Could One Word Change Philanthropy?

Plus, a $75.5 million gift for Maine's community colleges ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. OPINION [How One Word Could Change Philanthropy]( By Leah Hunt-Hendrix [STORY IMAGE]( Embracing the word “solidarity” alongside “justice” and “equity” will help philanthropy rethink what it means to do good. GRANTS ROUNDUP [Harold Alfond Foundation Commits $75.5 Million for Maine’s Community Colleges]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded $1 billion to eliminate tuition at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Home Depot Foundation gave $9 million to build and repair 500 housing units for more than 3,400 homeless military veterans. 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. SPONSOR CONTENT | Center for Creative Leadership [Stronger Together: How Leadership and Evaluation Drive Nonprofit Impact]( 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 A former finance chief for the National Rifle Association has been barred from any fiduciary position in a nonprofit in New York State for 10 years and must pay the organization $2 million for his role in a corruption scandal. The ban is part of a settlement that former NRA CFO Wilson Phillips reached with New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued the group over allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption. Earlier this year, a jury found Phillips and other former executives including CEO Wayne LaPierre liable for millions of misspent NRA funds. Beginning next week, a judge will decide whether LaPierre and a former NRA general counsel should also be banned from nonprofit involvement in New York. ([Associated Press]( Background from the Chronicle: [The Verdict Against Former NRA Leader Wayne LaPierre Explained]( Public funding for crisis pregnancy centers in Texas has skyrocketed to $140 million as state legislators have limited access to abortion, but officials have little insight into how that money is spent or whether it actually makes a difference for pregnant women and their families. Nonprofits participating in what was originally called the Alternatives to Abortion program have great leeway in how they spend the funds, and can choose, for instance, to hand out diapers, or add to their cash reserves. At the same time, they can bill the state for each item handed out, including goods they received as donations. Legislators have resisted attempts to require the groups to use evidence-based approaches, although in 2023 they ordered the state’s health agency to “identify indicators to measure the performance outcomes,” “require periodic reporting,” and hire an outside party to conduct impact evaluations. ([ProPublica]( - Plus: How Beverly Hills Became an Unlikely Battleground for the Future of Abortion Rights ([Los Angeles Times]( - [Background From the Chronicle on Reproductive Rights]( More News - Many Universities Are Abandoning Race-Conscious Scholarships Worth Millions ([Washington Post]( - Background from the Chronicle: [Will Giving Grants Based on Race Survive the Fearless Fund Case?]( - Bloomberg’s $1 Billion Gift for Free Medical School Applies but Not to All ([New York Times]( - An Ambitious News Philanthropy Makes a Sharp Turn After Just Two Years ([Poynter]( - Plus: University of Vermont Local News Center Receives $7 Million to Expand Student Reporting Nationwide ([Boston Globe]( - Legal Aid Creates Fund at Cleveland Foundation Using Mackenzie Scott Gift ([Crain’s Cleveland Business]( — subscription) - Why Crypto Donations Are Surging in 2024 ([CoinDesk]( - Vaccine Nonprofit’s Financial Woes Leave University of Nevada Las Vegas in Hole ([Nevada Independent]( 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 FUNDRAISING [Everyday Donors Want to Give. Here’s How to Find Them.]( By Ben Gose and Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( It’s challenging to focus on small-dollar contributors when you need money today — but experts say a broad base of support is key for nonprofits’ long-term health. 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. 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. 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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