Breaking: Details of Bloomberg's $1 Billion Gift

Plus, how your group can navigate through turbulent times; and a major gift supports a zoo in South Dakota ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. BIG GIFTS [Michael Bloomberg’s New $1 Billion Gift to Johns Hopkins Matches the Year’s Biggest So Far]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( The media mogul’s donation is the latest aimed at making medical school tuition-free. ADVERTISEMENT [Michael Bloomberg’s New $1 Billion Gift to Johns Hopkins Matches the Year’s Biggest So Far]( COMMUNICATIONS [Can Your Group Stay Neutral on Controversial Topics? 5 Things to Know]( By Seth Chalmer [STORY IMAGE]( A communications pro offers tips for nonprofits considering whether to publicly take a stand on divisive issues GIFTS ROUNDUP [Denny Sanford Commits $35 Million for Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, Karen and William Davis gave $10 million to establish the Davis Family Center for Preventive Genomics at Endeavor Health, and Robert Kraft gave $1 million to Yeshiva U. to support students transferring to the Jewish university. 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. FORUMS [July 23 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( For years, nonprofits have been worried about the decline in the number of Americans who give. To reverse the trend, many are using new messages and communication channels to reconnect with middle-class donors. To explore what’s working now, join our free online forum, Bring Everyday Donors Back Into the Fold. You’ll hear from Sara Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together; CJ Ortuño, vice president of philanthropy at Civic News; and Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving. [July 31 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for How Data Is Driving Fundraising Success to learn about the latest data-driven fundraising techniques and tools that savvy nonprofit leaders are embracing. You’ll hear from Louis Diez of the Donor Participation Project, Don Irwin of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, and Natalia Pierson of Norfolk State University. They’ll explain how they put their donor data into action — and how your nonprofit can, too. 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 The Texas attorney general has stepped up probes into immigrant-aid groups in the state, despite a court ruling last week that his demands on one organization were “outrageous and intolerable.” Ken Paxton alleges that some groups, including Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, are helping migrants enter the country illegally. Catholic Charities, which said it has given Paxton’s office more than 100 pages of documents and a sworn statement from its executive director, has asked a court to stop what it called a “fishing expedition into a pond where no one has ever seen a fish.” ([Associated Press]( - Plus: Opinion: Texas Attorney General, Champion for Religious Freedom, But Not Christian Charity ([Dallas Morning News]( - Background from the Chronicle: [Immigrants Are Under Attack. Where’s Philanthropy?]( The founder of a legal aid group in Mississippi has doggedly pursued accusations of racism and abuse by a small-town police force, and endured her own arrest, in a successful campaign to get the Justice Department to investigate. Jill Collen Jefferson, a former Obama administration speechwriter, and her nonprofit, JULIAN, have enlisted the help of like-minded lawyers, filmed police stops, and listened to dozens of clients in Lexington, Miss., as she probed allegations of the police force’s misconduct — including a secretly recorded conversation of a former chief condoning killing “in cold blood” — sexual and racist abuse, and practice of targeting Black residents for minor traffic violations. Town and police officials declined requests to be interviewed. ([Washington Post]( More News - Sierra Club Turmoil Triggers Strike ([American Prospect]( - Lawsuit: Urban Alchemy Workers at Homeless Camp Dealt Drugs, Had Sex With Residents ([San Francisco Standard]( - Gun Rights Groups Sue to Block California’s New Tax on Firearms ([Los Angeles Times]( - This Little-Noticed Nonprofit Takes in Billions From Silicon Valley’s Wealthy Elite ([Barron’s]( - Right-Wing Think Tank Leader Promises Revolution, Warns of ‘Bloodshed’ ([Rolling Stone]( - ‘Horse Detective’ Adopts Wild Mustangs, Reunites Them With Herds ([Washington Post]( - How an Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Helped a Small-Town Art Theater in Ohio Land a Big Grant ([Associated Press]( 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 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. BEST PRACTICES [Mega-Gift Fiasco at Florida A&M Shows Nonprofits What Not to Do]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( A questionable $240 million gift illustrates what can happen when nonprofit leaders ignore warning signs. 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 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](. [Chief Development Officer]( Economic Mobility Pathways - EMPath [Vice President for University Advancement]( Illinois Wesleyan University [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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