Donors Sometimes Behave Badly. One Group Returned the Money

Plus, why DEI efforts need support now more than ever (opinion); and a view of election-season giving ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. CASE STUDY [Would Your Nonprofit Return a Gift From a ‘Power Drunk’ Donor? This Group Did]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( Flatbush Cats gave back a nearly $30,000 gift. The group explains how the relationship soured and offers advice on protecting staff and dealing with problematic donors. ADVERTISEMENT [Would Your Nonprofit Return a Gift From a ‘Power Drunk’ Donor? This Group Did]( OPINION | DEI UNDER ATTACK [DEI Isn’t a Dirty Word. How Funders Can Fight Back.]( By Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Minjon Tholen, and Dan Egol [STORY IMAGE]( Despite an onslaught of attacks, including this week’s ruling against the Fearless Fund, the need for DEI programs is growing. Philanthropy can help fortify the field against future assaults. FUNDRAISING [Midlevel Charity Donors Still Likely to Give in Election Season]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( While fundraisers worry the constant ads running during elections can sap attention and lead to reduced giving, a new poll suggests some nonprofit donors are willing to pay attention to both politics and nonprofit appeals. GRANTS ROUNDUP [Cox Enterprises Gives $100 Million to Ducks Unlimited for Wetlands Conservation]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, the North Carolina State University has received $30 million to build the first Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein; and the Rotary Foundation, World Vision, and the Gates Foundation jointly pledged $30 million to improve child health in Africa. WEBINARS [June 13 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Many nonprofits focus their grant seeking on large national foundations, even though community foundations are often more accessible, with stronger local ties. Join us for Attracting Support for Community Foundations to learn from Samuel Bellamy of the Coastal Community Foundation and Irfan Hasan of the New York Community Trust. They’ll explain how to approach and engage program officers, write proposals that rise above the competition, and more. TRAINING SERIES [June 18, 25, 4 (on demand) | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for Build a Thriving Nonprofit Culture, a series of three, 75-minute online sessions designed for leaders of small nonprofits who want to create a vibrant organizational culture to attract and retain top talent from all backgrounds. You’ll get strategies and tactics for creating a positive work environment from the inside out — without breaking the budget. The complimentary registration includes three sessions: Create an Inclusive Nonprofit Culture | Attract, Motivate, and Retain Top Talent | Foster a Culture of Well-Being. All sessions will be recorded and available on demand. 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 An alumnus of Columbia University has given $260 million to Israel’s Bar-Ilan University for scientific and technological research. Bar-Ilan said the donor didn’t want to be named but described the philanthropist as a “North American Jew and graduate of Columbia University who served in World War II,” who “saw Israel as a safe haven for the Jewish people.” The statement did not include an explicit rebuke of Columbia, but divestment from Israel was among the demands of pro-Palestinian student demonstrators who took over parts of that campus this spring. ([NBC News]( A yearslong attendance slump at most museums has their directors rethinking the institutions’ relationships with the public. Their approaches include crowd-pleasing exhibitions, technological enhancements, reconfigured physical spaces, and more context for less-accessible contemporary works. Some institutions, such as the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, are focusing on people of color and others who typically didn’t attend museums in large numbers, but who now make up a majority of the local population. ([New York Times]( More News and Opinion - The $64 Million Mystery: How a Wave Of Anonymous Donations Is Fueling the 2024 Presidential Campaign ([CBS News]( - New Bill From Blumenthal Would Give $1 Billion to Nonprofit Theaters Annually ([WSHU]( - Ibram X. Kendi Faces a Reckoning of His Own ([New York Times]( - The Reproductive Freedom Alliance Taps Its First Leader ([Washington Post]( Nonprofits and the Law - Ohio’s Attorney General Seeks to Block Seminary College From Selling Its Rare Books ([Associated Press]( - Suburban Milwaukee Library Sues Its Foundation for Allegedly Withholding New Building Donations ([Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]( subscription) 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 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION [A Grant Program for Black Women Business Owners Is Discriminatory, Appeals Court Rules]( By Alexandra Olson, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( The ruling against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund is another victory for conservative groups waging a sprawling legal battle against corporate diversity programs. OPINION [Expected SCOTUS Decisions Could Endanger Domestic Violence Victims. Where’s Philanthropy?]( By Brett J. Barnes [STORY IMAGE]( Philanthropy has long neglected the domestic violence movement, but the stakes are getting higher, and more support is desperately needed. OPINION [The Exodus of Everyday Donors Is Bad for America. Here’s How to Stop It.]( By Victoria Vrana [STORY IMAGE]( The decline in charitable giving by average Americans threatens democracy. Among the solutions: pooled micro-donations, giving incentives, and a focus on the donor relationship. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — Many nonprofits focus their grant seeking on large national foundations, even though community foundations are often more accessible, have strong local ties, and give away billions to charities each year. How can you get the attention of community foundations and win support for your cause? Join us on Thursday, June 13, at 2 p.m. ET to get advice from two community foundation leaders. They’ll explain how to determine if your nonprofit is a fit for a potential grant maker, ways to approach and engage program officers, and how to write proposals that rise above the competition. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](. [Planned Giving Officer, environment and reproductive rights]( Population Connection [President and CEO]( Andrew Jackson's Hermitage [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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