May 2024
Articles and News
The new (radical) rich who can’t wait to give away their fortunes
Charity, like wealth, is another point of tension for this new wave of politicised givers. In placing all the decision-making authority in the funders’ hands, traditional philanthropy is seen as perpetuating the very power imbalances deemed problematic. (Financial Times)
Ten of America’s 20 Top Public Charities Are Donor-Advised Funds
The three highest-earning DAF sponsors each take in more than double the donations of the highest-earning operating charity. Check out their great, animated graphic! (Inequality.org)
Philanthropy Spent $11 Million to Prevent Changes to DAF Rules
Organizations that offer donor-advised funds, along with a handful of other philanthropy groups, spent $11 million from 2018 to 2023 to block legislation to force donor-advised funds to distribute more to charity. That’s according to an examination of congressional lobbying records conducted by the Institute for Policy Studies, which favors stricter rules governing the popular charitable accounts. (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Unpaid labour: Why volunteers can’t sustain essential services
“There will never be enough volunteers to fill this need, and it’s time to acknowledge that as a society, we rely on volunteers for things we shouldn’t.” (The Philanthropist Journal)
Studies and Resources
Through interviews with more than 50 Black leaders across the country, the Building Movement Project explored how leaders and their organizations understood the brief moment of “racial reckoning” in 2020, how their organizations have fared in the years since, and what they see on the horizon. (Building Movement Project)
Through narrative and five in-depth case studies, this new publication offers tangible guidance on how organizations working for social change can implement practices to foster an equitable culture within their own workplaces, and across the broader movement ecosystem. The report lifts and explores the complex realities of truly transformative work, covering practices related to inclusive governance, field building, holistic healing, political education, and more. (Borealis Philanthropy)
For Funders
Funders, take note! This LinkedIn page accepts anonymous submissions to call out inequitable funding practices.
Toward a More Equitable South: Meet a Funder Where Rural Grassroots Leaders Call the Shots
An Inside Philanthropy profile on Atlanta’s Southern Partners Fund
Google Gets Behind Guaranteed Income to Relieve Homelessness on Its Home Turf
The five-year randomized control trial, called It All Adds Up, will focus specifically on families at high risk of homelessness. For the pilot, 225 families nearing the end of their rental subsidy allowances will be randomly selected to receive $1,000 a month for a year. A control group of 225 families will receive $50 a month. The program, which will run for five years, will be evaluated by New York University’s Housing Solutions Lab. (Inside Philanthropy)
