Why Now Is the Time for Philanthropic Reform (Opinion)

Plus, Houston community groups struggle to keep up with natural disasters; and letters take issue with nonprofits' statements on Gaza 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 [Campus Protests, Donor Secrecy, and a Moment for Reform]( By Benjamin Soskis [STORY IMAGE]( The right’s politicized calls to “follow the money” speak to a very real need for donor transparency and nonprofit oversight. ADVERTISEMENT [Campus Protests, Donor Secrecy, and a Moment for Reform]( DISASTER RELIEF [Houston Community Groups Strain to Keep Feeding and Cooling a City Battered by Repeat Storms]( By James Pollard, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( While nonprofit and mutual aid organizations have honed their disaster services in a city frequently battered by severe weather, some now find themselves drained by repeat deadly events. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [Recent Article on Nonprofits’ Gaza Statements Draws Ire]( The piece failed to acknowledge funders’ justifiable objections to language they view as antisemitic, readers say. WEBINARS [Thursday, 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 | Classy [​What We Get Wrong About Community and Why It Matters]( 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 Although the spotlight has turned to Warren Buffett’s three children with the news that he will leave his $130 billion fortune to them to give away, they are already, quietly, among the country’s top philanthropists. From 2001 to 2023, they received nearly $7.9 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares and gave away at least $7.4 billion, recently distributing between 28 percent and 94 percent of their foundations’ assets. Their philanthropies tend to attract less attention than others because with all that giving — made possible by annual gifts from their father — their foundations’ assets under management have amounted to less than $760 million each in the latest tax filings. ([Forbes]( subscription) Background from the Chronicle: [Gifts From Warren Buffett and Phil Knight Top the List of 2023’s Biggest Donations]( The chief litigator of the American Civil Liberties Union is stepping down after a grueling eight-year tenure that saw more wins than losses before an increasingly conservative Supreme Court. When David D. Cole, a law professor at Georgetown University, became the ACLU’s legal director in 2016, he expected Hillary Clinton to win the presidency and appoint liberal justices. Donald J. Trump’s election made the job more challenging, but it also supercharged donations and helped the organization nearly double its membership. No successor has been named. ([New York Times]( Background from the Chronicle: [The Challenge After the ‘Trump Bump': Encouraging Donors to Make a Second Gift]( More News - Kenya’s President Accuses Ford Foundation of Backing Protests ([Barron’s]( - A Network of Well-Funded Far-Right Activists Is Preparing for Trump’s Return to the White House. ([New Yorker]( - Former SBTi Employee Files Complaint With British Charity Watchdog ([Reuters]( - Second Phase of NRA Civil Trial Over the Gun Rights Group’s Spending Begins in New York ([Los Angeles Times]( - A Taiwan-Based Buddhist Charity Attempts to Take the Founding Nun’s Message of Compassion Global ([Associated Press]( - Plus: Who Is the Buddhist Nun Who Built a Global Charity From a Tiny Apartment in Rural Taiwan? ([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 DEMOCRACY [‘Enough of This Red and Blue BS’: Nonprofits, Foundations Respond to Trump Rally Shooting]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( Those working to close divides in America talk about what the attempted assassination means — and what needs to be done TECHNOLOGY [The Rise of the A.I.-Powered Nonprofit — and Why Not Everyone Is Convinced]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( A new survey from Fast Forward categorizes four main ways nonprofits are using artificial intelligence. FOUNDATION GIVING [As ‘Pro-Democracy’ Philanthropy Grows, Experts Warn of Many Obstacles to Combating Misinformation]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The Knight Foundation just pledged $7 million to fight election misinformation in swing states. But recipients of grants to bolster accurate political information say their work is being thwarted by social media platforms, A.I., and escalating partisanship. 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](. [Associate Director, Office of Institutional Advancement]( Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School [Associate Director of Laurentian Engagement and Annual Giving]( St. Lawrence University [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