Mellon Foundation Leader Outlines Shift to Social-Justice Grant Making

Plus, for philanthropy to achieve its goals, democracy must work (opinion), and donors must continue their support for young immigrants (opinion) [Philanthropy Today] Are you working remotely? Many organizations provide access to premium Chronicle content in the office. If your group is one of them, you can maintain that access when you’re at home. Read this helpful [FAQ]( to see how. Your account is easy to set up and will provide you access wherever you are. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [Elizabeth Alexander Outlines Mellon's Shift to Social-Justice Grant Making]( By Alex Daniels The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's new grant-making strategy includes $500 million in grants this year, an increase of $200 million over its planned budget. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Opinion [For Philanthropy to Achieve Its Goals, Democracy Must Work]( [Image]( Seth Herald/AFP/Getty Images By Stephen Heintz Grant makers give less than 2 percent of their dollars annually to strengthening civic participation and government. Let’s turn that around and reinvent our democracy to serve everyone. Opinion [Philanthropy Must Continue Its Support for Young Immigrants — Even With the Supreme Court DACA Victory]( By Shannon Gleeson and Els de Graauw Grant makers and other donors must continue to invest in community groups that help young undocumented immigrants work and study in the United States, while also supporting advocates seeking long-term solutions to the dangerous obstacles facing immigrants today. The Face of Philanthropy [Public-Philanthropic Effort Aims to Feed the Hungry, Put Restaurant Staff Back to Work]( By Emily Haynes By ordering meals through a delivery platform called Tock, those in need pay nothing, while those with cash to spare can choose to make a donation or pay more than the value of the meal. The extra dollars help cover free meals and, in the best case, provide a profit to the restaurant. (PREMIUM) Paid for and Created by Omidyar Network [The Future of Workers and Work]( Covid-19 magnified the scale of an economy that is dramatically out of balance, clearly pointing out the importance and fragile state of worker rights, opportunities, and protections in the US workforce. This series of videos explores these themes in even more detail. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Men pursuing sexual-abuse lawsuits against the Boy Scouts say the organization's local councils are shedding assets to put them beyond the reach of litigation settlements. The councils hold the bulk of Scouting's wealth — $3.3 billion, compared with $1.4 billion for the national organization — but they argue they are separate entities and not subject to the sex-abuse claims. The national organization has filed for bankruptcy, and an injunction has paused lawsuits against it and the local councils while settlement talks continue. Lawyers for the men pursing lawsuits said some local groups have sold or are in the process of selling property, while one plans to shift property to a foundation at no cost. ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) The Robin Hood Foundation has launched a fund to channel money to nonprofits run by people of color. With the Power Fund, which will supplement the group's anti-poverty work in New York City, Robin Hood will target small groups fighting poverty and racial injustice. The Power Fund will start with $10 million from Robin Hood and has backing from Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and other big companies. Foundation chief executive Wes Moore said Robin Hood is talking with "at least a dozen other corporate partners" to support the fund. ([CNBC]( Sapped by brain drain and the decline of manufacturing, Wichita and Omaha are laboratories for two distinct approaches to philanthropy. In Wichita, libertarian billionaire Charles Koch's foundation has given $90 million to local charities in the past 20 years, selected in part for their emphasis on self-actualization. They include Wichita State University and a high-school program for young entrepreneurs. In Omaha, Warren Buffett has pledged most of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, but Buffett's daughter Susie is a major local philanthropist. She has poured money into education such as early-childhood centers, public schools, college scholarships, and other public services. ([Los Angeles Times]( More News Morehouse College President Responds to Criticisms Regarding Gift From Netflix CEO ([Atlanta Voice]( Police Foundations Scrub Corporate Partners and Board Members From Their Websites ([Sludge]( High Court Sparks New Battle Over Church-State Separation ([Associated Press]( Whistleblower Alleges Financial Mismanagement and Retaliation at Major Miami Nonprofit ([Law.com]( Imagining the Museum’s Smaller Future ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) Opinion and Analysis: Giving Trends and Big Donors Why There's Hope Charitable Giving Will Remain Strong Despite Bad Economy ([USA Today]( Inside the Minds of Givers: Book Examines Philanthropy of All Sorts ([Dallas Morning News]( Emily Tamkin Wrote the Book on George Soros. Here’s What She Has to Say About Those Conspiracy Theories. ([Jewish Telegraphic Agency]( What Everyone Else Is Reading [How to Tackle Race at Your Organization]( Nonprofit CEO Rahsaan Harris offers advice about how to talk about race in your organization — and act on those discussions ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( [Foundations Are Breaking All the Rules in the Pandemic. They Need to Keep Doing That. (Dispatches)]( Meeting together on Zoom, the walls that hobbled collaboration are falling. How can we keep the spirit going and make grantees a central part of every aspect of our operations? [How to Avoid Excuses That Prevent Grant Makers From Aiding Black-Led Organizations (Opinion)]( The notion persists that investing in grassroots organizations headed by people of color is inherently risky. Here are five ways to challenge that thinking from two experts on nonprofit finance. [Stress Forces Fundraisers to Take New Approaches]( The recession, the health crisis, and the social-justice movement are all putting new pressure on development leaders, especially those whose nonprofits serve the neediest. (PREMIUM) [A Defining Moment for Racial Equity]( Will nonprofits and foundations seize the momentum and move toward racial equity? Journalism Solutions Network Covid-19 and Lessons From the 1918 Pandemic The following articles were provided by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit that seeks to spread the practice of reporting on responses to social problems, including the Covid-19 crisis. - 3 Lessons From How Schools Responded to the 1918 Pandemic Worth Heeding Today ([Conversation]( - Mask Sewing Project Among Chicago Refugee Groups Leads to New Career Goal: ‘This Is My Job' ([Chicago Tribune]( - Volunteers Bring Coronavirus Testing to Dallas's Southern Sector: 'It's Our Civic and Moral Responsibility' ([KTVT-TV)]( - How Nonprofits Are Getting People Out Of Metro Detroit Jails During Covid-19 Pandemic ([Detroit Free Press]( What Donors of Color Want to Hear From Nonprofits [Join us next week]( — Learn from experts how to attract and engage donors of color. During this free 60-minute briefing on July 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern, you will be able to ask questions of the experts and get insights from recent research on high-net-worth people of color and guidance on developing approaches that resonate with diverse audiences. [Sign-up]( today. How to Thank Donors – and Bring Them Closer to Your Cause [Join Our Webinar]( — Donors have stepped up in a big way to help nonprofits respond during the Covid-19 crisis. How are you thanking the supporters who are helping you through these tough times? We all know that showing appreciation, keeping donors involved, and sharing your results helps inspire long-term giving. But it can be hard to do that when so many regular ways of communicating are curtailed. Don’t miss this chance to learn creative ways to thank, engage, and retain donors in a time of social distancing. Two top fundraisers will show you how to shift you donor-relations strategy, adjust fundraising expectations, and redefine success in the year ahead. Join us on July 16 at 2 pm Eastern for a 75-minute webinar. [Sign up today]( for a special discount: 40% off the regular price. Holiday Break: We’ll Be Back Monday We’re taking off for the Independence Day holiday so you will next receive Philanthropy Today on Monday. Subscribe to Our Other Newsletters [Sign up online]( - Philanthropy Today — Roundup of news, opinion, and features (daily) - Fundraising — Briefing on news and ideas (weekly) - Philanthropy This Week — Roundup of news, opinion, and features (weekly) - Nonprofit Adviser — How-to’s for nonprofits (weekly; subscriber only) - Chronicle Insider — Highlights from each new issue (monthly; subscriber only) Subscribe Now As the outbreak of Covid-19 upends all aspects of nonprofit work, the Chronicle of Philanthropy is dedicated to helping nonprofits deal with this unprecedented threat, care for their clients and staffs, manage financial setbacks, and stay connected with donors. Please consider subscribing today, so that we may continue to provide carefully vetted information in challenging times such as these. 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