As Religion Declines, Nonprofits Step In

Plus, House panel investigates dark money and philanthropy ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. FAITH AND THE NONPROFIT [Nonprofits Help the Nonreligious Search for Meaning in Their Lives]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Organizations are offering the spiritual care and community that many once found in religion. “This group feels like my church,” one participant said. ADVERTISEMENT GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION [House Panel Digs Into Nonprofit Political Influence]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( A congressional oversight committee called on nonprofit experts to testify Wednesday at a hearing on the role of tax-exempt organizations in American politics. Divisions were predictably partisan. WEBINARS [January 18, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( How can you keep supporters connected to, and inspired by, your cause in uncertain times? Join us for the webinar Developing a Donor-Engagement Plan for 2024 to get tips and tactics for mapping out a year-long strategy that you can adjust as conditions warrant. You’ll learn how to prioritize tactics and communication channels that get results, keep your cause top of mind among supporters, and lay a strong foundation for year-end fundraising appeals. SPONSOR CONTENT | Classy [Unlocking Generosity in Potential Donors]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Elon Musk is putting up $100 million to start two schools and a university in Austin, Texas, where he moved his car company, Tesla, during the pandemic. A STEM-focused primary and secondary school would come first, followed by a university offering hands-on learning in addition to a traditional curriculum, according to an approved application to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status for the project. The STEM school expects an initial class of 50 students. ([Bloomberg]( Cities across the country are closing shelters just as homelessness approaches record levels. Pittsburgh, for example, recently shut down a church-basement facility that sheltered 125 to 200 people on the coldest nights, after nearby merchants complained about drug use and crime. It opened a smaller shelter elsewhere that is always full, and there are now about 100 more people living on the city’s streets than there are available shelter beds. In San Diego, officials want to close a shelter in an events space while they try to find another place for the several hundred men who live there, including possibly converting an old army barracks. Inflation, spiraling real-estate values, the end of pandemic-era eviction moratoriums, and a scarcity of the supportive housing many homeless people need are fueling the crisis. ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) On Donors and Universities - Scott L. Bok, Former Chair of Penn’s Board Of Trustees: Donors Should Not Decide Campus Policies or Determine What Is Taught ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( - A Big Part of a University President’s Job Is Fundraising. That Might Be Why Harvard’s Got to Stay and Penn’s Had to Go. ([Insider]( - Bill Ackman’s Clash With Harvard Over Stock Gift Reveals the Messy World of Big Donations. ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - A New Playbook for College Donors: Power Politics ([New York Times]( More News - Florida School Board Recommends Ouster of Moms For Liberty Co-Founder Over Republican Sex Scandal ([Associated Press]( - Opinion: “Just Trust Us”: A New Philanthropic Movement Suggests That Social Justice Is More Important Than Donor Due Diligence. ([City Journal]( - U.S. Bishops Urge More Federal Security Funds for Houses Of Worship, Nonprofits ([National Catholic Register]( - Nonprofit Leader and L.A. Political Fundraiser Sentenced to Prison In Embezzlement Case ([Los Angeles Times]( - $30M Military Wreath Charity Buys Solely From Its Founders’ Farm ([Marine Times]( - Philanthropy in War Looks Like Chickpeas, Socks And Prosthetics ([Jackson Hole News & Guide]( - New Federal Rules for Repatriation of Native Ancestors, Objects From Museums Expected in 2024 ([New England Public Media]( Notable Gifts - Mackenzie Scott Donates $6 Million to Latino Voter Group ([NBC News]( - Houston’s Kinder Foundation Makes Catalyst Gift of $27M For $54M Transformation of City Park ([Houston Business Journal]( - Uchicago Medicine’s New Cancer Center Lands $20 Million Gift ([Crain’s Chicago Business]( - A Couple Donated a Rare 16th-Century Statue to a U.K. Museum to Cover Their Inheritance Tax Bill ([Artnet News]( - Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans Receives $20M Donation from Founder Roger Ogden ([Nola.com]( 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 Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS FAITH AND THE NONPROFIT [What Philanthropy and Nonprofits Lose as Religion Fades]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( As many as 30 percent of churches may close in the next 20 years, leaving philanthropy to confront questions about how much faith matters to its work — and how to fill the void it may leave. Plus, see the rest of our [December issue](. DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS [The $10 Billion Charity No One Has Heard Of]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The SDG Impact Fund is a donor-advised fund that grew from $238 million to $10 billion in one year. It has prompted some questions from experts. GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION [Grant Making Groups Stand Firm in Defense of Race-Based Philanthropy]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The Council on Foundations and Independent Sector have filed an amicus brief supporting the Fearless Fund Foundation, which is defending a lawsuit that tests whether the SCOTUS decision barring affirmative action in college admissions can be applied to grant making. SPONSOR CONTENT | Center for Creative Leadership [Is There Really a Winning Formula for Nonprofits?]( CCL breaks down a nonprofit’s winning formula to achieve the mission-driven trust most workplaces are missing. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — Fundraisers and nonprofit communicators know how vital it is to keep donors regularly informed and inspired by your work. The year ahead is likely to be filled with distractions — from ongoing economic uncertainty and geopolitical strife to a U.S. presidential election — so cutting through the noise will take creativity and thoughtful planning. How can you keep supporters connected to your cause in unpredictable times? Join us on Thursday, January 18, at 2 p.m. Eastern for a 75-minute webinar to get tips and tactics for mapping out a year-long strategy that you can adjust as current events or economic conditions warrant. You’ll learn how to prioritize tactics and communication channels that get results and lay a strong foundation for year-end fundraising appeals. Don't miss this chance to start the year off strong. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). 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