September 2024
Headlines: The Fearless Fund Decision
Fearless Fund CEO Arian Simone on why she sees legal settlement as a win and what's next (CBS News)
As Fearless Foundation Settles Case, Council on Foundations, Independent Sector Encourage Funders to Continue Giving in Line With Values (Independent Sector)
What the Fearless Fund Settlement Means for Philanthropic Freedom (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
What’s Next for Philanthropy After the Fearless Fund Settlement? (Inside Philanthropy)
Nonprofits, Legal Experts React to the Fearless Fund Decision to Shutter Grant Program to Black Entrepreneurs (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Articles and News
“It Isn’t Good News.” Trump’s Tax Law Caused a $16 Billion Annual Decrease in Charitable Giving
In late July, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a study showing that roughly 23 million households switched from itemizing their charitable deductions in 2017 to taking the standard deduction in 2018. For households that made the switch, the amount they gave to charity dropped by an average of $880. Add it all up, and the increase in the standard deduction contributed to an approximate $20 billion decline in giving in 2018, according to the report. The authors classified $16 billion of this amount as a “permanent annual drop.” (Inside Philanthropy)
An Austrian heiress recruited fifty people from all walks of life to redistribute twenty-five million euros—if they could agree on how to spend it. (The New Yorker)
One in Five Nonprofit Workers Can’t Afford Basic Expenses
And the statistics are even worse for nonprofit workers of color, women, and people with disabilities. (Nonprofit Quarterly)
Studies and Resources
The Generosity Commission Report
The Generosity Commission was officially launched in 2021 in response to one of the most significant trends reshaping civil society in the United States over the last several decades: the decline, observable across multiple surveys, in the proportion of Americans who give to and volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Their report concludes a three-year study with a roadmap to boost charitable giving and volunteering in the U.S. (Generosity Commission) (See also: America’s Giving Crisis — and the Plan to Fix It in Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Looking to 2025: A Webinar Series on the Policy Implications for Philanthropy
What’s at stake for philanthropy in 2025? How can you be prepared for the upcoming tax bill? How can you play a greater role in educating Congress about our sector and its priorities? This three-part election series will help foundation leaders prepare for next year. (Council on Foundations)
Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy
The Independent Sector’s fifth annual report reveals that after four years of decline, trust in nonprofits has rebounded by 5 points to 57%. (Independent Sector)
For Funders
Equitable Grantmaking Continuum
Vu Le published this grantmaker self assessment a few years back but it still is relevant today. See how your grantmaking practices add up. (Vu Le and RVCSeattle)
Navigating the Equity Journey at Lean Foundations
In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, lean funders — those operating with few or no staff — are playing a crucial role in advancing racial equity. The latest edition of Racial Equity in Lean Foundations, an annual report from Exponent Philanthropy, sheds light on how these foundations are embarking on their equity journeys through extensive interviews with funders, nonprofits, and consultants. (Center for Effective Philanthropy)
Philanthropic leaders reflect on major trends – and tensions
Ahead of the Philanthropic Foundations Canada conference in September, The Philanthropist Journal spoke to leaders about what trends are top of mind for them this year – and which tensions they’ve noticed of late. (The Philanthropist Journal)
Burnout and Well-Being in Grantee Organizations: A CEP Blog Series
Among the findings of Center for Effective Philanthropy’s State of Nonprofits 2024: What Funders Need to Know, was a striking statistic: 95 percent of nonprofit leaders who responded to CEP’s survey expressed some level of concern about burnout. Following the release of a related CEP Research Snapshot, How Foundations are Supporting Grantee Staff Well-Being, we invited leaders from nonprofits and foundations to respond to the findings. Collected here are their responses, reflections, and analysis of the data. (Center for Effective Philanthropy)
Why we leave outcome measurement in the hands of our grantee partners
Funders naturally want proof of outcome to mitigate the potential risk of ‘wasted’ funding. But how are results best defined across myriad global projects in diverse problem areas? (The Patchwork Collective for Alliance Magazine)
