Nonprofit Leaders Put to the Test

Stories of nonprofits hit by polarization. Plus, an activist fighting racism — and winning [Philanthropy Today Logo]( This is a special weekly edition of Philanthropy Today featuring stories and content from [The Commons](. You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. If you no longer want to receive the Philanthropy Today newsletter, [unsubscribe](. Visit [The Commons]( for our latest content, sign up for [The Commons LinkedIn newsletter]( and join the conversation in our [Commons LinkedIn group](. From The Commons LEADING [To Hell and Back: Polarization and the Nonprofit]( By Ben Gose [STORY IMAGE]( Three leaders whose organizations were battered by the country’s divisions talk about the risks they faced and the tough choices they had to make INTERVIEW [The Native American Activist Taking On Hollywood — and Winning]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( Crystal Echo Hawk aims to change how America — and funders — see her people. And Melinda French Gates just asked her to give away $20 million however she sees fit. Upcoming Events in The Commons Next up in The Commons in Conversation interview series: - NEXT WEEK — Nealin Parker of [Common Ground USA]( will report on nonprofit efforts to head off political violence in advance of the November elections. October 16 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The event is free; [registration is required](. - How do average Americans react to common nonprofit vernacular like “community,” “diversity,” and “democracy”? Amy McIsaac leads a language perception project at [Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement]( and will talk about words that bring us together and those that divide us. This is a special pre-election event on October 30 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The event is free; [registration is required](. Of the Moment News and other noteworthy items: - Religion, while often seen as an accelerant to division, actually drives politics much less than we think, according to [a new report]( from [More in Common](. One example: Americans generally believe that only about half of evangelicals and Muslims support religious pluralism while 78 percent of evangelicals and 75 percent of Muslims actually do. - The Boston Review [features a forum]( with leading advocates championing structural change in elections, including open primaries and ranked-choice voting. Essayists include several people featured in our [Commons list of “people to watch,”]( among them Danielle Allen of[Partners in Democracy]( and Lee Drutman of [New America](. - Writing in [Forbes]( Subbu Vincent, director of journalism and media ethics at the [Markkula Center for Applied Ethics]( argues that the media covering the election “largely center middle-class and upper-income voters and exclude voting-eligible people who may be struggling to make ends meet or experiencing poverty.” Yet in this razor-thin presidential race, Vincent says, they could be key swing voters. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Forums [October 29 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join Strengthening Cybersecurity in the Age of A.I., a conversation with Francesca Bosco of the CyberPeace Institute, Michael Enos of TechSoup, Raffi Krikorian of Emerson Collective, and Joshua Peskay of RoundTable Technology. They’ll share updates on how cyberthreats are changing and share practical advice on how nonprofits can protect themselves. Editor's Picks RESOURCES [How Much Is Philanthropy Spending Toward a More Perfect Union?Â]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( This and other questions start to get answers in new projects that map a growing movement to strengthen democracy, close divides, build civic health, and more. INNOVATION [Can Ordinary Citizens Solve Our Toughest Problems?]( By George Anders [STORY IMAGE]( An effort in Bend, Ore., backed by big funders looks for answers to youth homelessness. FOUNDATION GIVING [Carnegie Returns to Its Roots With Millions in Grants to Public Libraries]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( Carnegie Corporation of New York, founded by steel magnate and library builder Andrew Carnegie, thinks the public institutions can mend today’s societal fractures. [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