Foundations Make a $500 Million Bet on Local News

Plus, why "The Bear" should be required viewing for nonprofits; and fundraisers' salaries rise — but not enough to beat inflation ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. FOUNDATION GIVING [Can Local News Heal a Divided Country? 22 Foundations Are Betting $500 Million It Can Help]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( Press Forward aims to repopulate and diversify newsrooms and advocate for policies like making subscriptions tax deductible. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [‘The Bear’ Should Be Required Viewing for the Nonprofit World]( By Eboo Patel [STORY IMAGE]( A TV show about creating a restaurant is a reminder of why we need to stop criticizing each other and recommit ourselves to a shared mission. RESEARCH AND DATA [Fundraisers’ Salaries Rise but Not Enough to Beat Inflation]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( While salaries grew over all, there is still a 15 percent pay gap between the average salaries for women and men. FOUNDATION GIVING [Open Society Foundations Pledges $107 Million to Start New Roma Foundation]( By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( The new organization will be independent of OSF and will focus on preparing Roma workers with skills to help them find jobs in the digital economy and as part of the anticipated green transition. HIRING CRISIS [Nonprofits Can’t Find Workers Despite Flex Jobs and Pay Boosts, Report Says]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( The bulk of unfilled jobs are frontline positions, but fundraisers and even top executives are in short supply. Webinar [Top Ways to Thank Donors and Inspire Loyalty]( [STORY IMAGE]( Before the critical year-end giving season begins, join us on Thursday, September 28, at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn how to freshen your donor communications and donor recognition efforts. We’ll share insights from the latest research in donor psychology and offer practical advice on how to apply the findings. Get inspired by real-world examples of creative and fun ways nonprofits thank their donors. Plus, our expert guests will offer guidance on how to build a culture of gratitude at your organization. [Sign up today.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | The California Endowment [Dr. Robert Ross: Lessons from 23 Years of Philanthropic Leadership]( VIRTUAL FORUMS & BRIEFINGS [Understanding the Basics and Benefits of AI]( [STORY IMAGE]( As Artificial Intelligence captures headlines, experts acknowledge its power but urge nonprofit leaders to ensure its use is ethical and equitable. What are the fundamentals to understand about A.I., and how can nonprofits use A.I. to streamline and grow? Join us on September 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern for a free online forum that will help you develop a foundational understanding of this technology, offer examples and tips for how to harness it, and share guidance on pitfalls to avoid. [Register Today.]( [Leveraging Data Analysis to Boost Major Gifts]( [STORY IMAGE]( Ideally major-gift fundraisers should focus only on supporters who are affluent, generous, and committed to their cause. Yet this requires data on donors’ involvement with an organization as well as their giving history and financial capacity. Smart leaders understand this and ensure that they analyze and organize donor data to make it actionable. Join us on September 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn how savvy nonprofits are making the most of their data to boost major gifts. [Register today]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online NPR CEO John Lansing will retire in December after an eventful four-year tenure. The network has faced an especially tumultuous past year, with turnover in high-level positions, major layoffs, and cuts to podcasts. Lansing, who guided NPR through a period marked by the pandemic and a nationwide racial reckoning, says that the news organization is now financially stable. ([NPR]( Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Oprah Winfrey donated $10 million to a new fund that will give cash to residents affected by Maui wildfires. The celebrity duo announced the People’s Fund of Maui on Aug. 31, which they say will provide up to $1,200 per month for people displaced by the wildfires in the region. But the announcement encountered criticism online, with some social media users arguing that the two should put up more money or seek contributions from other wealthy people. ([New York Times]( More News - The Criminal Justice System Is Broken. Restorative Justice Can Help Fill the Gap. ([Vox]( - Why Grove Park Residents Say This Housing Nonprofit Is Hurting Their Neighborhood ([Capital B Atlanta]( - In Detroit, a Tiny Home Generates a Big Controversy ([New York Times]( - San Francisco Lawmaker Calls for Audit of City’s Biggest Drug Treatment Nonprofit ([San Francisco Standard]( - Dozens of ‘Cop City’ Activists Are Indicted on Racketeering Charges ([New York Times]( - American Museum Educators Are Trying a More Playful Approach ([Art Newspaper]( - Congress and Nonprofit Working to Put Women’s Suffrage Monument on National Mall ([Nebraska Examiner]( Environment and Climate - At Africa’s First Climate Summit, a Clear Call to the World: Invest in Us ([New York Times]( - Clean Energy Projects Are Booming Everywhere. Except in Poor Nations. ([New York Times]( - Climate Change and Poverty Are Complex Problems. These Solutions Aim to Address Both. ([Boston Globe]( - Call of the Wild: Philanthropists Seek to Regenerate and Preserve Neglected Lands ([Financial Times]( — subscription) New Grant Opportunities Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to [GrantStation’s]( database of grant opportunities. [Diversity in the arts](. The Sphinx Venture Fund provides grants for efforts to solve a challenge or an issue related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in performing arts, with a strong emphasis on classical music. Applicants should present a plan to address a clear issue or challenge, focus on transformative outcomes that further cultural diversity, and propose ventures that will have field-wide impact, typically beyond a single geographic area and involving more than one partner. Eligible projects should be executed in collaboration with or on behalf of an existing nonprofit. Grants average $50,000 to $100,000. The application deadline is October 23. [Environmental health](. The Cornell Douglas Foundation supports organizations that focus on environmental health and justice, land conservation, mountaintop removal mining, sustainability of resources, and watershed protection. The application deadline is November 30. SPONSOR CONTENT | The California Endowment [Investing in the Infrastructure of Power]( These “Good Troublemakers” are empowering their communities to bring systematic change to California EDITOR'S PICKS FUNDRAISING LEADERSHIP [The Donor Pyramid May Be Bad for Giving. Can We Do Better?]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( How a dominant fundraising theory took root, what it gets wrong, and how to change. Plus: See the rest of our [September issue]( posted online today. ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE [155 MPH Winds Can’t Knock Down This Low-Income Housing]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( Nonprofits protect themselves against storms, flooding, fire, and heat. PEOPLE [These Lottery Winners Put Millions to Philanthropy. Now Their Foundation Is Closing.]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Lessons from a family’s decades-long giving focused on Latinx arts and culture, education, and diversity on nonprofit boards. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our next webinar]( — Are you sending out templated thank-you letters to donors? If so, you’re missing out on an opportunity to connect more deeply with your supporters. Savvy fundraisers take the time to customize communications that speak directly to a donor’s heart and inspire loyalty. How can you thank donors in ways that energize connection to your cause and further commitment to your organization? Join us September 28 at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn the latest research in philanthropic psychology and learn how you can easily apply it to thank-you letters and campaigns to increase donor retention. We’ll share real-world examples and proven tips that work, no matter the size of your budget. Plus, you’ll learn about creative, fun ways nonprofits are showing gratitude that will likely spark your own ideas for fostering love for your organization. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). [Major Gift Officer, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences]( Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [Executive Assistant]( Hunter College High School Alumnae/i Association [Senior Major Gift Officer, School of Engineering]( Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [Director of Development, Cancer Campaign]( Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health [National Director, Foundation Relations (Remote - USA)]( Pancreatic Cancer Action Network [Major Gift Officer, School of Architecture]( Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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