The Power of Peer Pressure

Plus, PolicyLink appoints a new leader; and a letter-writer addresses the decline in giving ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. IN-KIND GIVING [How Charities With Thrift Shops Can Get Better Quality Donations]( By Chao Wu [STORY IMAGE]( Telling donors that their neighbors have provided high-quality furniture, clothing, and other goods can cut the number of worthless items charities receive in half. ADVERTISEMENT [How Charities With Thrift Shops Can Get Better Quality Donations]( TRANSITIONS [PolicyLink Promotes Ashleigh Gardere to President]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, the social-impact software company Benevity has named a new CEO, and the Foundation of FirstHealth will install its next president in October. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [When It Comes to Declining Donations, There’s More to the Story]( Tax law changes highlighted in a recent article caused even larger drops in giving. WEBINARS [September 19 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for How to Measure and Convey Impact, a session designed for communications and fundraising professionals. You’ll learn from Cindy Eby, founder and CEO of ResultsLab; Deidre Kennelly, principal of Kennelly Consulting; and Isis Krause, chief strategy officer at Philanthropy Together, how to collaborate with program staff to demonstrate the difference your organization makes. Online Forums [September 10 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( It’s rare to find an organization that coordinates all of its digital outreach to create a consistent and user-friendly experience for supporters. Join us for Creating a Positive Donor Experience in a Digital World to learn from Allison Fine, president of Every.org, Mardi Moore, executive director of Rocky Mountain Equality, and Stacy Bridavsky, executive director of Lil BUB’s Big FUND, how to keep donors informed and engaged on many channels. [September 24 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( A June appeals court ruling put philanthropists on notice: Any grants limited to people of a specific race may be illegal. Join The Future of Race-Based Grant Making to hear from Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund; Dr. Carmen Rojas, CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation; Thomas Saenz, president of MALDEF; and Olivia Sedwick, counsel for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, as they explore the American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund decision. 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 Ever since the Hamas attacks on Israel, billionaire donors have tried to use the power of the purse to force changes to governance at the country’s elite universities, raising questions of ethics and the mission of higher education. Money managers Marc Rowan and Bill Ackman have campaigned to block donations to their Ivy League alma maters, over the schools’ handling of pro-Palestinian protests and their diversity efforts. But not all billionaires agree on that path: Pharmaceuticals billionaire Roy Vagelos has called that approach “ridiculous” and stepped up his giving. ([Financial Times]( Opinion: In response to successful conservative attacks on racial-justice efforts, activists and nonprofits are fighting not only to make up for diminished donations but also to keep the movement from being hollowed out, writes journalist and columnist Erin Aubry Kaplan. Along with a surge in funding in the wake of George Floyd’s murder came an explicit acknowledgement from some philanthropists that race was an inextricable part of America’s opportunity gap. But amid a conservative backlash, a collective of more than 100 Black-led groups is urging philanthropists not to lose their nerve, and the California Black Freedom Fund has launched a partnership with lawyers to educate funders “about what is actually illegal … and what is merely scare tactics.” ([Capital & Main]( More News - Religious Broadcasters Sue IRS Over Rule Limiting Political Speech for Nonprofits ([Catholic News Agency]( - U.S. Sanctions Israeli Nonprofit That Supports West Bank Settlers in Latest Round of Penalties ([Jewish Telegraphic Agency]( Nonprofit Innovation - He Got a New Heart. Now This 34-Year-Old Is Fighting to Fix the Transplant System. ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - Homeless Shelters That Prioritize ‘the Three Ps’ — Especially Privacy ([New York Times]( - Eastside Detroit Nonprofit Embraces Affordable EV Rentals ([Planet Detroit]( - Inside a Mass. Nonprofit’s Battle Against Widespread Food Insecurity ([Boston Globe]( Opinion - A New Era at California Endowment as Longtime Leader Robert K. Ross Retires ([Los Angeles Times]( - Background from the Chronicle: [Health-Equity Trailblazer Robert Ross Discusses Lessons Learned and the Future of DEI]( - Religion Is America’s Mighty Engine of Charitable Goodness ([Boston Globe]( 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. New Grant Opportunities Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to [GrantStation’s]( database of grant opportunities. [Community Service:]( The Allstate Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity, is providing College Service Grants of $10,000 to support youth-led, youth-driven community service at community colleges, HBCUs, and other higher education institutions across the United States. The grants are intended to help redefine youth empowerment for a new generation and usher in a return to service for young people. Grants are $10,000; application deadline is September 27. [Service Members and Veterans:]( The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to empowering military service members, veterans, and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity. Through the Military Heroes Program, the Foundation provides grants that celebrate the leadership and service of military members and support the transition from service to civilian life. The High Impact Community Grant supports nonprofit organizations working with military communities. Funding priorities include successful civilian employment for veterans, job training and employment for military spouses, community leadership, and success and stability for military children. No application deadline. EDITOR'S PICKS OPINION [Sabbaticals and the Case for More Rest for Leaders of Color]( By Cora Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( Social change isn’t possible when nonprofit leaders are exhausted. Extended paid leave helped me — and can help others. TOP STORIES [Our Most Sought-After Advice]( Chronicle Staff [STORY IMAGE]( How to raise general operating support, bring in more gifts from donor-advised funds, and more tips. Plus, big words that foundations love but Americans don’t. WORK AND CAREERS [Gen Z Is Open to Nonprofit Careers — but on Their Own Terms]( By Ben Gose [STORY IMAGE]( Young workers favor an informal work style and want a tightly defined work schedule. They’re also demanding changes in how organizations operate. ADVERTISEMENT LinkedIn Live [Join our live event]( —Future Caucus CEO Layla Zaidane is betting that Gen Z and millennials can bring an end to partisan warfare. In a conversation with Chronicle deputy opinion editor Nandita Raghuram, Zaidane talks about her organization (formerly the Millennial Action Project) and its work with young leaders in Congress and at the state level to bridge political divides. The Commons in Conversation is a series of exclusive, one-on-one conversations with national and local leaders working to strengthen a fractured America. Chronicle editors and writers will host individuals from across the country in casual lunchtime discussions about what it will take to bring Americans together. Guests will talk about ideas and promising solutions and how the philanthropic world — from major philanthropists to everyday nonprofit leaders — can contribute. Join us for this exclusive live event on Wednesday, September 18 at 12:30 PM ET to learn from our expert guests. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES Find your next nonprofit role in The Chronicle Career Center: - [Chief Development Officer]( — William Way Community Center [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