Meet the Lottery Winner Who Became a Philanthropist

Plus, how philanthropy can help climate advocates (opinion); and the nonprofit helping newsrooms tell stories visually ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. ARTS AND CULTURE [Can a Lottery Winner Run an Effective Foundation? Meet Roy Cockrum]( By George Anders [STORY IMAGE]( How a onetime comic actor turned $60 million of Powerball winnings into a grant-making engine that has backed ambitious theater since 2014. ADVERTISEMENT [Can a Lottery Winner Run an Effective Foundation? Meet Roy Cockrum]( OPINION [Facing Arrest and Worse, Climate Advocates Need Legal Defenders. Philanthropy Can Help.]( By Betsy Apple and Alfred Brownell [STORY IMAGE]( Protecting the environment is dangerous business. Those on the front lines need greater support to fend off fossil fuel industry threats. THE FACE OF PHILANTHROPY [The Nonprofit Helping Local Newsrooms Tell Stories Visually]( By Nicole Wallace [STORY IMAGE]( CatchLight, based in San Francisco, has been placing photographers in local newsrooms since 2019. WEBINARS [July 18 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( It isn’t easy to create holiday appeals that capture donors’ attention during the busiest fundraising time of the year. To get a jump on these critical campaigns and a handle on what to expect this year, join us for Planning a Year-End Fundraising Strategy in the Current Giving Climate. You’ll learn from Skyler Reep of KSPS PBS and Seth Rosen of The American LGBTQ+ Museum as they share real-world appeals, proven approaches, and tips for planning ahead while staying flexible. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A $20 million gift from MacKenzie Scott two years ago was not enough to keep Benefits Data Trust in business. The nonprofit said, without elaborating, that it will close its doors in 60 days. Benefits Data Trust has twice laid off staff and parted ways with its CEO, replacing him with the CFO as interim leader. Final financial statements for 2023 were unavailable, but according to a board document, the group stood to report a $9.8 million loss for the year. The organization works under contract with states and health insurers to help people apply for government benefits. Neither the founder nor the interim CEO immediately responded to requests for comment, and the Inquirer was unable to reach a representative for MacKenzie Scott. ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( — subscription) More News - DEI Programs Toppled Amid a surge of Conservative Lawsuits ([Washington Post]( - Gideons International and the Fight Over a $34 Million Gift ([Nashville Banner]( - Small-Town Philanthropies Banking on Great Wealth Transfer ([Daily Yonder]( - Why Ford Foundation President Darren Walker thinks more people need to talk about antisemitism ([Jewish Insider]( - Background from the Chronicle: [The Push to Get More Big Donors to Give to Fight the Spread of Antisemitism]( Opinion - I Study Homelessness. I Wish More Places Looked Like This Shelter. ([New York Times]( 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. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION [Will Giving Grants Based on Race Survive the Fearless Fund Case?]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The 11th Circuit decision in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund has put grant makers on notice: Any grants limited to members of a specific race could be illegal. But there remain plenty of unknowns. OPINION [Can Melinda French Gates Reignite Post-Dobbs Rage Giving?]( By Cora Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( Supporting women and girls of color should always be an urgent matter. French Gates is showing what that means. GIVING USA [Giving Continues Its Decline, Down 2.1% in 2023. Can Fundraisers Turn the Tide in 2024?]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( ‘Giving USA’ found that inflation took a bite out of giving again last year, but nonprofits are cautiously optimistic about 2024. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( —It isn’t easy to create a campaign that captures donors’ attention — and gets them to give — during the most competitive fundraising time of the year. And 2024’s giving season presents even more challenges, including wars, economic worries, and a politically charged presidential election. To learn how to build a smart strategy despite the tricky climate, join the Chronicle on Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. ET for a 75-minute webinar and get a jump on your planning. Our expert guests will share tips for creating a timeline that can be adapted if needed, ways to engage everyone at your organization in fundraising to boost results, and real-world examples of approaches that are working — and which to avoid. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](. 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