join the Chronicle and a panel of nonprofit experts for the free online forum Using A.I. to Streamline Nonprofit Operations. Our guest experts will share practical examples of the latest A.I. applications and advice on how to manage the rapid pace of A.I.-driven change. Don’t miss this chance to learn how harnessing smart tools can introduce efficiencies and help increase productivity at your organization. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A decline in volunteering that started a decade ago has picked up steam, as more people stay in the paid work force and fewer are involved with a church or child-related causes, straining nonprofit staffs and putting pressure on the groups to offer better pay and benefits to maintain their work force, even as donations also drop. ([Barron’s]( - Background from the Chronicle: [Americans Are Volunteering Less. What Can Nonprofits Do to Bring Them Back?]( A lawyer who was fired from the American Civil Liberties Union for using what managers deemed racist language — though not racial slurs — has taken her case to the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that she was retaliated against for complaining about a hostile workplace. Some legal experts say the case is another sign of tension between the group’s traditionally wide-ranging defense of speech and its more recent embrace of progressive causes and culture. ([New York Times]( More News and Opinion - Why ‘Report for America’ Is Pulling Out of Newsrooms Owned by Hedge Funds, Private Equity Firms ([Boston Globe]( - The Man Who Helped Redefine Campus Antisemitism ([New York Times]( - House Committee to Investigate U.S. Organ Transplant Network ([ABC News]( - HIV Patients in Fla. Panhandle Caught in the Middle of Nonprofits’ Contract Dispute ([WUWF]( - S.F. Mayoral Candidate Daniel Lurie Says He Knows How to Fix Nonprofits. Can He Fix City Hall? ([San Francisco Chronicle]( - Baltimore City Officials Recommend Nonprofits Pay More to General Fund ([WBAL]( - Housing Should Be Built on Land Owned by Churches, Nonprofits, NYC Mayor Says ([BK Reader]( - What Is the Foundation Behind the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award Controversy? ([NPR]( - The Dogs Helping the Covenant Children Find Their Way Back ([New York Times]( - Conservative Nonprofit Didn’t Disclose Some Political Spending, Filings Show ([Politico]( - Editorial: Sifting Through the Ashes of OnePulse Foundation and Finding Only Failure ([Orlando Sentinel]( Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup. EDITOR'S PICKS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP [Health-Care Access Maverick to Lead California Endowment]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The $4.7 billion foundation Friday named Brenda Solorzano, an early architect of trust-based philanthropy and a veteran of health-care grant making in the Golden State, as its next president. OPINION [Janine Lee: A Champion of Equitable Grant Making in the South]( By Susan Taylor Batten [STORY IMAGE]( A consummate philanthropic leader, she leaves behind a unique legacy of healing divisions and facilitating difficult conversations in a deeply complex region. BIG PHILANTHROPY [Big Surprises as MacKenzie Scott Announces ‘Open Call’ Winners]( By Nicole Wallace [STORY IMAGE]( The billionaire philanthropist announced 361 winners — and $640 million in giving. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — It’s an age-old problem: many nonprofit CEOs and senior leaders struggle to persuade board members to raise money — even though trustees care deeply about the nonprofits they serve. Experts cite a variety of reasons, including the need to define roles and responsibilities when recruiting board members. What does it take to create a vibrant culture of fundraising among board members? Join us on Thursday, May 9, at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn from our expert guests as they share proven ways to solve this perennial challenge. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). [Director of Development, Museum and Arts & Culture Industry]( Museum of Chinese in America [Vice President for Advancement]( Roanoke College [Manager, Individual Giving]( Echoing Green [Director of Philanthropy]( Rose Hill Center [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037