Nonprofit News Feed Podcast
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NonprofitNewsFeed.com aggregates information from 100's of news sources and creates a quick summary of the most popular stories from the industry. This podcast features Whole Whale hosts that summarize and discuss the weekly nonprofit news.
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Jun 20, 2023
LIV Golf Becoming Nonprofit? (news)
PGA Tour’s Nonprofit Status Complicated By LIV Merger
Concerns have been raised regarding the future of the nonprofit PGA Tour following its proposed merger with for-profit LIV Golf, supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as reported by The Nonprofit Times and The Washington Post. Despite its intentions to maintain its nonprofit status, this proposed merger has led to an inquiry from the U.S. Senate into potential indirect benefits for a foreign government from U.S. tax provisions designed for nonprofits. H.R. 3908, or the No Corporate Tax Exemption for Professional Sports Act, was introduced by Rep. John Garamendi (D-California) to exclude such organizations from tax-exempt status in the future, as reported by The Nonprofit Times. The PGA Tour, a 501(c)(6) organization, primarily serves its member's benefits, generating a revenue of $1.6 billion in 2021 against liabilities of $3.3 billion, with a notable share going toward player payouts and charity. The proposed merger aims to "unify the game of golf" globally by creating a new commercial entity encompassing the golf-related businesses of both the PGA Tour and the PIF, including LIV. However, the precise impact on the nonprofit's operations remains uncertain, particularly given the substantial investment promised by the PIF, even though the PGA Tour is set to appoint the majority of the new entity's board, with its current commissioner, Jay Monahan, expected to become the CEO. Overarching concerns about the merger raise serious questions about the susceptibility of American and other international sports leagues to sport-swashing efforts by countries with poor human rights records.
Summary
Shootings on Juneteenth weekend leave at least 12 dead, more than 100 injured |
cbsnews.com
IRS Chief Counsel Memorandum Places Nonprofit NIL Collectives at risk...| Lexology
DOE Sets Aside $45 Million in Grants For Nonprofit Building Energy ... |The NonProfit Times
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Jun 13, 2023
Rebalancing Literacy in the US – What Nonprofits Need to Do Now… (news)
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Fight Over Phonics Forces Curricula Revisions In Number Of U.S. Schools
Lucy Calkins, an education professor and creator of the popular “Units of Study” curriculum used by a quarter of U.S. elementary schools, has significantly revised her approach to early reading instruction, as reported by The New York Times. In response to mounting criticism from parents and educators who promote the “science of reading” and an increased focus on phonics, Calkins has overhauled her curriculum to include daily structured phonics lessons and more rigorous texts, swapping out light reading assignments. The revised curriculum, due for release this summer, also includes a 20-page guide summarizing 50 years of cognitive research on reading. Calkins has traditionally championed “balanced literacy,” which emphasizes thematic exploration and personal choice in reading, over phonics-focused approaches. Her shift reflects a growing consensus on the importance of phonics in early reading education, with brain science and educational policies increasingly favoring this method. Critics of Calkins suggest that her previous approaches have contributed to a literacy crisis in America and critique her singular influence on literacy education, although assessments of her methods' effectiveness have been mixed.
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Summary
Turned Away and Left at Sea | nytimes.com
ProPublica Adds More Than a Million New Records to Nonprofit Explorer
For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers | Human Rights Campaign
Sponsor: Nonprofit.ist
Request for Conversations (RFCs) can save a TON of time in figuring out the type of project you need done and experts at Nonprofit.ist love to have those conversations. Nonprofit.ist is trusted by over 4k nonprofits and is a network designed specifically for nonprofits like you.
At Nonprofit.ist, we understand the pain of finding the right expert to help with your specific needs. Endless searching and sifting through irrelevant information can be frustrating and time-consuming. This is why for 5 years we have built up experts across a breadth of areas for the sector:
Accounting & Finance
Human Resources
Board Development
Leadership Development
Coaching
Legal
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Marketing and Communications
Evaluation and Learning
Organizational Assessment
Executive Transition
Strategic Planning
Fundraising
Technology
Web Design
Ad Grants
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Jun 8, 2023
SWAT Raid On Cop City Bail Fund Organizers (news)
SWAT Raid On Cop City Bail Fund Organizers Criticized By Activists
The Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a nonprofit that offers bail and legal support to activists, has seen three of its board members arrested on charges of "money laundering" and "charity fraud," according to reporting by The Intercept and others. The arrests were carried out by the Atlanta Police Department SWAT and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The fund, part of the registered nonprofit Network for Strong Communities, also provides grants for anti-repression work in Atlanta. This incident marks the first time bail funds and legal support groups, traditionally important in social justice movements, have been targeted in this manner. The impact of these arrests on the operation of the fund and the larger legal ramifications for similar organizations remain uncertain, but the arrests, which involved armored vehicles and a helicopter, were seen as an attempt at intimidation by activists.
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AI chatbot for National Eating Disorder Association taken offline | Fortune Well
Churchill Downs, Home Of The Kentucky Derby, Shutting Down In Wake Of Horse Deaths – Deadline
Big companies from PepsiCo to GM still backing Pride | Fortune
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May 30, 2023
Debt Ceiling Compromise Means Cuts to Assistance (news)
Debt Ceiling Compromise Means Cuts to Assistance
The recent debt ceiling deal in the US Congress includes a significant shift in the funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program's funding will move from a contingency fund to the regular budget, potentially providing more stability. However, some advocates worry that this change could make it easier for Congress to cut SNAP funding in the future. The deal also alters the way SNAP benefits are calculated, which may lead to some households receiving less assistance. Additionally, the agreement will gradually increase age limits for work requirements, reaching a maximum age of 54 by 2025, but this provision will expire in 2030. The article highlights the importance of the SNAP program shift as a result of the debt ceiling deal.
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Summary
Democratic Inputs to AI | openai.com
Microsoft Reveals New AI Capabilities For Nonprofits | Nonprofit Technology News
US charges two over China-backed plot against Falun Gong | l Jazeera
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May 23, 2023
New Bill Could Increase Nonprofit Charitable Donations (news)
New Bill Could Increase Nonprofit Charitable Donations
"The Charitable Act," a new bill in Congress, was introduced on January 24, 2023, by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE). As reported by The Nonprofit Times explains that the bill would allow anyone who donates to a charity to benefit from both the standard deduction and the charitable deduction. This would be a significant change from the current tax code, which only allows taxpayers who itemize their deductions to claim a charitable deduction.
The bill has the support of a number of nonprofit organizations, including the National Council of Nonprofits and the Charitable Giving Coalition. If the bill is passed, it could lead to increased charitable giving, which would benefit all nonprofits.
The bill is currently being considered by the Senate Finance Committee. If the bill is passed by the Senate, it will then go to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill has a good chance of passing both chambers of Congress and being signed into law by President Biden.
The passage of "The Charitable Act" would be a major victory for nonprofits and would help them to continue their important work in communities across the country.
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Summary
Adidas to sell Yeezy shoes and donate proceeds months after Kanye West split | AP NEWS
Nonprofits Endaoment.org, GlobalGiving Strike A Crypto Deal | The NonProfit Times
Former Urban League president files lawsuit against nonprofit alleging retaliation | WHAS11.com
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May 16, 2023
How to turn $89m in Donations into Robocall scams (news)
New York Times Investigation Finds Nearly $89 Million Raised Via Robocall Self-Enriching Scheme
A New York Times investigation has found that a circle of conservative nonprofits, consultants, and shell companies together formed a self-enrichment scheme. Nonprofits loosely construed around conservative causes including The American Police Officers Alliance used aggressive robocall tactics to solicit small-dollar donors that raised $89 million. However, the investigation uncovered that a mere $826,904 of the amount raised went to the organizations’ purported campaigns—the rest went to the companies and consultants that ran the robocalls. The detailed investigation zeroed in on 3 Republican political consultants who together appeared to be the glue that kept the machine going. The organizations in question were registered IRS 527 groups and as such had a responsibility to file with the IRS. Multiple groups used human-sounding robocalls that, with the burgeoning consumer AI industry, may become even more realistic and responsive.
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Summary
F.D.A. Eases Ban on Blood Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men | Nytimes.com
Elon Musk Defends MrBeast Against Criticism for Helping Deaf People | Insider
2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry | rsf.org
Bard by Google is live - be aware... wholewhale.com/ai
Coastal Duck Derby supports local nonprofit | Port City Daily
Sponsor: Nonprofit.ist
Request for Conversations (RFCs) can save a TON of time in figuring out the type of project you need done and experts at Nonprofit.ist love to have those conversations. Nonprofit.ist is trusted by over 4k nonprofits and is a network designed specifically for nonprofits like you.
At Nonprofit.ist, we understand the pain of finding the right expert to help with your specific needs. Endless searching and sifting through irrelevant information can be frustrating and time-consuming. This is why for 5 years we have built up experts across a breadth of areas for the sector:
Accounting & Finance
Human Resources
Board Development
Leadership Development
Coaching
Legal
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Marketing and Communications
Evaluation and Learning
Organizational Assessment
Executive Transition
Strategic Planning
Fundraising
Technology
Web Design
Ad Grants
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May 9, 2023
PETA Calls Out Kentucky Derby (news)
PETA Issues Strong Statement Re: Kentucky Derby Horse Deaths
Animal rights activist group PETA offered a strong statement as the news of now 7 horse deaths leading up to the Kentucky Derby made waves. PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo issued the following statement: “Churchill Downs is a killing field. Freezing Point is the latest casualty. He’s the second horse to die today at the track, making it an appalling seven deaths in advance of the Kentucky Derby.” Bleacher Report says that two horses were euthanized on Saturday, adding to the five that were put down earlier in the week. While PETA is often criticized for aggressive marketing stunts and extreme points of view, the conditions that lead to the deaths have been roundly criticized in the mainstream sports world.
Summary
Blackbaud agrees to pay $3m to settle SEC ransomware probe | The Register
Learning nonprofit Khan Academy thinks AI has a big place in ...| Fast Company
What Chat-First Search Means for Organic & Ad Grant Traffic for Nonprofits? | Whole Whale
Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Gets Fully Baked With New Nonprofit Cannabis Company | Forbes
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May 2, 2023
Pantheon Heroes Depart as Platform Hosts Hate (news)
Pantheon Heroes Depart as Platform Faces Backlash for Hosting Hateful Websites
In recent weeks, controversy has erupted over website operations platform Pantheon hosting websites for influential anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigration organizations including Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), as reported by ARS Technica. The backlash began on LinkedIn, where several developers and Pantheon supporters voiced their concerns, including customers seeking alternative hosting services and developers known as "Pantheon Heroes" who announced they would stop assisting Pantheon's open source projects and leave the program. Pantheon co-founder Josh Koenig confirmed that the platform would continue hosting the controversial websites, citing their commitment to being an open platform. Despite Pantheon's terms of service prohibiting abusive or offensive content, the company's position on content states that they generally refrain from moderating customer content. Pantheon Heroes, a program launched in 2019, brought together some of the best open-source developers in the world to empower open web development. However, following Pantheon's decision to continue hosting the websites, several developers have quit the Pantheon Heroes program, expressing disappointment and feeling conflicted about supporting the platform.
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Summary
News for the powerful and privileged: how misrepresentation and underrepresentation of disadvantaged communities undermine their trust in news | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
Nonprofit group looks to buy most newspapers in Maine | NewsCenterMaine.com
House bill would give FTC authority over nonprofit hospitals | Becker's Hospital Review
Encouraging Animal Sentience laws around the world | WAP
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Apr 25, 2023
End of Affirmative Action – Impact on Nonprofits ⚖️🏛️❌🎓(NEWS)
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Nonprofit Suit Before Supreme Court Could Upend Affirmative Action In Higher Education
The nonprofit organization Students for Fair Admissions’ case against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, currently before the Supreme Court of the United States, may end the ability for institutions of higher education to engage in race-conscious admissions decisions. However, the motives and outcomes of this suit are wide-reaching. ProPublica and the Yale Daily News report that Students for Fair Admissions received money from many different conservative dark-money nonprofit vehicles, including DonorsTrust, Searle Freedom Trust, and the Sarah Scaife Foundation. Foundations, DAFs, and other money-maneuvering operations also have direct ties to Leonard Leo and The Federalist Society. Six of the nine sitting Supreme Court Justices are current or former members of the Society, according to the Yale Daily News. Among recent reporting alleging Clarence Thomas’s potentially unethical acceptance of expensive trips from conservative donor Harlan Crow, include photographs of Thomas enjoying cigars with current Federalist Society co-chairman Leonard Leo.
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✅ The Summary...
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Supreme Court protects access to abortion pill | CNN Politics | CNN
California Volunteerism Plummets, Leaving Nonprofits Scrambling ...| The San Francisco Standard
Independent Sector Releases New Value of Volunteer Time of $31.80 Per Hour | Independent Sector
‘Appalling’ Earth Day greenwashing must not detract from message, says protest founder | the Guardian
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Apr 18, 2023
Unbelievable Nonprofit Bet on Biomarker Pays off for Parkinson’s 💰🎯🧠 (news)
A Decade+ Investment Pays off with Parkinson’s Biomarker Discovery
In 2010, the Michael J. Fox Foundation made a BIG bet on investing in researching a biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease (PPMI project). On April 12th it was announced that the bet paid off.
Researchers announced that with the α-synuclein seeding amplification assay (αSyn-SAA), they now have a tool capable of detecting abnormal alpha-synuclein, a key pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD). The breakthrough marks a significant shift in understanding, diagnosing, and treating PD. The assay was validated with 93% accuracy and promises to enable earlier diagnoses, targeted treatments, and more efficient drug development. Efforts are underway to develop αSyn-SAA for the widespread use and optimize it to measure the amount of alpha-synuclein present, potentially through blood draws or nasal swabs. This development holds tremendous potential for transforming research and care for those living with Parkinson's disease.
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Summary
Nonprofit praises automatic expungement program that aims to help millions | FOX 17
Donations Decline for the First Time Since 2012, Fundraising Effectiveness Project Data Shows | NonProfit PRO
These startups and nonprofits are keeping the abortion pill accessible | Fast Company
Sponsored: Looking for trusted nonprofit consultants in New York - or California? Nonprofit.ist has you covered.
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Apr 11, 2023
50% Increase in Youth Gun Violence (news)
Activists & Nonprofits Mobilize In Response To Shooting & Increase In Child Gun Deaths
In Nashville, Tennessee, student activists from March For Our Lives and Students Demand Action (associated with Everytown for Gun Safety) have been protesting for gun reform and school safety, following a school shooting on March 27 that killed three children and three adults, as reported by Mashable. Their protests have intensified after the state's Republican majority voted to expel two young representatives of color, Reps. Jones and Pearson. This comes amidst a recent Pew Research Center analysis of CDC data, which found that gun deaths among children and teens in the U.S. increased by 50% from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021. The gun death rate for minors also rose by 46%, reaching its highest point since 1999, according to reporting from Pew Research Center.
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Summary
Lauders give $200M to ADDF, the nonprofit's largest gift ever | Fierce Biotech
Americans know very li…
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Apr 4, 2023
Open Letter to Pause AI work by Nonprofit (news)
"Please Pause AI" Open-letter from Future of Life Institute
The Future of Life Institute has come out with a letter about AI systems with human-competitive intelligence that may pose risks to society and humanity calling for a pause on the training of such systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. During this time, AI labs want independent experts to collaborate to create shared safety protocols for advanced AI development, which should be rigorously audited and overseen by independent outside experts. They also call for policymakers to develop robust AI governance systems that include regulatory authorities dedicated to AI, oversight and tracking of highly capable AI systems, a robust auditing and certification ecosystem, liability for AI-caused harm, and well-resourced institutions for coping with the dramatic economic and political disruptions caused by AI. The purpose of this pause is to ensure that AI is developed in a way that is safe and beneficial for everyon…
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Mar 28, 2023
$250M Open Grants from MacKenzie Scott go live (news)
Scott Announces “Open Call” For No-Strings Grants
MacKenzie Scott is launching a $250 million open call for community-focused nonprofits through her organization, Yield Giving, as reported by the Associated Press and others. The initiative aims to provide unrestricted $1 million donations to 250 selected nonprofits with operating budgets between $1 million and $5 million. This marks the first time nonprofits can directly apply for funding from Scott, who has previously donated over $14 billion to 1,600 organizations. In partnership with the nonprofit Lever for Change, the open call process seeks to empower and strengthen communities often overlooked and reduce disparities in health, education, and economic outcomes. Applicants need to register by May 5 and submit their applications by June 12. After peer review, up to 1,000 finalists will be chosen, and a publicly named panel will select the 250 winners, who will be announced in early 2024.
Summary
A Nonprofit Wants Your DNA…
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Mar 21, 2023
Nonprofit Insulin Maker Wins in CA (news)
State of California Partners With Nonprofit Drugmaker To Produce Affordable Insulin
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a $50 million, 10-year contract with nonprofit drugmaker Civica Rx to produce the state's own line of affordable insulin, CalRx, according to reporting from NPR and other sources. Upon FDA approval, these insulins, which are expected to be interchangeable with popular brand-name insulins, will be priced at no more than $30 per 10ml vial and $55 for a box of five pre-filled pen cartridges, potentially saving out-of-pocket patients up to $4,000 per year. The move is part of California's broader CalRx initiative to manufacture generic drugs under the state's label and disrupt the pharmaceutical industry, with plans to produce generic naloxone next.
Summary
Factbox: What is the Willow project in Alaska, and why do green activists oppose it? | Reuters
People Are Dragging MrBeast For His Shoe Donation Video | BuzzFeed
New NPT Salary & Benefits Rep…
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Mar 14, 2023
NGOs Call On U.N. To Advocate For Reproductive Rights In U.S. (news)
NGOs Call On U.N. To Advocate For Reproductive Rights In United States
Nearly 200 human rights organizations, including major international NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have sent an "urgent appeal" to the United Nations (UN), calling for the international body to intervene and ensure that the United States protects reproductive rights, as reported by The Washington Post. The appeal follows the Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. At least a dozen states have since moved to ban or heavily restrict abortions. The organizations argue that the US is violating its obligations under international human rights law, and they are calling on UN mandate holders to take action, including communicating with the US, requesting a visit to the country, and calling for private companies to protect reproductive rights.
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Summary
Silicon Valley Bank Collapse…
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Mar 7, 2023
Rise of Nonprofit AI – response to OpenAI shift (news)
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
EleutherAI Seeks To Make Open-Source AI Research a Nonprofit Enterprise
As reported by TechCrunch, The EleutherAI community research group is starting a nonprofit research institute, the EleutherAI Institute, which could have significant implications for safe and ethical AI development. The institute will be funded by donations and grants from various sources, including AI startups and former tech CEOs, allowing the organization to engage in longer and more involved projects than previously possible. By formalizing as a nonprofit, EleutherAI will be able to build a full-time staff and focus on large language models similar to ChatGPT, as well as devote more resources to ethics, interpretability, and alignment work. Importantly, the foundation aims to remain independent despite donations from commercial entities, demonstrating the potential for nonprofits to contribute to AI development while avoiding conflicts of interest. This announcement is particularly signif…
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Feb 28, 2023
Train Derailment & Environmental Fallout (news)
Train Derailment & Environmental Fallout In East Palestine Leads To Political & Legal Frenzy
The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio has led to a frenzy of political activity, criticisms, lawsuits, investigations, advocacy demands, and conspiracy theories as the fallout from the derailment continues to maintain prominence in the national conversation. The derailment has prompted criticism of both the Biden and former Trump administrations, ensnarled politicians like Gov. WeWine and Secretary Buttigieg, and has led to numerous lawsuits, criticism of the EPA, and many other activities. One nonprofit law firm We The Patriots USA (WTP USA), a nonprofit public interest law firm, “will host a press conference in Akron to discuss litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency” according to local reporting from WKYC. Americans are increasingly sensitive to environmental disasters and this incident could refocus public scrutiny on environmental regulation, and potentially spu…
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Feb 21, 2023
Is February for Fraud? (news)
Project Veritas CEO Ousted By Board Of Directors
James O’Keefe, founder and CEO of the conservative organization Project Veritas has been ousted by the group’s board of directors, according to reporting from The Washington Post and other outlets. O’Keefe was ousted on concerns that his antics threatened the organization's IRS 501(c)3 tax-deductible status, according to a memo released by the board. O’Keefe alleges that he was unfairly ousted in what, according to reports, might be a power struggle within the organization. Regardless, O’Keefe has been called “cruel” by some former employees and has been alleged to spend money in lavish ways that threaten the organization's longevity. Project Veritas is known for its aggressive “sting operation” videos against targets—usually progressive, liberal, or otherwise mainstream organizations, campaigns, or media outlets. The organization’s 501(c)3 status prohibits political operations or the use of operational expen…
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Feb 14, 2023
Earthquake Devastation In Turkey & Syria (news)
Devastation In Turkey & Syria As Earthquake Exacerbates Ongoing Crises In Region
A devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria last Wednesday, in a region already at the center of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises. As of writing, the Associated Press reports a death toll surpassing 33,000. The New Humanitarian reports that the region has already been torn apart by war, conflict, economic crises, and a refugee crisis as the Syrian civil war has left much of Northwest Syria without a functioning government, instead controlled by militias, rebel factions, and other groups including Turkish and Kurdish forces. The on-the-ground reality has made moving aid and emergency response resources across the border extremely difficult. Yet, in some areas, NGOs and aid groups are the only form of search and rescue and disaster response resources available. Freezing temperatures and already haphazard infrastructure for those in Syria have made already dire situations…
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Feb 7, 2023
Is Charity Content for Clicks Charitable? The Mr. Beast Debate (news)
Hot Take Debate: Was Mr. Beast's Cataract Surgery Video charitable?
Adam Faircloth joins the debate.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfaircloth/
Context: MR Beast made content around paying for 1k eye surgeries, is this charitable. the video has 95million views and was sponsored by Experian.
At a rate of $2.13 per CPM, the video has generated at least $200k.
does it matter that it isn't a nonprofit?
what if it was a nonprofit?
how does this compare to flies in the eyes videos of african children that used to be used for fundraising
does it matter if Mr Beast made a profit on this?
what difference is there between actors being paid to perform in a video and people getting their surgeries covered to perform in a video
Is this actually a potential earned revenue model?
Other NonprofitNewsfeed.com Summary
World Cancer Day Promotes Advocacy, Awareness, & Early Detection
World Cancer Day, which was this past Saturday, emphasizes the importance of awareness aroun…
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Jan 31, 2023
Blood Donation Eligibility National Update (news)
FDA To Further Ease Restrictions On Gay Men & Blood Donation Eligibility
On Friday the FDA proposed new policy revisions that demonstrate a shift toward more inclusive regulations surrounding blood donation for members of the LGBTQ community and those of various sexual orientations, according to reporting from CNBC and others. In 2015, the lifetime ban on gay men from donating blood was eased to allow those who abstained from sex for one year to donate blood, but Friday’s announcement proposed easing those restrictions further. The restrictive blood donation rules have long been criticized as discriminatory. As CNBC reports, “the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights, said the FDA proposal is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to remove restrictions.” The new rules would allow monogamous gay and bisexual men to donate blood, while folks engaging in sex with new or multiple partners must wait three months.…
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Jan 24, 2023
AmazonSmile Turned Upside Down Cutting $449m CSR Program (news)
Amazon Sunsets AmazonSmile Amid Cost-Cutting
The AmazonSmile will be ending by February 20th, according to a statement from the company, as reported by NPR and others. While the program dispersed nearly $449 million to nonprofits globally, the company says that the donations were spread too thin, minimizing impact. Amazon pointed to other efforts, such as its Housing Equity Fund, which supports affordable housing efforts near its headquarters, as an example of a social impact program receiving investment. However, smaller nonprofits that received AmazonSmile donations say that the donation were helpful and would be missed. The move comes after Amazon announced 18,000 layoffs, amid a winter defined by tech layoffs across the industry.
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Summary
Time's Up to halt operations, shift resources to legal fund | ABC News
People are only just realising what happens to the money IKEA makes - and it’s blowing their minds | The US Sun
Founder of Seattle West African imm…
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Jan 17, 2023
MLK Day Celebrated by Nonprofits & Santos’ Charity Questions (news)
Nonprofits Energize & Give Back To Communities On MLK Day
Nonprofits across the country worked to engage and give back to communities this MLK Day. Virginia nonprofit Rise Against Hunger worked to fill 50,000 bags of food to serve communities in need. The article notes that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke often about hunger, and was a catalyst for this organization to focus on emergency food relief. In Charlotte, communities are finding assistance from nonprofits like Promise Youth Development, which serves to educate youth about Dr. King’s legacy while advocating for social justice. In addition to providing kids with education and exposure to Dr. King’s teaching, the nonprofit also fosters healing and relationship-building between students and police.
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Summary
Allegations that the charity George Santos claims to have run was fake highlight how scams divert money from worthy causes | yahoo.com
Anchorage nonprofit’s use of $750K in federal funds investi…
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Jan 10, 2023
Thousands of NYC Nurses Go On Strike As Hospital & Union Talks Fall Apart (news)
Thousands of NYC Nurses Go On Strike As Hospital & Union Talks Fall Apart
A dramatic, last-ditch effort to avert a strike failed this weekend, leading nurses at two major NYC hospitals to go on strike, according to reporting from Politico and others. Approximately 7,000 nurses at Montefiore Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital went on strike at 6 a.m. Eastern on Monday, demanding increased staffing levels for nurses who say the staff shortage creates unsafe conditions for patients. While other hospitals successfully negotiated with the New York State Nurses Association to continue operations as normal, the strike at these two hospitals is the culmination of longstanding grievances of nursing staff who feel unfairly treated, burnt out, and chronically understaffed. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push for binding arbitration in the last hours of negotiations was not accepted by the nursing union. Medical professionals working in nonprofit hospital systems across the country will be…
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Jan 3, 2023
Mastodon Embraces Nonprofit Status (news)
Mastodon Embraces Nonprofit Status As Potential Industry Model
Mastodon, an open-source microblogging site, has rejected offers from more than five US-based investors in recent months, according to reporting from Ars Technica. The platform’s non-profit status is “untouchable,” according to its founder Eugen Rochko. Mastodon has similar features to Twitter but is made up of many decentralized, independently moderated servers. Users join one server but can connect with people on other servers throughout the so-called “federated” system. Mastodon has seen a surge in users since Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October amid concerns over the billionaire’s running of the social media platform. Amid increasing concerns about social media platforms’ stability, privacy, and ethics issues, the nonprofit model may increasingly find salience in an industry plagued by a decrease in public trust in for-profit social media companies.
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Summary
America'…
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Dec 20, 2022
Where Did MacKenzie’s Billions Get Donated? (news)
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Scott Releases Comprehensive List Grant Recipients
MacKenzie Scott has released a comprehensive database of all the nonprofit organizations that have received grants from her over the past several years. Scott has in many ways upended the philanthropy sector with the sheer volume and size of the grants, as well as their “no strings attached” nature. The database denotes the name of the organization, the size of the gift, and the organization’s focus area, geographic location, and stated mission statement. The new website’s “Process” page hints at the potential for future open calls for prospective grant recipients. According to reporting from The Guardian, the donations totalled over $14 billion and were disbursed to over 1,600 nonprofit organizations.
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Summary
22 Most Charitable Companies in 2022 | Yahoo
When Nonprofit Health Care Behaves Badly: The Case For Mission ... | healthaffairs.org
Big Tech Laid Off Thousand…
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Dec 13, 2022
CVS CSR Needs a Health Check (news)
CVS Shows “Pledges” Do Not Equal Direct “Donations”
In November 2021, US pharmaceutical giant CVS’s social responsibility team announced a $10 million commitment to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to be delivered over three years, as reported by Quartz. However, what CVS omitted is that the donations collected from customers through in-store fundraising weren’t going to be in addition to the initial pledge. Rather, they would be used in lieu of donations coming from CVS’s coffers. Customers subsidized CVS’s generosity without knowing it, as their donations were part of a larger pledge that CVS had made to the ADA. A new lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, claims that by failing to disclose the exact way in which the funds raised would be used, CVS committed fraud. Nonprofits (and donors) interested in better understanding corporate partnerships should heed the word “pledge” as merely marketing lingo until actual monetary donations are received by…
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Nov 29, 2022
#GivingTuesday Predictions: Search Is Down, Hope Is Up (news)
2022 Giving Tuesday Predictions: Search Is Down, Hope Is Up
Whole Whale, the publishers of this newsletter, predict a record-setting $3.2 billion will be donated for Giving Tuesday this year. The prediction is the result of an analysis based on an adjusted linear regression, trends in Google Search terms around “Giving Tuesday,” and national giving trends. This method predicts an 18% or $500 million increase over 2021’s total amount raised. While this is an optimistic prediction, several negative indicators might give nonprofits more caution heading into the season of giving, including decreased Giving Tuesday search volume, narratives around inflation and economic pains, a public drained of giving after an election cycle, and a potential return to post-pandemic giving patterns. Yet, elections can lead to heightened social engagement, and online shopping trends continue to be strong despite economic worries. (2022’s Black Friday set a record for online giving.) Whatever the fi…
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Nov 22, 2022
Controversy in Qatar & Giving Tuesday is Coming (news)
Qatar World Cup Centers International Human Rights Issues, Corruption, And Sportswashing
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is underway in Qatar in a climate marred by years of controversies related to human rights issues, corruption, and influence peddling. While this is the first time the games will be held in an Arab country, Qatar’s bid was a remote possibility until it shockingly won the bid back in 2010. FIFA, the international governing body of football, is considered one of the most openly corrupt institutions in sports, where bribery, corruption, and influence campaigns are rampant. Since winning the bid, Qatar has faced sustained criticism for labor rights abuses since the country began luring low-income workers (largely from Asia) to work on construction projects in what international human rights groups have labeled dangerous and exploitative conditions. The country has faced renewed criticism of its internal human rights issues, particularly around women’s rights and LGBTQ+ righ…
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Nov 17, 2022
FTX Collapse & Effective Altruism (news)
What The FTX Collapse Does & Does Not Mean For Crypto Philanthropy & Effective Altruism
Crypto-exchange FTX, one of the largest such exchanges, collapsed last week, leaving the cryptocurrency world in disbelief as stakeholders try to piece together what happened and what comes next. The company’s founder Sam Bankman-Fried (known by the moniker SBF) was a visible proponent and donor to the effective altruism movement, as well as someone who built a personal brand as a prominent crypto-philanthropist. As noted by The New York Times, SBF was perhaps one of the most visible supporters of Effective Altruism, a community underpinned by a utilitarian approach to giving where donors focus on giving only to the most impact-efficient charitable causes. Created by Oxford philosopher William MacAskill, the Effective Altruism movement faces serious reputational trust issues as supporters worry it was a cover for the reckless FTX founder. It was also revealed by The New York Times that the tw…
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Nov 7, 2022
Greenpeace: ”Recycling is Futile” (news)
Reality of Recycling Comes To Forefront As Environmental Concerns Peak
Nonprofit Greenpeace has released a new report acknowledging the gross inefficiencies and near futility of recycling, as reported by Grist. The report highlights that even while the use of plastics across the world surges, the amount of plastic that gets recycled has decreased, a symptom of a solution no match for the scale of a problem it hopes to address. Greenpeace states that “U.S. households generated an estimated 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, only 2.4 million tons of which was recycled.” Because of the complexities of sorting, the chemical hazards of the process, and the use of low-grade plastics, the U.S.’s recycling infrastructure is abysmally short of where it needs to be to reduce plastic waste. This report comes as the United Nations-sponsored COP27 climate summit commences in Egypt, where U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned the world is on a “highway to climate…
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Nov 1, 2022
Terrifying Twitter Trends – Nonprofits React (news)
Reactions, And Worries, As Musk Twitter’s Takeover Is Finalized
Elon Musk’s $44 Billion takeover of Twitter was completed last week, with Musk officially becoming the owner and de-facto CEO of the influential social media platform. The drawn-out saga of the acquisition, which at times seemed like it would fall through, marks the beginning of a new chapter for a platform now run by one of its most prominent users. Musk's ownership has raised new questions about content moderation, rules around speech, and other fundamental questions about what Twitter (and by proxy, social media) should even be. The takeover, with Musk being a self-proclaimed advocate for “free speech,” has spurred a sharp increase in derogatory posts from trolls, according to the nonprofit Network Contagion Research Institute. While Musk sought to assuage the fears of advertisers by saying the platform would not become a “free-for-all hellscape,” some prominent corporate advertisers already appear to be…
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Oct 25, 2022
Girl Scouts Get $85 Million Historical Donation (news)
Girl Scouts Get $85 Million Donation From MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott, known for historic billion-dollar donations continues to change nonprofits’ fortunes, this time with an $85 million donation to the Girl Scouts of USA. The donation is the single largest donation in the organization’s history since its founding in 1912, and will help the organization recoup a loss of programming and membership as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reporting from KUSA.com. According to the report, only 2% of philanthropic giving in the United States goes directly to programs expressly interested in serving women and girls. Youth membership in the Girl Scouts dropped nearly 30% in the first year of the pandemic.
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Summary
Gates Foundation boosts GivingTuesday with $10M donation | AP NEWS
Bill and Melinda Gates are chopping funding for reading, writing and the arts to plow $1 billion into math education instead | Fortune
Police Complaints in This Indian Dis…
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Oct 18, 2022
“Big Lie” Affiliated Nonprofits Scrutinized By FBI (news)
“Big Lie” -Affiliated Nonprofits Scrutinized By Authorities On Eve of Midterm General Election
Two organizations associated with the “Big Lie,” the disproved conspiracy that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, face scrutiny for financial impropriety. The Arizona Attorney General (a Republican who as recently as 2020 courted Trump’s endorsement) has asked the FBI and IRS to probe the nonprofit organization True The Vote, an organization that purported to document unfounded claims of election fraud, according to reporting from Politico. Similarly, the nonprofit organization Defending The Republic led by Sidney Powell, a prominent character in the plot to deny the 2020 election results, has made highly questionable expenditures after raising $16 million, including to private companies that Sidney Powell is listed as a manager, as well as reportedly expenditures to Powell’s personal legal fees. The Justice Department has subpoenaed Defending The Republic’s docum…
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Oct 11, 2022
Marijuana Win For Social Justice (news)
Weekly Nonprofit News summaries.
In Win For Criminal Justice Advocates, Biden Pardons Marijuana Charges & Orders Evaluation of Cannabis Scheduling
The Biden Administration announced last week a series of pardons for those charged on federal, simple marijuana possession charges, in a win for criminal justice reform advocates. The legacy of the Nixon Administration’s “War On Drugs” is still felt throughout the United States, where black and brown Americans are more likely to be charged for marijuana use than white Americans, despite similar rates of usage. NPR quotes Patrice Willoughby, vice president of policy and legislative affairs at the NAACP, who says that “The failed policies on drug criminalization have ensnared many on nonviolent, marijuana offenses.” Biden has also “instructed the attorney general and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to start the process of reviewing marijuana’s status under federal law, according to Politico. Advocacy group…
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Oct 4, 2022
Should Nonprofits Takeover ESG & Hurricane Ian (news)
Discussions of Corporate ESG Ratings Should Be Monitored By Nonprofit Industry
More and more, discussions about the efficacy, morality, and financial benefit of ESG-rated publicly-traded companies on the stock market are becoming commonplace. At nonprofitnewsfeed.com, we think that nonprofits need to be equipped with the context needed to engage both prospective donors and the public at large with what ESG is and is not. ESG, a catchall term for “Environmental, Social & Governance” is marketed to be a way to group, define, and measure companies by their broader (hopefully positive) impact on the world. However, as this op-ed from The New York Times makes clear, ESG (and ESG-related financial products like indexes or funds) are at best unproven in their effectiveness, at worst, a marketing ploy designed to obfuscate the harm done by the very companies on the list. Nonprofits should heed that fact as the general public and high-value donors discern significant investments in a wob…
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Sep 27, 2022
Nonprofits Respond To Hurricane In Puerto Rico (news)
Nonprofits Respond To Hurricane In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico felt the brunt of hurricane Fiona last week, shutting power to the island and devastating everything from homes to agriculture as severe flooding uprooted life yet again in communities. Puerto Rico, still recovering from hurricane Maria which landed back in 2017, again finds itself in need of assistance and as yet a path towards a resilient recovery. Nonprofits like New York-based Your Network Caring Community Advocates have already started collecting supplies to aid in recovery, and on-the-ground organizations like the Hispanic Federation are also accepting donations. While digital attention for providing aid to help in the wake of natural disasters spike to highs in the immediate aftermath of an event, the long-tail recovery efforts often require sustained rebuilding that takes years of reinvestment.
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Summary:
Time to Start Making Hospital Executives Vow to 'Do No Harm' | Esquire
Nonprofits pay Texas…
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Sep 20, 2022
Patagonia Goes ALL-IN on Nonprofits (news)
Patagonia Goes All-in Transferring Ownership to Nonprofit
The private B Corp company Patagonia, known for outdoor gear and its outspoken position on the environment has transferred its ownership to a nonprofit (reported by The NonProfit Times). The company, worth an estimated $3 Billion, is transferring 98% of non-voting stock to the Holdfast Collective a 501(c)(4), and 2% of the stock (all voting control) to the Patagonia Purpose Trust.
Patagonia Founder, Yvon Chouinard has done something unprecedented for a company this size, ensuring that the $100m in profit each year will go toward philanthropic purposes instead of investors. The company still plans to donate 1% of profits toward grassroots environmental causes as well, at the discretion of the nonprofit. Further details of how money will be directed have not been revealed yet.
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Summary
The Ethereum Merge Is Done, Opening a New Era for the Second-Biggest Blockchain | CoinDesk
More Than $1 Billion For Black…
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Sep 14, 2022
Nonprofits Recognize Anniversary of September 11th Attacks (news)
Nonprofits Recognize Anniversary of September 11th Attacks With National Day of Service & Remembrance
This Sunday marked the 21st anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks. As Americans across the country reflect on the day, nonprofit and volunteer organizations stepped up to honor victims and families, as well as to pay forward the heroic acts of bravery and charitable acts of community displayed that September. The federally-recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance brings together folks across the country to “rekindle the spirit of unity that arose in America in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.” AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith, says that “from supporting students and teachers, running food drives and making emergency preparedness kits to helping with home repairs and organizing cleanups, we can help our neighbors in communities across the country,” in an effort to “ensure that what unites us outshines what…
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Sep 6, 2022
GOP Senate Ads Fail & NAACP NC Loses Nonprofit Status (news)
GOP-Tied NRSC Mismanaged Fundraising In Lead-Up To Crucial Midterm Elections
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the fundraising and campaign arm of the Senate Republicans, is facing backlash from its own party as details of how it lost millions on an ill-concieved fundraising strategy emerge. The NRSC, chaired by Rick Scott, managed to take in nearly $181.5 million in donation revenue by the end of this July, only to have spent 95% of what it had already brought in, according to detailed reporting from The New York Times. The committee now has less than half of the cash-on-hand of its Democratic counterpart, having gambled it all on a flawed digital donor acquisition strategy. The report also details an ethically dubious text-to-donate scheme in which millions of texts with the question “Should Biden Resign?” -- “Reply YES To Donate” processed donations immediately without any additional information. The WinRed platform insisted the NRSC abandon the tactic.…
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Aug 30, 2022
Public Service & Student Debt Forgiveness (news)
Biden Announces $10k, $20k Student Loan Forgiveness For Most Borrowers
The Biden administration announced last week that up to $10k of federal student loan debt would be forgiven for eligible borrowers, including up to $20k for Pell Grant recipients. The sweeping announcement was a controversial policy move but nonetheless a major one, with tens of millions of borrowers affected. According to The White House, 87% of the eligible borrowers currently make less than $75,000 and will disproportionately benefit historically debt-burdened communities, including Black borrowers who hold a “disproportionate amount of student loan debt.” Nonprofit and public service employees should pay close attention to shifting (and temporarily expanded leniency) in rules for the government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Rules eliminating particularly onerous requirements have been temporarily waived but require borrowers to consolidate loans by October 31 to benefit. Read more here…
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Aug 23, 2022
$1.6B Donation to Conservative Nonprofit (news)
Low-Profile Donor Gives $1.6 Billion To Conservative Political Nonprofit
Barre Seid, an “electronics manufacturing mogul,” has donated over $1.6 billion to the conservative political nonprofit Marble Freedom Trust, according to reporting from The New York Times. The 501(c)4 nonprofit, led by a prominent conservative political operator, represents the largest single donation to a political organization ever and dwarfs the spending of the top 15 GOP and Democratic-aligned nonprofits during the 2020 election. The donation was structured as a stock donation, as opposed to an all-cash donation, as a legal way to skirt a complicated web of tax rules. The Marble Freedom Trust is run by Leonard A. Leo, who among other titles, was previously vice president of the Federalist Society, and is largely credited with engineering an increasingly conservative Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas once jokingly referred to Mr. Leo as the “third most powerful person in the world,” as reported b…
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Aug 16, 2022
Historic Environmental Bill Passes! (news)
Nonprofits & Environmental Groups React To Landmark Inflation Reduction Act Legislation
The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by the Biden White House shortly after passing through the Senate and House of Representatives in what has become a dramatic and unexpected win for Democrats and environmental activists alike. The new legislation is the largest investment in clean energy of any country in history, including hundreds of billions of dollars for clean energy programs and environmental justice initiatives, among other non-climate provisions. “This is historic for environmental justice and front-line communities that have been all but ignored, overlooked, and underfunded,” according to Harold Mitchell Jr. of the South Carolina environmental group ReGenesis Institute. WWF says the new Act gets to the “root cause of climate change – carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels– and offers significant resources addressing those emissions in American businesses, on o…
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Aug 9, 2022
No Amnesty for NGO Report on Ukraine (news)
Amnesty International Triggers Global Criticism For Problematic Report Lacking Vital Context
Amnesty International published a new report as part of its ongoing reporting on the war in Ukraine that has been widely criticized as lacking critical context and framing, triggering both internal and external condemnation. The report criticizes the Ukrainian military for violating “international humanitarian law” by putting civilians in harm’s way in relation to where the Ukrainian military places defensive military equipment. While Amnesty (and other INGOs) rightly pride themselves on remaining neutral in evaluating humanitarian and legal violations (in fact HRW made similar assertions in a more thorough report), the framing of this particular report is being criticized for giving ammunition to Russian propaganda, misrepresenting legal norms via vague language, and sidelining Amnesty’s own Ukraine office in its publication. After inflammatory tweets from Amnesty’s Secretary…
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Aug 2, 2022
Trevor Project CEO Scrutiny for Past Pharma Consulting (news)
Nonprofit News.
Trevor Project CEO Under Fire For Purdue Pharma Consulting Work
Trevor Project CEO Amit Paley is coming under internal pressure from staff for previous consulting work done at McKinsey for Purdue Pharma, according to reporting from Teen Vogue. (The first revelations were published by the Huffington Post.) Purdue Pharma, responsible for bringing OxyContin to market, is widely perceived as playing a critical role in the opioid crisis in America. Paley was a consultant at McKinsey working on the Purdue account, although his leadership and responsibilities in that role are disputed. Trevor Project staff have criticized the revelation, especially as the core mission of the Trevor Project is helping at-risk LGBTQ+ youth at risk of mental health crisis and suicide, verticals of care impacted by opioid abuse and misuse. The chair of Trevor Project’s board of directors has expressed “full confidence” in Paley while others inside the organization are quoted anonymous…
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Jul 29, 2022
What does a unified NGO rating system look like? (news)
Charity Navigator To Unveil New, Unified Charity Rating System
Charity Navigator, the 501(c)3 charity rating organization, has provided additional information on the proposed changes to their new rating system. The new system, according to a release, will “will bring together our legacy Charity Navigator 2.1 (Star) system with our Encompass Rating System, rating more than 200,000 nonprofits.” Among other changes, all organizations will be rated on a star system, as well as have the opportunity to be rated for additional “beacons” that indicate more nuanced performance. Charity Navigator, like other charity rating organizations, plays a vital — although sometimes criticized — role in communicating nonprofit trustworthiness to the general public. Nonprofit organizations should pay close attention to how their organization is portrayed by rating organizations, as discerning donors will often use them to verify legitimacy. Whole Whale, the publisher of this newsletter, offers…
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Jul 19, 2022
988 Hotline is LIVE! NGOs should be ready (news)
988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline Rolls Out Across Country
The consolidated 988 national mental health hotline rolled out over the weekend, as part of a broader effort to fill gaps in emergency mental health response and access throughout the country. The effort, in large part spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in conjunction with national and local partners streamlines the public’s ability to talk to a crisis counselor. Years in the making, federal and state governments have spent lots of money to prepare for the rollout, though some questions remain about different states and call centers' ability to handle the volume of calls. The 988 lifelines, as a national helpline, functions 24/7 providing support to people in crisis. The helpline is available for both calls and text messages, giving options to people in crisis for calling for help. Health organizations and other organizati…
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Jul 12, 2022
Nonprofit (C)4s Get Ready for Midterms (news)
Nonprofit News Feed.
Lots Of Money To Move Around PACs, Super PACs, But Also 501(c)4 Tax-Exempt Orgs This Election Cycle
As the primaries wrap up and the general midterm elections start moving into full swing, more and more money will start flowing through various election spending vehicles, including 501(c)4 organizations, which are sometimes criticized as “dark spending” avenues for political expenditures. 501(c)4 organizations are prohibited by FEC and IRS rules from spending more than 50% on political lobbying or advocacy, though some critics argue that the largest funds might spend beyond that. While 501(c)3 organizations can spend “insubstantial” amounts of money on political lobbying, their 501(c)4 counterparts routinely spend millions during each election cycle. Nonprofits should brace themselves for a tough messaging battle in Q3 to the beginning of Q4 as they go up against political organizations spending millions on advertising, fundraising, lobbying, and the…
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Jul 5, 2022
National Volunteer Shortage Threatens Stability of NGOs (news)
NonprofitNewsFeed.com
National Volunteer Shortage Threatens Stability of Nonprofit Programming
Nonprofits in Arizona are having a hard time getting volunteers to come back compared to pre-Covid times, as reported by Axios. This represents a continuation of a broader trend since the onset of the pandemic, where nonprofits have seen volunteer participation decline nationally. Nonprofits like the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona say they may have to stop providing meals because of increased costs and lack of volunteers. Higher gas prices, coupled with fewer work-associated volunteer outings as well as remaining concerns about Covid may have contributed to the decrease. This animal nonprofit in California is entirely volunteer-run and has seen funding decrease by 30% since the onset of the pandemic. Decreases in volunteer participation threaten the stability of the hundreds of thousands of volunteer-led organizations throughout the country.
Read more…
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Jun 28, 2022
Roe v. Wade Repeal Upends Nearly 50 Years Of Constitutional Abortion Protection (news)
Roe v. Wade Repeal Upends Nearly 50 Years Of Constitutional Abortion Protection; Access To Abortions Enters Into State-By-State Public Policy Frenzy
Nearly 50 years of the constitutionally-upheld right to abortion access came to an end on Friday with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito with additional concurring opinions by conservative justices including Clarence Thomas, immediately ended federal protection for a woman’s right to abortion. The right to abortion is now a legal question left entirely up to the states, reflecting a public policy landscape upended into chaos. The legal landscape of abortion access across America is complex, with some states that have trigger laws that instantly banned abortion with this decision, and others have dormant laws that have suddenly become viable. The decision comes despite Pew Research polling suggesting that 61% of Americans believe…
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Jun 21, 2022
Did DAFs Just Lose $38 billion? (news)
Market Volatility Has Potential To Impact DAFs & Crypto Philanthropy
Major philanthropy trends over the past several years have included the rise of crypto philanthropy and donor-advised funds, alternate forms of giving that may see the trickle-down impacts of the current bear market and overall market volatility. Donor-advised funds, or DAFs, have seen a surge in popularity over the past several years as market-tied vehicles for philanthropic giving with an estimated $160 billion according to NP Trust. While DAFs receive criticism for their sometimes conservative disbursement and lack of immediate impact, another potential flag is that they are affected by market volatility.
This will potentially impact giving because of the percent based donation targets for these funds which hover around 20% according to NP Trust. With the S&P 500 down ~20% on the year, and having its worst week since the start of 2020, contributions within the past year to these funds may have decreased in value…
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Jun 14, 2022
Brookings Institution President Resigns Amid FBI Probe (news)
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Brookings Institution President Resigns Amid FBI Foreign Lobbying Probe
Brookings Institution President John Allen has resigned after national press outlets reported he was under FBI investigation for undisclosed lobbying efforts on behalf of the government of Qatar. While Allen denies any wrongdoing, he was revealed in court filings to be the target of an FBI probe into violations of FARA (Foreign Agent Registration Act), which requires the registration of anyone conducting lobbying activities on behalf of foreign governments. Court documents also show he lied to federal investigators and attempted to withhold evidence saught by a federal subpoena. Allen, a retired four star U.S. Marine Corps general and former commander of NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan, publically resigned on Sunday after being placed on administrative leave. This comes amid increasing scrutiny of foreign influence in D.C.-based think tanks, and represents law enforcement efforts…
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Jun 7, 2022
Nonprofit Trust Drops 3% Survey Reveals (news)
Nonprofit news for June.
Independent Sector Releases Survey On Nonprofit Trust
Independent Sector has released its third annual survey on trust within the nonprofit and civil society sector. The findings show that nonprofits still benefit from strong public trust (56% of respondents say they trust nonprofits), making NPOs among the few social institutions that the majority of the public trust, along with small businesses and community members. However, the sector saw a statistically significant decrease of 3% in trust compared to 2020. The survey also found that education and financial wellbeing drive nonprofit trust, that purpose-driven integrity is essential, and that Gen Z is increasingly skeptical of the nonprofit sector. The survey fielded answers from 3,015 Americans and had a margin of error of +/- 2%.
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Summary
233 mass shootings have happened so far in 2022: nonprofit | The Hill
Rising gas prices affect delivery operations for nonprofits | KSHB…
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May 31, 2022
Gun Rights Advocacy Groups Fill Void Left By NRA (news)
Nonprofit news:
In Wake Of Uvalde School Shooting, Gun Rights Advocacy Groups Fill Void Left By NRA
On May 24 a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas killing 19 students, two teachers, and wounding 17 others. The horrific shooting has rekindled the decades-long debate in the United States between gun control and gun rights advocates. Within economically developed countries, the United States by far outnumbers other countries in terms of both gun ownership and gun deaths per capita. Among gun rights advocacy groups, however, the infighting and reputationally-damaged NRA has provided an opportunity for other organizations (many tax-exempt) to fill the void, according to reporting from The Washington Post. The National Association for Gun Rights, a 501(c)4 group that often criticizes the NRA for being too compromising, saw revenue increase to $15 million, up from $6 million in 2019. Other gun rights groups have seen similar increases in revenue and capacity.…
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May 24, 2022
988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline Launches This Summer (news)
NonprofitNewsFeed.com
988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline To Soon Go Live
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is unveiling a new national emergency number for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The new 988 emergency number, akin to 911, will redirect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is managed by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The number goes live on July 16, 2022. The new number is part of a broader strategy to address the crisis of suicide in the United States. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 10-34. The SAMHSA 988 FAQ page has important information for mental health partners including nonprofits that may publicly direct folks seeking help to this new number. Read more about how states are preparing.
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Summary
Qatar: Joint letter to Gianni Infantino regarding remedy for labour abuses | Amnesty International
‘It’s gotten even worse’: Nonprof…
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May 17, 2022
High inflation hits food banks hard (news)
High Inflation Continues To Impact Sector, Including Food Banks
As inflationary pressures keep year-over-year price increases high, food banks see both an increase in demand and a shortage of supply. Food pantries across the country are dealing both with an increase in demand due to broader consumer-facing prices, as well as a harder time keeping up with supply because of the same price increases. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that “Some of Feeding America’s food pantry partners have closed because of dwindling donations and higher costs for receiving and delivering food. Others have less food on their shelves even though they have higher demand.” The article goes on to highlight the vital importance that food banks serve and that folks who need the assistance they provide might be more diverse than the broader public realizes.
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Summary
Nonprofits on Both Sides of Abortion Issue See Increase in Donations | The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Independent…
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May 10, 2022
Roe V. Wade Changes the NGO Landscape (news)
Nonprofit News of the week.
Supreme Court Poised To Strike Down Roe v. Wade, Changing Advocacy Landscape For Both Pro-Choice & Pro-Life Nonprofits
A draft decision of the United States Supreme Court ruling on a pending abortion case appears to show the majority of justices in favor of striking down Roe v. Wade, upending nearly 50 years of abortion-access precedent, according to a leaked draft obtained by Politico. The decision comes as a worst-case scenario for pro-choice advocacy and provider groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, while it also is perceived as a monumental achievement by pro-life groups. As abortion becomes illegal to access and potentially criminalized in the wake of the decision which will be released in June, human rights groups are warning that nonprofits and tech companies may come under legal pressure to disclose sensitive information regarding people who seek information about abortion clinics, emergency contraceptives, and the like…
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May 3, 2022
Roe v. Wade, NGO Bill & Google Inclusivity Tool (news)
NonprofitNewsfeed.com
Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows
Federal “Nonprofit Sector Strength And Partnership Act” Draws Praise & Critique
As reported by GlobeNewswire/Independent Sector, bipartisan federal legislation has been introduced to “increase collaboration between federal officials and nonprofits to better serve the sector and communities year-round, especially during emergencies.” The bill aims to, among other objectives, establish a White House Office on Nonprofit Sector Partnership, a Advisory Board on the Nonprofit Sector, and Interagency Council on Nonprofit Sector Partnership with the idea of increasing collaboration between the government and the charitable sector. While many nonprofit proponents of the bill support the government’s desire to create a better relationship with a sector that is so integral to our society, some criticize the bill as government overreach that threatens nonprofits’ autonomy.
Read more…
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Apr 26, 2022
Earth Day Activity & Slow Nonprofit Job Recovery Q1 (news)
This podcast discusses how the nonprofit sector is lagging behind the rest of the economy in terms of pandemic recovery. George and Nick discuss how nonprofits are being impacted by the pandemic and the challenges they face in terms of fundraising and providing services. They also talk about how the sector is trying to adapt and the role that nonprofits play in fighting climate change.
Nonprofit news summaries weekly.
Nonprofits Play Unique Role In Push For Climate Resilience This Earth Day
As Earth Day was celebrated across the world this past week, nonprofits continue to serve vital and unique roles in contributing to our understanding of the changing climate and its effects on our global community. International NGO the International Crisis Group published an interactive visual explainer on how climate change exacerbates civil unrest and humanitarian fragility. More locally, two New York City-based nonprofits, Central Park Conservancy and Natural Areas Conservancy have teamed…
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Apr 19, 2022
BLM Under Filing Scrutiny & New Drilling Leases (news)
April Nonprofit news summary.
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Faces Scrutiny Over Spending & Transparency
Questions have arisen over how the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) has spent and reported on charitable contributions, as reported by New York magazine. The organization, which serves as an umbrella organization for some local BLM organizations (though not all organizations with BLM in their name) faces criticism for the purchase of a $6 million dollar home in California, as well as the appearance of lack of transparency stemming not submitting a form 990, as required by their tax exempt status granted in 2020. While right-wing and far-right news outlets are seizing on this story as an angle of political attack, Candid co-founder and former CEO of GuideStar Jacob Harold is quoted as responding to the reporting as a “very legitimate critique.”
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Interior Dept. To Open Up New Onshore Land To Drilling Leases
In a reversal of a p…
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Apr 12, 2022
Global Food Crisis & Google Analytics Cliff (news)
War In Ukraine Continues To Increase Likelihood Of Global Food Crisis
According to reporting from The New York Times, the war in Ukraine continues to threaten global food, agriculture, and other vital infrastructure. Farmers in Ukraine are reporting that granaries, farms, and other agriculture-related infrastructure are being destroyed by the Russians, all but halting Ukraine’s ability to export food staples. The World Food Programme chief warns that a global food crisis may turn out to be “beyond anything we’ve seen since World War II.” Nonprofits across the globe should prepare for higher food prices and the second-order effects of a global food crisis, a rare moment where global food markets are being impacted by supply and demand as opposed to external factors affecting access.
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Google Analytics Updates Require Immediate Attention From Nonprofits Running GA, Google Ads
Google Analytics’ Universal Analytics, the industry-standard web analytics reporting…
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Apr 5, 2022
War Crimes Tracked by NGOs & Pending Food Crisis (news)
War In Ukraine Threatens Global Food Security, Likely To Exacerbate Food Emergencies Among Vulnerable Populations
According to reporting from The New York Times, the war in Ukraine threatens global food security on a large scale. Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly 30% of the global wheat supply and serve as a vital supplier of fertilizer, grain, barley, sunflower oil, and many other basic food staples. In addition to food security challenges within Ukraine, already vulnerable countries in the Middle East and North Africa (countries especially reliant on exported foodstuffs from the war-torn region) find themselves in an increasingly precarious situation. Over half of the World Food Programme’s wheat comes from Ukraine, and emergency food programs in Yemen and other African countries may be forced to prioritize the starving over the hungry. Compounded by sky-high global food prices, supply chain issues, regional conflict, and natural disasters like drought, many food…
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Mar 30, 2022
100k Ukrainian Refugees to U.S. & $43M to Habitat for Humanity (news)
Nonprofit news:
United States To Welcome 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees
The Biden Administration has announced plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the United States, according to reporting from Politico. Refugees will be allowed entry through a range of admission pathways, including “humanitarian parole,” and “immigrant or nonimmigrant visas.” Since February, the U.S. has given over $123 million in humanitarian support to Ukraine and neighboring countries, with over $1 billion in additional humanitarian funding to come in the coming months. The welcome.us website serves as a portal for Americans to get involved with refugee relief efforts for both Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.
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MacKenzie Scott Donates $436 Million To Habitat for Humanity & Affiliates
MacKenzie Scott has donated $436 million to Habitat for Humanity International as well as 84 of its U.S. affiliates, according to reporting from the Associated Press. The donation again re…
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Mar 22, 2022
Large-Scale Giving For Ukraine & Crypto Giving Acquisition (news)
nonprofit news for the last week of March 2022.
Russia Ukraine War Galvanizes Large-Scale Global Giving
According to survey research reported by The NonProfit Times, approximately one quarter of Americans said they’ve donated to charities addressing the war in Ukraine. Nearly two-thirds of the remaining Americans surveyed say they planned to donate soon. While grassroots giving continues to drive momentum, alternate forms of giving are soaring. An NFT of the Ukrainian Flag launched by a member of the band Pussy Riot raised $6.75 million for the country, in a sale organized by Ukraine DAO. Corporations and companies are donating too, even Fortnite video game creator Epic Games will donate all in-game transactions directly to United Nations relief efforts.
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Crypto-Donation Platform The Giving Block Joins Forces with Shift4
The Giving Block and payment processing company Shift4 are teaming up launch the “biggest crypto philanthropy campaign series in history,”…
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Mar 15, 2022
292: (news) Census undercount & Oligarch Philanthropy Problem
Nonprofit news for the week.
2020 Census Undercounted Hispanic, Black, & Indigenous Communities
According to reporting from The New York Times, the 2020 United States census undercounted hard-to-reach communities and disproportionately undercounted Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous Americans. The count was affected not only by the logistical hurdle of counting during the height of the pandemic but also due to attempted political interference by the Trump administration. While experts note that “historically, undercounted populations that are harder to reach through surveys, phone calls and door-to-door canvassing, including Native Americans on reservations, poor urban communities and undocumented immigrants,” the undercount could still affect the political clout of traditionally underserved communities.
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Analysis Shows Russian Oligarchs Gave Millions To U.S. Nonprofits, Museums, Universities
An analysis conducted by the Washington Post shows that Russian olig…
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Mar 8, 2022
291: (news) Historic Refugee Crisis & $80M Crypto Donation Response
As Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Becomes Historic In Size, Elements of Media Coverage Criticized For Ahistoric Framing
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war enters its second week, the size and scope of the refugee crisis has spiraled into a full-scale disaster of historic proportion. The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has grown dire as reports of the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure have grown into nearly indisputable evidence of war crimes. However, certain media outlets’ framing of the conflict in juxtaposition to the Middle East has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism for “normalizing” violence in non-Western countries. Additionally, while the generosity of European countries taking in refugees should be lauded, international observers have criticized reports that suggest discrimination of ethnic minorities and non-Ukrainian nationals at border crossings.
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Crypto-Donations To Ukraine Surpass $80 Million
As the world watch…
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Mar 1, 2022
290: (news) Invasion of Ukraine Triggers Humanitarian Catastrophe
Russia Invades Ukraine, Triggers Full Scale War & Humanitarian Catastrophe
Early Thursday morning, Russian ground troops launched an all-out war against Ukraine, with the assumed intention of overtaking the entire country and overthrowing its government. Here are 5 key takeaways from the NGO and humanitarian perspective:
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees now estimates half a million Ukrainian refugees have entered neighboring countries, especially Poland, Hungary, & Romania.
According to the Ukrainian military, hundreds of Ukrainians, including civilians, have been killed. Calls have been made to gather evidence of war crimes to be presented to the International Criminal Court.
Doctors Without Borders, known for often being the first to arrive and last to leave during the conflict, announced they were forced to “halt [their] activities” in Ukraine
Patreon Suspends Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive For 'Funding Military Activity'
The World Food Programme estimates that…
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Feb 23, 2022
289: (news) DOJ Headaches & Public Benefit App
DOJ Rules On Foreign Agent Registration Could Cause Headaches For Nonprofits
According to reporting from Axios, the U.S. Department of Justice’s new proposed rules regarding foreign agents and influence could cause major headaches for nonprofits. The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), aims to minimize the influence peddling of foreign countries and organizations, however some advocacy groups assert that an “overzealous” application of the rules could have serious repercussions. Major groups including the NRDC, ACLU, and AFP have delivered warnings to the DOJ during its open comment period. Foreign funding of policy think-tanks in particular have come under intense scrutiny over recent years.
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Nonprofit Helps Families Access Public Benefits Left On The Table
Patrice Berry, a nonprofit entrepreneur, has built an app that helps folks access public benefits that they often didn’t know they have. An estimated $60 billion in public assistance is left on the t…
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Feb 15, 2022
287: (news) Nonprofits Prepare for Ukraine Evac & Volunteer Shortage
Weekly news for the nonprofit sector.
Nonprofits & NGOs Prepare As The Russia Ukraine Standoff Becomes Dire
As the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, the nonprofit organization Project Dynamo has announced it is preparing for the potential emergency evacuation of Americans from Ukraine. The organization, initially formed to aid in the evacuation from Afghanistan, is just one of many civil society and NGO organization focused on preparing for the fallout of a potential war. The Russian military has approximately 140,000 troops surrounding Ukraine on all but its western border. On Friday, the U.S. government advised all American citizens to leave the country within 48 hours. While official intelligence publicly referenced by the U.S. notes that an invasion is not certain, that intelligence has assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has assembled the necessary military force to launch an attack should he chose to do so.
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The Great U.S. Volunteer Shorta…
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Feb 8, 2022
285: (news) Don’t GoFundMe in Canada & Crisis at Textline Around Data Sharing
Weekly nonprofit news summary from hundreds of sources.
Crisis Text Line Ends Data-Sharing Relationship With For-Profit Entity
As reported by Politico and other outlets, Crisis Text Line has ended its data sharing relationship with for-profit spin-off organization Loris.ai, which uses data to inform customer service software. Crisis Text Line, which uses a text-based approach to provide crisis support to those contemplating self-harm or suicide, stated that while “the data is handled securely, anonymized and scrubbed of personally identifiable information,” “we have ended our data-sharing relationship with Loris.” The change came amid criticism from privacy experts and lawmakers including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Crisis Text Line is a former client of Whole Whale, the publisher of this newsletter.
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GoFundMe At Center Of International Dispute Over Funds To Anti-Vaccine Mandate Trucker Protests
As anti-Vaccine mandate protests led by truckers ha…
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Feb 1, 2022
282: (news) Nonprofits VS Spyware & National Blood Shortage
Pegasus Spyware Poses Major Threat To Civil Society Globally
In a detailed post released last week by Human Rights Watch, the global advocacy organization details the exact ways that its Crisis and Conflict director was targetted by the Pegasus spyware “five times between April and August 2021.” The breach was “peer reviewed” by Amnesty International’s Security Lab, where it was determined that hackers had used a “zero-click exploit,” which means that no action has to be taken by the victim to initiate the breach. The sofwtare, made by the company NSO Group, has been purchased by multiple governments. Reporting by the New York Times uncovered that the FBI had purchased the software before deciding not to use it.
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National Blood Donation Crisis
Arizonans are working hard to organize blood drives, amid a national blood donation crisis. The American Red Cross estimates that a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives are partially able to expl…
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Jan 25, 2022
282: (news) NGO Capital for Capital Rioters & Red Cross Hack
Nonprofit news for the week of Jan 24th, 2022.
‘Red Flags’ At Nonprofit Backing U.S. Capitol Rioters
Experts see lots to worry about with the far-right endorsed Patriot Freedom Fund, a registered nonprofit organization fundraising money to support people charged with crimes involving the events of January 6th, 2021. As reported by NPR, the fund, led by an avid supporter of the U.S. Capitol rioters, and backed by far-right nationalists (chiefly Steve Bannon) , is sourcing donations using cryptocurrency. However, many nonprofit experts and even backers themselves are upset with the lack of transparency, lack of independent oversight, and potential failure to meet legal requirements. Laurie Styron, chief executive of rating organization CharityWatch, said the fund would undoubtedly receive a failing grade.
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ICRC Data Breached By Hackers
As reported by The NonProfit Times, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements have been targeted…
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Jan 18, 2022
281: (news) Thousands Serve on MLK Day & A Classy Acquisition
Nonprofit news summary.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Draws Thousands To Community Service Across Country
From Des Moines to Portland to Charleston and everywhere in between, thousands of volunteers across the country participated in a national day of service, often in partnership with local-based nonprofit and community organizations. MLK Day is the only federally-recognized national day of service and is usually focused on helping local communities. This Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day also saw renewed calls for commitments to civil rights ideals from community leaders and activists.
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Acquisition of Classy By GoFundMe Represents Continued, Fast-Paced Consolidation Of Nonprofit Fundraising Space
As reported by The NonProfit Times, nonprofit fundraising platform Classy has been purchased by the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe. We encourage readers to read the full report in The NonProfit Times. Over $1.1 billion was raised on the Classy platform in 2021…
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Jan 11, 2022
279: (news) PE Firm Acquires Nonprofit Tech & PEW 2021 Data
Nonprofit News for mid January.
Acquisition of Network For Good, Backed By Provide Equity Firm, Rolls Up Numerous Nonprofit Technology Products
The same venture firm that brought EveryAction, Social Solutions and CyberGrants under one corporate roof has added Network For Good to its roster. The as yet unnamed umbrella firm is being funded by UK-based private equity group Apax Partners LLP. As reported by The Nonprofit Times, “terms of the deal were not disclosed but industry experts estimated the addition to be worth north of $300 million and a combined value in the neighborhood of $3 billion for the combined operations.” Network For Good operates both a tax exempt organization and a B Corps tech company that manages the CRM. Coupled with EveryAction’s recent acquisitions, EveryAction, Salsa Labs, GiveGab, Mobilize, Social Solutions, CyberGrants and other nonprofit tech platforms now are all backed by the same PE firm representing a consolidation of the space.
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Jan 4, 2022
278: (news) Nonprofits Salary Struggles & Franklin A. Thomas Legacy
Nonprofit News summary.
Nonprofits Struggle To Compete With For-Profit Businesses For Staff
Amid rising inflation, rising wages, decreased unemployment, and the so-called “great resignation,” nonprofit organizations are struggling to maintain and hire staff, according to reporting from The New York Times. While for-profit businesses lost more jobs during the pandemic, the nonprofit sector has struggled more to rehire, according to recent data. Total nonprofit employment was 4.8% below pre-pandemic levels, compared with for-profit companies that see just a 1.5% gap. Amid higher costs of living and other external factors, nonprofits are often struggling to offer wages to maintain or rehire staff, due largely to fixed and limited financial resources.
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Summary
Franklin A. Thomas, Pathbreaking Ford Foundation President, Dies at 87 (NY Times)
How the merger of United Way and other organizations will impact Knoxville nonprofits in 2022
Russian Cou…
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Dec 21, 2021
276: (news) log4j Nightmare Before Nonprofit Christmas & Jobs Report
Nonprofit news in December.
Nonprofit Job Gains Slow As Sector Approaches Pre-Pandemic Employment Levels
According to data from the Center for Civil Society Studies (CCSS) at Johns Hopkins University as reported by the Nonprofit Times, nonprofit job growth slowed in November but shows that most nonprofit categories are expected to achieve near full employment by the end of the year. While nonprofits have recovered nearly 70% of lost jobs since the beginning of the pandemic, there remain approximately 485,000 missing jobs (of the initial 1.64 million lost). Nonprofit arts and entertainment organizations have seen the slowest recovery, down 13% of their jobs compared to before the pandemic.
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What To Know About The Log4j Vulnerability
Nonprofit open-source software organization Apache Software Foundation has announced a vulnerability that, left unresolved, poses a glaring cybersecurity threat across global commercial, corporate, and government networks. The Lo…
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Dec 14, 2021
275: (news) ‘Troll Philanthropy‘ and For-Profit Activism
Weekly news from NonprofitNewsfeed.com
Elon Musk Dubbed “Troll Philanthropist” In New York Times
Elon Musk’s high-profile brush with the typically staid world of philanthropy is generating waves. Famously getting into a public ruff with the World Food Programme (WFP) over how much money it would take to “solve world hunger,” one researcher at the Urban Institute notes that Musk “doesn’t seem to care much about using his philanthropy to curry public favor.” Within large public conversations about the role of philanthropy, effective altruism, and corporate social responsibility, Musk’s role in shaping that conversation is noteworthy.
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Patagonia CEO Represents New Movement In For-Profit Activism
Not to be outdone by Musk’s philanthropic adventures, Patagonia’s new CEO Ryan Gellert has reengaged the outdoor retailer’s commitment to bold actions on climate and sustainability. Patagonia, a B Corporation (like Whole Whale, the creators of this…
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Nov 30, 2021
271: (news) Beware #GivingTuesday scams & Toy inflation impact
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com summary of the week.
This Giving Tuesday Eve, Beware of Scams!
On this day before Giving Tuesday, consumers are being asked to be on the lookout for scams. The Better Business Bureau has published a guide to making informed decisions about donating. Nonprofits should make this process easy for prospective donors by being transparent, proving credibility, and making donation gateways safe, secure, and easy to navigate. If your organization has a seal of approval for a major charity rating organization, making that easy to ascertain can be a big step towards making donors feel secure about donating to your cause.
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Supply Chain Disrupting Toy Donations Going Into Holiday Rush
In Minnesota, global supply chain issues are disrupting the delivery and donation of toys this holiday season, according to the Star Tribune. The pandemic economy has spurred vulnerabilities in the supply of toys and other essential goods, while pushing the price…
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Nov 16, 2021
268: (news)
Nonprofit News summary
Prediction: GivingTuesday To Generate Over $3 Billion In Donation Revenue
Nonprofit digital marketing agency Whole Whale predicts that for the first time ever, GivingTuesday will generate over $3 Billion in revenue. While 2020 saw unprecedented charitable giving in the throws of the pandemic, the agency predicts revenue will surpass that record. “Based on our analysis that incorporates an adjusted linear regression, trends in Google Search terms around “Giving Tuesday,” and national giving trends, we predict that $3.048 Billion will be raised on Giving Tuesday 2021. This will be a 27% or $648 million increase over 2020’s record-breaking $2.4B.” (Disclosure that Whole Whale is the creator of this newsletter)
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Food Pantries Feeling The Brunt of Inflation & Supply Chain Issues
Food pantries across the country are feeling the brunt of both supply chain issues and higher costs of food going into the holiday season, according to local r…
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Nov 9, 2021
267: (news) Infrastructure $ for Nonprofits & COP26 Pledge Updates
Nonprofit News for 11/8/2021
Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes, Includes Energy Updates For Nonprofits
The $1-trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Friday, to become one of the most significant investments in infrastructure in U.S. history. The bill includes provisions for helping religious and nonprofit organizations update the sustainability of their spaces and buildings, according to reporting by Haaretz. “The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act in the bipartisan infrastructure bill fixes that by providing critical funds for nonprofits to upgrade decades-old buildings with inefficient heating and cooling systems, lowering energy costs and reducing their environmental impact,” according to Elana Broitman, the senior vice president for public affairs at the Jewish Federations of North America. The funding includes up to $50 million in grants as part of the program.
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Governments and Private Foundations Ann…
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Nov 2, 2021
265: (news) Climate on Agenda & Nonprofit Ad Spending Study
nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Climate Takes Center Stage At COP26 Summit In Glasgow
The world’s attention is focused on Glasgow this week as the global COP26 climate conference begins. With world leaders like Joe Biden and Narendra Modi in attendance, the summit will again push collective climate action to the forefront of a global conversation about sustainability. The summit, which has drawn lots of attention including from grassroots activists, is seen by many as a follow-up to the previous meeting of this scale held in Paris. This summit represents one of the rare instances where nations, NGOs, and International Organizations meet to collectively debate the next steps for addressing the climate emergency. Notably absent are the leaders of China and Russia, two of the top four climate emissions emitters.
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The 2021 Nonprofit Advertising Benchmark Study: $12k is the mean
Certified B Corps digital agency Whole Whale, the creators of this fine newsletter, have relea…
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Oct 26, 2021
263: (news) Whistleblower Aid vs Facebook & Amnesty out of Hong Kong
Nonprofit news for the week of Oct 25th, 2021
Hong Kong nonprofits are forced to leave and Facebook Whistleblower is supported by nonprofit.
Amnesty International Forced To Pull Out of Hong Kong
International human rights organization Amnesty International has announced that it will be pulling its operations out of Hong Kong, according to a press release. The decision comes on the heels of Hong Kong’s controversial new national security law, which makes it incredibly difficult for groups like Amnesty to operate. The law, which was introduced in June of 2020, has already been used to crack down on non-violent political protest and stifle civil society and other activist groups. According to reporting from The Guardian, more than 35 other civil society groups have also been forced to shut down under the threat of arrest. Amnesty says local offices will close by the end of the month while its regional headquarters will shut down by the end of the year.
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Nonprofit…
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Oct 19, 2021
261: (news) Volunteers kidnapped & Breast Cancer Fraud
Nonprofit news for the week of October 18th, 2021
Nonprofit Fundraising Off Of Breast Cancer Has “Deep Ties” To Scam PAC Groups
In an investigative report done by OpenSecrets and The Daily Beast, the nonprofit The American Breast Cancer Coalition appears to be a “scheme to extract millions of dollars in donations, mostly from small donors.” Since the organization was launched two years ago it has brought in nearly $3.5 million, most of which gets kicked back to a telemarketing company that was fined $56 million last year for fraud. The group is not a 501(c)3 but is instead registered as a special type of PAC, which allows it to skirt the usual legal and financial transparency requirements. This particular case represents a broader trend of sketchy political groups masquerading as honest charities, according to the report. The FBI has a handy list of tips for avoiding charity scams during the holidays.
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U.S. Missionaries & Aid Workers Kidnapped In Haiti
16…
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Oct 12, 2021
259: (news) Nonprofits Helping Afghan resettlement and Indigenous community Reparations
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Nonprofits On Front Lines of Afghan Resettlement Seek More Foundation & Government Support
Nonprofits on the front lines of helping the thousands of Afghan refugees settling in the United States say that they need more financial support to continue to provide services for resettlement. Many of these organizations, accustomed to relatively limited numbers of people who need assistance, have gone into overdrive to help refugees who have been coming to the U.S. over the past several months. However, because these refugees are being admitted primarily through a process called “humanitarian parole,” they receive almost no federal assistance beyond a one-time $1,200 stipend. Organizations carrying out the bulwark of the resettlement work say that in order to provide for so many people who arrived with almost no possessions, they will need additional assistance.
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The “Land Back” Movement Brings Reparations To Indigenous Communities To The Fo…
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Oct 5, 2021
258: (news) Changes at Change.org and NYC Housing self-dealing
October nonprofit news.
Jack A. Brown III And Other NYC Nonprofit Housing Executives Benefiting From Organizations They Run
A feature investigative report by the New York Times has found that Jack A. Brown III and other executives associated with homeless and housing nonprofits in New York City have derived significant personal financial benefit from the organizations they run. “An investigation by The Times, based on hundreds of pages of legal filings, business records and tax documents, as well as interviews with homeless people, city officials and shelter employees, found that under the cloak of charity, executives at nonprofits have collected large salaries, spent their budgets on companies that they or their families controlled and installed relatives in high-paying jobs.” The article goes on to highlight self-dealing, nepotism, and a disregard for the people who are supposed to benefit from NYC’s expansive homeless housing infrastructure. A government audit ordered…
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Sep 28, 2021
257: (news) Billions Pledged at UN & Crypto Giving Trend
The nonprofit news summary for the last week of September!
The Giving Block Expects To Process $100M In Crypto Donations In 2021
The Giving Block, a cryptocurrency giving solution for nonprofits, reports that it expects to process over $100 million in donations by the end of 2021. In a press release, The Giving Block estimates that 2021 has represented the highest amount of cryptocurrency donations in any year and expects to 2022 to be even higher. As the trend of major nonprofit organizations accepting cryptocurrency donations continues, fundraising professionals should expect and prepare for a rise in donations via crypto heading into the EOY and 2022, especially among millennials and Gen-Z. (Disclosure: The Giving Block is a client of Whole Whale.)
Private Foundations Announce Plans To Give $Billions Towards Food, Health, & Climate Projects At UN General Assembly
Private philanthropic foundations including the Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and others have anno…
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Sep 21, 2021
256: (news) Haiti Supply Chain Issues & Omaze lands $85M Funding
nonprofitnewsfeed.com
Global Supply Chain Shortages Disrupt NGO Operations In Haiti & Elsewhere
The New York Times reports that many nonprofit organizations and international NGOs are facing severe shortages of goods, disrupting their charitable operations. The global supply chain issues, largely attributed to the pandemic, have caused headaches for groups like the Haitian American Caucus, which provides the shoes at low cost to sellers in Haiti. “That pair of shoes represents so much more,” says executive director Samuel Darguin. “It represents a mother being able to send a kid to school, being able to afford health care and feed her family maybe two meals a day instead of one.” In the United States, nonprofit Soles4Souls, which also supplies the Haitian American Caucus with shoes, was forced to cut back its program to distribute shoes to homeless children in America.
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Sweepstakes Fundraising Platform Omaze Raises $85 Million in VC Funding
The lottery and…
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Sep 14, 2021
254: (news) Nonprofit Reality Show & 9/11 Day of Service
Nonprofit News for September 13th, 2021
Nonprofits Honor Anniversary of 9/11 With Day Of Service
On the 20th anniversary of the events of September 11th, 2001, nonprofits across the country have made the solemn day one not only of remembrance—but one of giving back to communities. The nonprofit 9/11 Day, started by two friends, one of whom lost a brother in the attacks, seeks to encourage positive acts of kindness throughout the country every September. “The whole idea of it is to ensure that each one of us every 9/11 take time to think about all we have in common,” says organization co-founder David Paine. “We're not as divided as we think we are,” he adds. 9/11 Day’s Executive Director Ryan Walls says that September 11th is the nation’s largest day of service, and that last year “about 29 million people took part in some act of service or charitable engagement."
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CBS Launches Reality TV Show “The Activist.” Activists Aren’t Happy.
A new reality…
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Sep 7, 2021
253: (news) HRC President Fired & Afghan Refugee Support
Nonprofit news from the sector.
Human Rights Campaign President Fired After Ties To Cuomo
Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, was ousted due to ties to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. After contentious internal decision-making, David was fired for his reported role in assisting Cuomo with responses to accusations of sexual misconduct. David, who insists he did nothing wrong, says that he supported bringing in an external law firm to conduct an investigation into his involvement with Cuomo’s office. David, a long-time advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, had been hired two years ago by HRC after previously serving as Cuomo’s chief counsel.
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Desire To Help Afghans Bridges Contentious Political Divisions
Across the country Americans, largely regardless of political affiliation, are mobilizing to support Afghan refugees fleeing the country after its takeover by the Taliban. In a rare show of bipartisan support aroun…
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Aug 31, 2021
252: (news) Hurricane Ida & Afghanistan Nonprofit Response
Weekly nonprofit news summaries.
Nonprofits And Volunteer Organizations Step Up in Wake of Hurricane Ida
After Category 4 Hurricane Ida made landfall in south Louisiana on Sunday, organizations on the ground are already stepping up to help their neighbors. The organization Shreveport Volunteer Network, a community-based emergency response coalition, has partnered with other local organizations like the United Cajun Navy to provide emergency response in the wake of the hurricane. One of the strongest storms to hit Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina, folks in southern LA will need disaster assistance and then a long-road plan to recovery. Learn more about organizations working to help here.
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Follow-Up: GoFundMe Campaign Helps More Than 300 People Flee Afghanistan
A viral GoFundMe campaign that we previously highlighted has successfully evacuated approximately 300+ people from Kabul, according to reporting from the Seattle Times. Two organizations that helped…
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Aug 24, 2021
251: (news) Afghanistan Fundraising & Nonprofit Democracy Report
Viral Fundraiser For Afghans Pits Bountiful Generosity Versus A Logistical Nightmare
A GoFundMe hosted by an “Instagram personality” has generated well over $5 million in funds in an effort to support the airlift of vulnerable people attempting to flee Afghanistan. Only one problem — organizing an evacuation from a war zone isn’t exactly easy. The funds are slated to go to a group called Raven Advisory, which has a history of providing security support in Afghanistan. According to a spokesperson, “The funds raised are being used to engage trusted aircraft, crews, and security operations teams. The focus will remain on extracting as many people as possible as quickly and as safely as possible.” Additional unspent funds are said to go to the nonprofit International Women’s Media Foundation. However, some experts are more pessimistic, asserting that any efforts will run smack into the U.S. Immigration system. The labyrinthine process of obtaining a visa (necessary for…
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Aug 17, 2021
250: (news) Afghanistan& Haiti – How Nonprofits are Responding
Nonprofit News for the week of 8/16/2021
Earthquake Rattles Haiti, Nonprofits & NGOs Step Up In Shadow of Previous Quake Response
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Haiti over the weekend, a devastating blow for a country already in the midst of a severe political crisis. The quake, the epicenter of which was located west of Port-au-Prince, initially seemed less catastrophic as it occurred in a less densely populated area, but the emergency need still exists. While the last earthquake response generated unprecedented levels of giving (as well as scrutiny of the effectiveness of vast sums raised) the need again exists for disaster response. Major disaster response organizations, like Americares, already have campaigns set up to direct aid. This Massachusetts-based but local Haitian organization is one of many established local organizations that are well-equipped to help communities on the ground. The Chief Executive of the organization, Mission E4, says that "organizations who…
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Aug 4, 2021
249: (news) Half of U.S. Gives & ASPCA Overhead Questions
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
ASPCA Faces Criticism Over Programming Expense Ratio
The ASCPA, known as one of the largest and most publicly visible animal welfare nonprofits within the United States, is facing criticism highlighted in this CBS News spot over how it spends its donations. According to the report, only 47% of all donations go towards programs that directly help animals, while the rest goes to “public education,” “fundraising,” and “management.” The ASPCA gained notoriety for its heartbreaking TV commercials of animals in need, but according to some perspectives, these advertisements don’t tell the full picture of how that money is being spent. Of the 2 billion raised since 2008, the ASPCA gave only 7% of the total raised to local SPCA affiliated local groups, while a much larger percentage goes to national fundraising campaigns.
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New Report Shows Less Than Half of U.S. Households Donate To Charity
In a report from the Indiana University Lil…
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Jul 28, 2021
247: (news) Bezos Blasts Off Donation & Nonprofit Trust Report
Nonprofit news for the week of 7/26/2021.
Bezos Blasts Off Into Space, Donates $200 Million
Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and the world’s wealthiest human, has announced a $200 million donation to the activist Van Jones and humanitarian chef José Andrés. The money, with no strings attached, was part of Bezos’ new “Courage and Civility Award.” Bezos announced the award shortly after returning to earth from a ride to space via his aerospace company Blue Origin’s spaceship.
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New Report On Trust In Civil Society Released
The report, published by Independent Sector, finds that trust in institutions overall is declining across America, and that nonprofits and philanthropic organizations are not immune from this trend. While overall trust remains high, residents with lower income, lower education levels, and those who live in rural communities contributed to the downward tick in trust. Gen Z also exhibited decrease metrics when it comes to these inst…
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Jul 20, 2021
246:(news) Nonprofit Closure Trend & Steph Curry Joins NinetyToZero
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com
200 Nonprofits Close In Minnesota, Indicative of Larger Trend
Between April of 2020 and March of 2021, 186 nonprofits stopped operations, according to data from the state of Minnesota. Hundreds of other nonprofits are believed to have downsized operations dramatically, indicating a substantial trend. Health, arts, and religious organizations were hurt most substantially. While this data only reflects nonprofits within Minnesota, Candid estimates that nearly one-third of nonprofits are in danger of closing within the next two years nationally. Coupled with record giving in 2020, this broad trend is indicative of an industry that’s slowly consolidating, as funding and resources increasingly flow to larger organizations at the expense of smaller organizations.
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Steph Curry Partners With Nonprofit Venture NinetyToZero To Bridge Racial Wealth Gap
NBA superstar Steph Curry has partnered up with the nonprofit project NinetyToZero, which seeks to bridge…
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Jul 13, 2021
245:(news)
Online Fundraising Platforms Face Fresh Scrutiny
New scrutiny is being applied to the donation fundraising tactics of political fundraising platforms. After a New York Times expose highlighting potentially deceptive practices was released in April, fresh criticism has come in the form of an open inquiry being led by four democratic state attorneys general. The inquiry is into both the Republican platform WinRed and the Democratic platform ActBlue. Nonprofits, particularly those in the political and advocacy spaces, should watch this narrative closely as new rules may arise regarding how campaign-affiliated companies and organizations can procure online donations from the public.
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FrontlineSMS Closes After 15 Years
The professional SMS messaging service FrontlineSMS has announced that it will be closing. The service, which provided users with a primarily free platform to communicate via SMS, will continue to be available as a free, fully open-source software on Windows…
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Jul 7, 2021
244: (news)Donor Disclosure Fight & NCAA Athletes Can Earn
Summary of nonprofit news.
Supreme Court Throws Out Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Law
Last Thursday the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 6-3 ruling that California could no longer require nonprofits to submit donor information to the state. Advocates of the law say it adds donor and transparency to the finances of organizations that may serve as a vehicle for unscrupulous influence, while Americans for Prosperity (which brought the case) argues that such donations are a first amendment issue. This case, like the landmark Citizens United v FEC before it, could make the job of watchdog oversight over not only nonprofit contributions but political campaign contributions harder to monitor.
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NCAA Allows Players To Profit Off of Name, Image, Likeness
A NCAA rule change, coupled with new state laws, has opened up the door for NCAA college-level athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, in a reset that will likely reverberate throughout the c…
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Jul 1, 2021
242: (news) Buffet donates Billions Leaving Gates & NFL Pride History
Nonprofit news for the week of 6/28/2021
Warren Buffett Gives Away $4.1 Billion To Charity, Steps Down From Gates Foundation
Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, has announced a donation of nearly $4.1 billion to charity. This donation comes on the heels of other massive philanthropic donations from wealthy individuals like MacKenzie Scott. Buffet has previously said he seeks to give nearly all his money away to philanthropic causes. Also last week it was announced that Warren Buffett would be stepping down from the board of the Gates Foundation, just weeks after the divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates.
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Raiders DE Carl Nassib Comes Out, Gives $100k To Trevor Project
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out last week, making him the first active NFL football player to come out as gay. In the announcement video, Nassib states his intention to donate $100k to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides crisis intervention and suicid…
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Jun 22, 2021
240: (news) 5% Rise in US Giving & Juneteenth Official
Nonprofit news summary for the week of June 22nd, 2021.
Charitable Giving Reaches All-Time High In 2020 - Report
A new Giving USA report says that U.S. charitable giving reached an all-time high of approximately $471 billion. Driven by factors such as an unprecedented pandemic and a broad reckoning over racial violence, giving increased 5.1% from 2019 to 2020 (3.8% when adjusted for inflation). Experts note that a strong finish by financial markets including the S&P 500 (changes in which track with changes in individual and foundation giving) likely contributed to the spike. While individual giving increased 2%, giving from foundations jumped nearly 17% year over year. While lots of nonprofits, especially civil rights organizations, saw increases in funding — arts, culture, and disease-specific organizations saw a decrease.Read more ➝
Juneteenth Now A Federal Holiday
Congress has overwhelmingly approved a bill making Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday. With a 415-14…
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Jun 15, 2021
239: (news) DAF legislation & Nonprofit Wins Pulitzer
Nonprofit news summaries for the week of June 14th, 2021.
Featured product: A new Inclusivity Language Tool from Whole Whale. Helping organizations check their websites for inclusive language.
New Federal Legislation Aims To Speed Up Donor Advised Funds’ Impact To Charities
New proposed legislation introduced by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) seeks to speed up the process by which donor-advised funds (DAFs) would be disbursed to nonprofit organizations. While controversial within certain philanthropic circles, the Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act would establish timeframes for DAF distribution and new rules for DAFs, including both 15 and 50-year options.
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Chicago-based Journalism Nonprofit Wins Pulitzer
The Invisible Institute, a nonprofit news organization based out of the south side of Chicago, along with the staffs of The Marshall Project, Alabama Media Group, and The Indianapolis Star, have won a coveted Pulitzer…
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Jun 8, 2021
237: (news) Direct mail price hikes & OpenSecrets.org Launches
Nonprofit news summaries for June 7th
Direct mail price hikes and a push for transparency in politics by nonprofits.
USPS Price Increase May Lead To Headache For Nonprofits
The United States Postal Services (USPS) has filed for an increase in prices averaging nearly 6.9% system-wide, according to the Nonprofit Times. As many nonprofit organizations still rely on direct mail strategies for reaching donors, the average increase of 7.8% for Nonprofit Marketing Mail (NMM) could prove to be disruptive for organizations seeing slim net fundraising revenue from mail outreach. A decrease in mail volume of over 28% over the last decade has put the USPS in an awkward position, forcing it to balance public service with ever-decreasing revenue.
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Political Data Transparency Nonprofits Merge To Form OpenSecrets
Two leading “money-in-politics” accountability nonprofits, the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP), have mer…
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Jun 2, 2021
236: (news) Nonprofits in Tulsa & USAID Russian Hack
Nonprofit News for the week of June 1st, 2021.
Tulsa Massacre After 100 Years: Nonprofits Part Of Efforts To Bring Justice
The Tulsa massacre, one of the most egregious examples of racial violence in American history, marks its 100th anniversary. After “Black Wall Street” was destroyed by mobs of white supremacists, efforts to bring justice are underway. The Oklahoma Archaeological Survey, associated with the University of Oklahoma, will begin work to find, identify and preserve victims’ remains. The nonprofit Centennial Commission is building a historic center to preserve the oft-overlooked history of the massacre, though the organization has drawn criticism for not providing reparations to victims directly. Events and programs marking the 100-year milestone include a visit to Tulsa by President Biden to meet with survivors.
Russian-Backed Hack of USAID Leaves NGOs Potentially Compromised
Russia state-backed hackers are believed to have breached USAID’s external co…
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May 25, 2021
235: (news) Carbon Capture & Fighting Voter Suppression
Weekly nonprofit podcast news.
Nonprofit Fights Carbon Emissions With Financial Marketplace
University of Chicago professor Michael Greenstone has created a nonprofit called Climate Vault, which could revolutionize how we offset carbon emissions in the marketplace. Using the current cap and trade infrastructure to its advantage, the organization seeks to redirect capital to environmentally-conscious startups in exchange for “pollution permits.” The goal is to merge financial profit with environmental sustainability in hopes of driving investment in products that help the planet in the long-run.
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Nonprofit Advocacy Groups & Native Tribes Team Up To Combat Voter Suppression
New voting legislation in Montana, which critics cite as an attempt to suppress the vote of indigenous communities, is facing a legal challenge from a joint effort of multiple tribes and nonprofits. The tribes challenging the legislation include the Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and…
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May 18, 2021
233:(news) $1B Meme Coin Donations & Nonprofit job report
Weekly nonprofit news updates.
Crypto Billionaire Donates $1 Billion In Meme Coin To India
The founder of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, announced that he has donated approximately $1 billion in the meme coin Shiba Inu to nonprofit organizations battling COVID-19 in India. The announcement comes at an interesting moment as philanthropists are increasingly taking up cryptocurrency and disbursing the digital coins to nonprofits. While the volatility of cryptocurrency raises many questions about such donations, nonprofits should increasingly pay attention to this trend as cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream.
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Nonprofit Jobs Report Shows Net Increase But Less Significant Growth
With the increase in jobs, the nonprofit sector has recovered half of total jobs lost because of the pandemic, according to a new report based on data from the Center for Civil Society Studies (CCSS) at Johns Hopkins University. In line with national job statistics, job g…
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May 11, 2021
232:(news) Gates Foundation Divorce & Vaccine Awareness work
Nonprofit News Summary
Bill & Melinda Gates File For Divorce
After 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates have filed for divorce, rocking one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the process. The Gates Foundation, which began working with providing internet to libraries, now manages nearly $5 billion in annual grants and employs nearly 1,600 people, tackling problems all over the world. The organization has recently given nearly $1.6 billion to fight COVID-19 globally. The New York Times quotes Megan Tompkins-Stange, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, who notes that “the foundation’s $50 billion endowment is in a charitable trust that is irrevocable” that “cannot be removed or divided up as a marital asset.” She says that while change may come, she doesn’t see this “as a big asteroid landing on the field of philanthropy as some of the hyperbole around this has indicated.”
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Nonprofits & Foundations On The Fro…
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May 4, 2021
230:(news) Redistricting Battles & Thinning Girl Scout Cookie sales
Nonprofit News for the week of May 4th, 2021
Democratic Nonprofit Sues Ahead of Potential Redistricting Fight
Off the heels of a contentious and troublesome 2020 census, the next political fight shaping up with substantial impact might be redistricting. Acknowledging these tense political battles yet to come, a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit National Redistricting Action Fund, associated with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, is filing lawsuits in an attempt to make the results of any political impasses fair. While the specifics of the case or complex, nonprofits and advocacy groups should know that redistricting can significantly impact both national and local politics for a decade. Redistricting alone could mean the difference between a Democrat and GOP - controlled House of Representatives, according to experts. The politics of redistricting are such that in most cases, states themselves decide who ends up in a particular district, actively franchising and disenfr…
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Apr 27, 2021
228:(news) SCOTUS Deciding on Donor Privacy & Marijuana Funding for Nonprofits
NonprofitNewsfeed.com Summary of nonprofit news from the week of April 26, 2021.
Supreme Court To Hear Nonprofit Fundraising Case With Broad Implications For Sector
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a case on donor transparency and fundraising with the potential for broad implications for both traditional nonprofits and political organizations. The case centers on a dispute about whether California can mandate that tax-exempt organizations report its top donors to the government. While in theory this reporting would be confidential, the case has broad implications about whether the government can and should track contributions to tax-exempt organizations. This case in some ways tackles an issue similar to the landmark Citizens United v. FEC case of 2010, which greatly changed campaign finance rules and allowed for the greater flow of “dark money” into 502(c)4 political organizations, according to critics. Politicians of both parties are split over their opinion of the…
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Apr 20, 2021
227:(news) Homeless Hotels & Nonprofit Jobs Rise
NonprofitNewsFeed.com Summary of news for April 19, 2021,
California Program Pays To Convert Hotels Into Homeless Shelters
California’s new Homekey program will spend nearly $600 million to buy hotels and motels and convert them into homeless shelters. The program is a positive step for both addressing issues of homelessness as well as aiding a hospitality industry hit hard by the pandemic, giving owners the chance to sell properties for a good cause. The state received $550 in federal coronavirus funds, and will include nearly $50 million in general state funds.
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Nonprofit Jobs Soar In March
March saw an 8.9% jump in nonprofit jobs, according to a new report published by The Center for Civil Society Studies (CCSS) at Johns Hopkins University. The additional 81,000 jobs represent the largest monthly rebound of jobs in the sector since August of last year. All nonprofit fields saw gains, with education leading the way with an additional 45.6k jobs. Despite the gains,…
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Apr 13, 2021
225:(news) Fraud to the left, Fraud to the right
Nonprofitnewsfeed.com summary of the week of 4/12/2021
GOP Fundraising Platform Under Fire for Deceptive Donation Forms
A recent New York Times article highlighted the potentially deceptive nature of fundraising forms hosted on the GOP’s WinRed donation platform, resulting in the Trump campaign having to issue nearly $122 million in refunds and causing a spike in fraud complaints to banks. These donation landing pages were criticized for aggressively pushing users to become recurring donors by automatically checking off a “Make this a monthly recurring donation” box (a practice not limited to GOP fundraising). The onus on the user to “opt-out” of a recurring donation is being criticized as unethical, especially as the forms became increasingly difficult to navigate as the election drew nearer. The blowback aimed at the campaign, from its own supporters no less, should give pause to any organization seeking to dupe its donors.
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Multiple Alleged Nonprof…
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Apr 5, 2021
223:(news) Capitol Riot Fundraising & Good Econ Signals For NGOs
Weekly nonprofit news summary from the best sector.
Positive Economic Indicators Welcome News for Nonprofits
Positive economic predictors should be good news for nonprofits after a challenging year, according to experts. GPD, regional economic indicators, unemployment, government spending, and changes in the stock market are all indicators that might predict the fiscal health of nonprofits. While every nonprofit’s revenue stream and expenses are different, a growing economy might be a macro-level predictor of a less-grueling year for the nonprofit sector.
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Extremists Raise Funds Through Direct Giving
Increasingly, extremist and hate groups are fundraising through direct giving platforms. With a rise in the popularity of direct giving, extremists, Neo-Nazis, and other hate organizations are raising funds with increasingly minimal surveillance. "It's so predictable, and it's never going away," said Megan Squire, a computer science professor at Elon University.…
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Mar 30, 2021
222:(news) Restrictive Voting, #StopAsianHate, & DAFS
Weekly summary of nonprofit news.
Restrictive Voting Legislation In Georgia Indicative of Larger, Concerning Trend
Last week, Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed into law a restrictive voting bill decried by voting rights advocates and the President alike as “Jim Crow in the 21st century.” The new legislation comes less than three months after Raphael Warnock was elected as the first black U.S. Senator from the state. A legal complaint filed by multiple voter activation and progressive advocacy groups says that the new law levies “unjustifiable burdens disproportionately on the State's minority, young, poor, and disabled citizens.” The Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks restrictive voter laws, counts over 250 restrictive voter laws being pushed through state legislatures. Restrictions to voting could mean the difference between a federal government that prioritizes a fiscal stimulus the size of the American Rescue Plan and one that doesn’t.
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C…
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Mar 22, 2021
219: (news) NYC and ICE need to spend millions for nonprofit support
Weekly NonprofitNewsfeed.com summary with hosts Nick Azulay and Kariesha Martinez from digital marketing agency WholeWhale.com.
NYC Owes Homeless Nonprofits Millions In Unpaid Invoices
The City of New York owes its homeless nonprofit organizations over $150 million in unpaid invoices, according to a survey of homeless shelter operators. Catherine Trapani, the executive director at Homeless Services United, the umbrella organization that represents shelter operators, says “there needs to be a recognition of just how on the precipice of a system’s failure we are.” The crisis comes as the city faces its own struggles with cash flow due to the pandemic.
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ICE Signs $86.9 Million Contract With Nonprofit To House Migrant Families
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has signed an $86.9 million contract to house migrant families at the border. The contract is with Texas-based nonprofit Endeavors, and will provide up to 1,200 beds as a short-term housi…
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Mar 16, 2021
218: (news) $1B Stimulus for AmeriCorps + Rise in Giving Trend
2020 Saw 10% Jump In GivingAccording to the Quarterly Fundraising Report, nonprofit fundraising was up 10% overall in 2020 compared to 2019. While this represents the highest volume of donations in 5 years, donor retention continues to drop (approximately by 4%), even after new donors are acquired or re-activated. A decline in retained, repeat donors... Read more »
The post 218: (news) $1B Stimulus for AmeriCorps + Rise in Giving Trend appeared first on Whole Whale.
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Mar 9, 2021
216:(news) $61k for a tent and what $1.9T stimulus means for nonprofits
Whole Whale discusses current nonprofit news from NonprofitNewsFeed.com
$1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Passes With Expansion Of Unemployment Benefits And PPP
The Biden administration’s new COVID Relief bill has passed the House and Senate, clearing the way for approval of an expansive new bill designed to expand unemployment benefits, the federal PPP, as well as support for vaccine distribution and fiscal relief for states. This critical piece of legislation expands the definition around non-profit entities entitled to PPP loan assistance, while providing additional protections and relief around housing, paid leave, and access to healthcare.
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Why Is San Francisco Paying $61k For Tents For People Who Are Homeless?
The city of San Francisco is paying upwards of $61k to provide a tent for folks experiencing homelessness. The tent shelters, provided by the city in response to the threat of COVID-19 exposure and increasing pressure to address systemic homelessness…
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Mar 2, 2021
215:(news) Are billionaire gifts really gifts, and how nonprofits may be the future of news.
WholeWhale.com Hosts Kariesha and Nick discuss the week in nonprofits to kick off March.
CEO Calls Billionaire Philanthropy A ‘PR Scam.’
Dan Price, founder and CEO of credit-card payment company Gravity Payments, says that billionaire philanthropists who donate lots of money in return for glowing reviews and good press is “one of capitalism’s biggest PR scams.” In Washington state, billionaires pay 3% of their income on taxes while the poor pay 18%, says Price. In response to a proposed wealth tax, Price adds that “the amount [billionaires] donate is a fraction of what they would pay if their tax rates were in line with the working class.”
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Newsrooms Around The Country Are Turning To A Nonprofit Model
News organizations across the country are embracing a nonprofit model at an increasing rate, according to the Institute for Nonprofit News, a consortium of nonprofit journalism organizations. The organization had a record 28% in membership growth…
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Feb 23, 2021
214:(news) Nonprofit Revenge Giving for Rush Limbaugh & Nonprofit Job Trends
Hosts Kariesha and Nick discuss nonprofit news highlights from 2/22/2021.
Revenge is a powerful emotion when used for giving and forgiving?
Viral Fundraiser Highlights Real Impact of Revenge Giving
Rage giving is all the rage. When Tommy Marcus, a 25-year-old University of Michigan graduate learned of Rush Limbaugh’s death, he felt it appropriate to donate to Planned Parenthood. After a screenshot of his donation to the organization went viral, the fundraiser generated more than $1.2 million from more than 44,000 donors.
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Nonprofit Jobs Not Expected To Recover for Two Years
According to a study released by Johns Hopkins University, it may take up to two years for the job market within the nonprofit sector to fully recover. Industry jobs are still short of February 2020 levels by more than 950,000.
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✅ The Summary...
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Feb 17, 2021
213: (news)GoFundMe Charity shutting down, CEOs resigned and removed
Nonprofit News Summary from NonprofitNewsFeed.com
Hosts Nick, Kariesha, and George from WholeWhale.com discuss a week in nonprofit news.
GoFundMe Charity is being shut down
GoFundMe Charity will end support for third-party integrations and the public Application Programming Interface (API) after March 31, 2021. "The shuttering of GoFundMe Charity is concerning for many nonprofits, said Megan Anhalt, chief strategy officer at consultancy WholeWhale. The move “makes us question whether GoFundMe will be a reliable home for nonprofits moving forward,” she said."
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Open CEO positions
Following the sexual harassment allegations at United Way Worlded, CEO Brian Gallagher resigned and Bronx Parent Housing Network founder Victor Rivera was terminated last week.
And for very different reasons, Robin Hood Foundation's CEO Wes Moore announced that he is stepping down on a high note after leading the foundation to one of its best years in history raising…
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Feb 9, 2021
212: (news) Abuse At Homeless Shelter, Racketeering, and Puppy Bowl helps shelters
Weekly nonprofit new summary with hosts Kariesha and Nick from Whole Whale, a social impact digital agency.
More info on how donor-advised funds work from our podcast.
Reminder: just because an organization is a 501c3, doesn't mean it is scandal-free.
New York Times Reporting Spurs Investigations Into Abuse At Homeless Shelter Nonprofit
After a New York Times investigative report revealed allegations of sexual assault and harrassment against a prominent homeless shelter CEO, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has ordered a formal investigation. The allegations against Victor Rivera, CEO of the Bronx Parent Housing Network, come from ten women and are now being investigated by an outside firm. DeBlasio wrote on Twitter, “Victor Rivera must understand that no, he is not untouchable.”
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Political Nonprofit Charged With Federal Racketeering Pleads Guilty In Bribery Scandal
A political nonprofit has pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charge…
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Feb 2, 2021
211: (news) Nonprofit Job losses, Giving Blck and Money making mittens
NonprofitNewsFeed.com
Hosts Kariesha and George talk through the top Nonprofit industry stories of 2/1/2021
Nonprofit Sector Still Seeing Net Loss of Nearly 1 Million Jobs
The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies has released a new report that shows that nonprofit employment is still well below pre-pandemic levels. While the sector has recovered from its losses of nearly 1.64 million layoffs last spring, the industry is still facing a deficit of 929,000 jobs compared to before the pandemic. In fact, nonprofits lost 50,000 jobs in December, signaling that recovery will be a long time coming.
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$2B Gap Exists In Giving To Black-led Organizations
Despite trends in increased levels of giving in both 2019 and 2020, the racial giving gap continues to remain large. In 2019, only 4% of grants and contributions went to organizations with a Black, Indigenous, or Latino/a/x leader. To further highlight this disparity, “combined funding to Black communities ma…
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