Charities Too Often Mislead With Impressive-Sounding Data. Donors Must Learn to See Past the Facade.
Relying on simple metrics to demonstrate a nonprofit’s effectiveness to potential donors creates a false narrative about how sustainable change happens.
By Robin Pierro
Contributor
Jeff Bezos Says Giving Is Hard. That Trope Goes Back to Andrew Carnegie
When invoked too zealously, it can deflect attention from what grantee leaders often find most difficult about philanthropy: a lack of urgency, a failure to deliver resources expeditiously, and the imposition of burdensome restrictions.
By Benjamin Soskis
Contributor
End the Charitable Tax Exemption and Remove the Conflict of Interest Baked Into Big Philanthropy
At a time of growing distrust in philanthropy and stagnant or declining giving, it’s no longer tenable to maintain a system that allows donors to reap rewards through the nonprofits they fund.
By Jeff Cain
Contributor
How Grant Makers Can Help State Policy Makers Advance Smart Approaches
This month, a new crop of young elected leaders is stepping into power in state houses and city council chambers nationwide. Philanthropy needs to invest in programs to help them do their jobs effectively and fulfill the promises of the campaign trail.
By Tom Perriello and Karundi Williams
The Risks and Rewards of Sharing Power With Your Community
What does it look like to partner with those whose expertise comes largely from lived experiences? An early-childhood program shows why bringing parents to the decision-making table was critical to its work.
By Mia Halthon and Ira Hillman
2 Years After Jan. 6 Insurrection, Philanthropy Must Help America Envision a Better Future
Donors need to learn to behave like good ancestors. That means instilling a future-oriented mind-set into grant making and imagining a more positive version of the nation and democracy.
By Suzette Brooks Masters
Contributor
Let’s Address the Real Reason Great Fundraisers Are in Short Supply
Too often, nonprofits force development officers to grovel for donations from the rich, rather than emphasizing how to connect people in a community to support an organization’s mission.
By Lisa Pilar Cowan and Michelle Flores
The emergence of text generating artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT could significantly change philanthropy — for better or worse.
By Daniel Hadley
Contributor
Philanthropy Buzzwords 2023: A Window Into Uncertain and Unstable Times
This year’s list reflects a world struggling to address the climate crisis, conflict, and the innovations and dangers posed by technology.
By Lucy Bernholz
Contributor
In 2022, the nonprofit world faced a multitude of problems, including high inflation, a likely decline in giving, and a scandal engulfing a leading proponent of effective altruism. But a report looking at the last 30 years of philanthropy spotlights a resilient and ever-evolving field.
By Leslie Lenkowsky
Contributor