The Chronicle of Philanthropy

📣 We're looking forward to hearing from Michelle Armstrong of Ares Charitable Foundation for our #philwebinar on February 6 to help you navigate the complexities of corporate giving. Join us to hear her insights on how to work with companies to expand your reach and revenue. She’ll explain how — and why — businesses partner with nonprofits, what they look for in potential collaborations and grantees, and how to engage employees in ways that help your organization and deepen ties with companies. You’ll learn: ⭐ How to create a case for support that appeals to corporate foundations ⭐ Must-haves for compelling grant proposals ⭐ How to get your foot in the door and build lasting ties ➕ Get tips for approaching program officers and pitching your cause, including sample language you can adapt to boost your chances of success. Register today! 👉 https://lnkd.in/g2K7T_U9 👈 This event is made possible with support from Your Part-Time Controller, LLC.

TRENDS 2025: In the fall of 2023, several major donors publicly disagreed with institutions they’d previously supported — Harvard and Penn — and promised to withdraw future support. The Chronicle wanted to know if these public displays had encouraged more donors to take a similar stance. In her story for our Trends Issue, senior editor Rasheeda Childress reports that while the very public spats are largely over, the polarizing climate that led to the withdrawal continues. She also notes that historically, in polarizing times, donors have reacted similarly when feel their values are being challenged, they in the past, experts says. In the 1960s, donors withdrew support when people of color were admitted to colleges. Read Rasheeda's story for tips on how your organization can forge stronger relationships with donors that focus on shared values and deeper conversations. https://lnkd.in/gVPBv2qb

Does faith have an answer for our biggest divides? In the middle of our nation, two churches — one predominantly white, one predominantly Black — are working to become one community and perhaps one congregation. One is Presbyterian while the other is rooted in Baptist traditions. The two churches aim to come together across differences of faith, race, and class. It’s a test of the unifying power of a belief in God, with thorny questions about identity and compromise. Like most efforts to bridge divides, the two churches are building relationships that push aside stereotypes and false assumptions and reveal shared daily challenges as well as mutual hopes and dreams for the future — in other words, the common ground of being human. Hope Presbyterian and Bethel New Life, however, are motivated simply by God’s call to love another. Jacquetta Carter, a Bethel New Life member, told the Chronicle, “I believe in my heart that God is pleased with what is happening, and what can happen.” ➕ Read Drew Lindsay's full story: https://lnkd.in/dypc3GCm ➕ Watch Alex Garcia's full video report: https://lnkd.in/dD_sjiqC 🎥 Alex Garcia for the Chronicle of Philanthropy

This week in #TheCommons: an interesting idea from Diana Aviv and Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., both of whom have years of experience at the intersection of faith and philanthropy. They make the case that funders and nonprofits worried by what they see as authoritarian tactics from President Trump may find allies in pro-democracy efforts in faith-driven Trump voters. They write: "In November, 77 million Americans voted to elect a leader whose first days in office confirm strong authoritarian leanings. And many of the new president’s supporters will cheer the concentration of power in the White House through efforts to weaken checks and balances, silence dissent, and erode institutions. Other Trump voters, however, feel uneasy about his divisiveness, promises of retribution, and disregard for civic norms. "These Americans could be mobilized to help protect democracy — if philanthropy supports organizations that it often reflexively rejects as partners." Read more: https://lnkd.in/dfgdxYVf

Did you get a chance to hear the Chronicle's Stephanie Beasley and a fabulous panel share their insights on what will be trending in the philanthropy and nonprofit sector in 2025? The recording is available to watch. Check it out!

Opinion: An open letter to MacKenzie Scott on the promise and pitfalls of for-profit investing. Scott may find that going from impact investing intention to action is often hard. Here are six steps that can help these programs get off the ground, writes Antony Bugg-Levine. "I count myself among the growing community of what’s known as impact investors and advisors — those of us who believe that investments in for-profit companies can generate both social good and financial rewards. We share your conviction that philanthropic money can support a funder’s mission twice, first through investments in these businesses and then when donated." Bugg-Levine is an impact investing advisor who previously designed and led The Rockefeller Foundation’s impact investing program and co-founded the The Global Impact Investing Network. Read the op-ed: https://lnkd.in/e8kGUbXT

⭐ New from The Commons ⭐ Our weekly newsletter includes an essay with this seemingly unorthodox proposal: Coalitions worried about what they see as the Trump administration’s overreach should recruit allies among… religious conservatives who backed Trump. Diana Aviv and Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D. — who have spent years working across religious and ideological lines of difference and with very conservative communities of faith — make the case. They discuss the roots of philanthropy’s awkward relationship with religion and what might change things. This is our second article in a two-part series on the role of faith in bridging America’s divides.  🧨 ALSO 🧨 Coming next month: GOP pollster and CNN contributor Kristen Soltis Anderson joins The Commons in Conversation to talk about data that suggests Americans believe philanthropy has a big role to play in bringing people together across divides. See the details and register for the free discussion. #TheCommons

The Chronicle is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort of Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellows. Each year we select four news organizations to participate, awarding $30,000 to support training and enhance their coverage of nonprofits. Our goal is to give local news organizations access to the tools and training they need to write powerful stories that examine the role of nonprofits and foundations in their communities and attract and engage more readers. Fellows work closely with Chronicle reporters to develop, report, and publish articles about the people and organizations in their regions that are trying to solve pressing problems. Click through to learn more about the fellowship and the application process: https://lnkd.in/eyaW4Nej Important Dates: 🗞️ Application deadline extended: February 14, 2025 🗞️ Notification date: March 14, 2025 🗞️ Fellowship duration: April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026 Previous fellows include Flatwater Free Press, Henrico Citizen, NowKalamazoo, New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative, (The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com | La Voz), Boston Business Journal, The Post and Courier, WHQR Public Radio, and more.

UPDATE (Jan. 29, 2025, 1:16 p.m.): The Office of Management and Budget reversed the payment freeze, according to a memo obtained by news outlets Wednesday afternoon.

“The term ‘unprecedented’ couldn’t be more accurate,” said Jenni Campbell, executive director of the Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization (LARCRO), or LARCRO. “The number of agencies and organizations that have come forward to participate in disaster case management is also unprecedented.” While FEMA provides funding for disaster case management for survivors of the L.A. wildfires, most groups will rely on philanthropic and local support to hire and train case managers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eciFyyNM This article is part of a partnership the Chronicle has forged with The Conversation U.S. and The Associated Press to expand coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits.