Why Trust-Based Philanthropy Still Needs Metrics (Opinion)

Plus, a housing shortage in Maui post-wildfires; and Schmidt Sciences awards $47 million for feedstock research 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 [Trust-Based Philanthropy Isn’t an Excuse to Ignore Metrics — It’s the Opposite]( By Eric Weingartner [STORY IMAGE]( Measuring performance actually promotes trust and accountability, while helping both funders and grantees do their jobs better. ADVERTISEMENT [Trust-Based Philanthropy Isn’t an Excuse to Ignore Metrics — It’s the Opposite]( DISASTER RECOVERY [A Year After Maui Wildfire, Chronic Housing Shortage Persists]( By Gabriela Aoun Angueira and Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( A housing market squeezed by vacation rentals is undermining attempts to find long-term shelter for survivors. GRANTS ROUNDUP [Schmidt Sciences Awards $47.3 Million for Feedstock Research]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, America Achieves received $20 million to expand economic opportunity at the community level, and the cycling company Shimano pledged $10 million to build new mountain-bike trails worldwide. WEBINARS [August 15 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Well-crafted budgets demonstrate sound fiscal management, show how spending aligns with mission and goals, and engender trust. Join us for CRAFTING PROPOSAL BUDGETS THAT INSTILL CONFIDENCE to learn from Jeanette Hall, director of finance and operations, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation and Lynne Weikart, Ph.D., retired professor, CUNY. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A little-known Virginia nonprofit has funneled nearly $10 million to lawyers and gun-rights groups that are spearheading efforts to roll back gun restrictions. The Constitutional Defense Fund, started by an undercover narcotics officer turned pastor, used grants from donor-advised fund sponsor Donor’s Trust to pay the Cooper & Kirk law firm, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Firearms Policy Foundation, “which together have filed at least 21 lawsuits since 2020 that challenged gun restrictions.” Because of the anonymity that Donor’s Trust confers on its donors, it is not always clear who is backing the legislation — a plaintiff recruited for one of the 21 cases said he did not know who was paying Cooper & Kirk to represent him — which experts say opens the door to impropriety and influence peddling. ([The Trace]( Background from the Chronicle: [Philanthropy’s Push to Stop Gun Violence]( An abortive $237 million gift to Florida A&M University was fraudulent, according to an independent review that found a series of deficiencies in how university officials handled the all stock donation. The report, released Monday, said top officials relied on the donor’s false valuation of the stock to be transferred and rushed the process in order to make an announcement at an upcoming commencement ceremony. Employees thought a confidentiality agreement barred them from seeking outside expertise, the report said, and the university’s president kept the matter from the Board of Trustees for fear of leaks to the media. As for the donor, the report said the gift was part of his efforts to exaggerate the success of his business ventures. ([Tallahassee Democrat]( Background from the Chronicle: [Mega-Gift Fiasco at Florida A&M Shows Nonprofits What Not to Do]( More News - Elon Musk Revives Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman ([Wall Street Journal]( - Background from the Chronicle: [OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Husband Among New Giving Pledge Signers]( - Orange County Demands Nonprofit Linked To Supervisor’s Daughter Return Millions of Dollars ([Los Angeles Times]( - Jon Jacobo, Once an Ascendent S.F. Political Star and Nonprofit Exec, Pleads Not Guilty to Rape Charge ([San Francisco Chronicle]( - When Neighbors Choose How to Spend Philanthropic Dollars ([Next City]( - San Diego Nonprofits Launch Program to Connect Homeless With IDs, Vital Documents ([Times Of San Diego]( - Whitney Museum Announces 2026 Biennial Curators ([New York Times]( - Pitbull Is Getting His Own Stadium. It’s Called Pitbull Stadium. ([Washington Post]( - Background from the Chronicle: [A Legacy of Sackler: Let’s Reconsider Philanthropic Naming Rights]( 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 BIG GIVING [A Sneak Peek Into MacKenzie Scott’s Giving, Courtesy of Her Grantees]( By Stephanie Beasley [STORY IMAGE]( In the four years since Scott started surprising nonprofits with unrestricted, multimillion-dollar gifts, a few details about her selection process have become known. Plus, see the rest of our new [August issue]( published online today. JUDICIAL REFORM [Can a $30 Million Bet on Supreme Court Reform Rise Above Partisan Divides?]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( The Brennan Center’s new Kohlberg Center on the U.S. Supreme Court will test whether judiciary reforms can rise above the political fray or just widen it. DATA AND RESEARCH [Donors Less Likely to Give on Smartphones — How Fundraisers Can Combat ‘Mobile Giving Gap’]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Charities are losing out by failing to see the importance of adapting their fundraising appeals across device types. RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( —Sound budgets demonstrate to grant makers your nonprofit’s financial health, show how your spending aligns with your mission and goals, and instill trust. Yet some grant seekers focus on perfecting the narrative elements of proposals while overlooking errors, gaps, and other problems in their budgets. This is an expensive mistake: Weak budgets can break a strong proposal — and cost your nonprofit a grant. How can you build proposal budgets that assure grant makers and improve your odds of securing support? Join us for a 75-minute webinar on Thursday, August 15 at 2 PM ET to learn from our expert guests. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES Find your next nonprofit role in The Chronicle Career Center: - [Chief Executive Officer]( — Wolf Conservation Center - [Managing Director, Global Philanthropists Circle]( — The Synergos Institute - [Vice President Corporate Sponsorships and Events]( — CureDuchenne [Search all job openings →]( Hiring? [Post a Job.]( [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