Disruption Ahead: What to Know About Donor-Advised Funds in 2019
With Fidelity Charitable poised to become the country’s biggest grant maker, can charity fundraisers — or Congress — ignore the stockpiles of money in donor-advised funds?
By Drew Lindsay
Contributor
December 20: Trump Attacks N.Y. Attorney General Over Foundation Lawsuit: Daily News Roundup
President Trump lashed out at the New York attorney general who brought the suit against his foundation. In other articles, Steven Spielberg is expanding the mission of his Shoah Foundation to fight hate; the Justice Department has sued promoters of conservation easements, which it alleges use overvalued land appraisals; and much more news, articles on innovation; and opinions about the Trump philanthropy.
Benioffs Donate $15 Million to Children’s Hospital for Mental Health: Daily News Roundup
The gift is the last part of $50 million the couple had pledged to a hospital in Oakland, Calif. Plus, this year’s winner of the Nobel Peace Prize plans to start a fund for women victims of war-related sex crimes; a judge’s ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional could hurt the credit quality of nonprofit hospitals; two op-eds discuss the Trump Foundation’s closing, the New York attorney general’s lawsuit against the charity, and where its remaining assets should go; and more.
Spelman College Gets $30 Million Gift: Daily News Roundup
The contribution will go toward the Center for Innovation and the Arts. Also, giving to historically black colleges and universities has been up the past two years as the institutions have focused more on cultivating big donors. Plus, Save the Children was fooled by a sophisticated email scam into sending $1 million to a fraudulent account in Japan; as the Boy Scouts has tried to modernize, some of its efforts have backfired; and much more news and articles about big gifts and innovation.
Boy Scouts Considering Bankruptcy Filing; Google Donation Tool; Daily News Roundup
The potential chapter 11 filing would halt lawsuits against the organization for alleged inappropriate behavior by employees. In other articles, Google has added a donate feature for users of Android phones; the Senate voted to overturn a Treasury Department rule on donor disclosure; an Australian businessman who died last month left $4 billion to his charitable foundation; the Glide Foundation has been sued by its parent organization, the United Methodist Church; and much more.
Salesforce.Org to Include Schools in Its Philanthropy: Daily News Roundup
The organizaton is giving $2 million to train principals and teachers, unlike its past education gifts that have funded better technology and expanded programs. In other articles, nonprofit victims of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme are close to getting their money back; and much more on big donors, cultural organizations, and innovation.
IRS Softens Blow From Taxed Employee Perks at Nonprofits: Daily News Roundup
Under pressure, House leaders revisit taxing of benefits such as free parking and mass transit subsidies; proposed revisions of tax plan seek to reverse ban on political activity by nonprofits; how to spur people to give to charity by making it about them, and more.
Boy Scouts’ Recruitment of Girls Sows Confusion: Daily News Roundup
Membership rift in Scouting has girls and their parents wondering about the best fit; how the More Than Me charity gamed the internet and Hollywood; Wreaths Across America raise questions over self-dealings; why some hedge fund managers give to charity, and more.
Nonprofit Founder Made Millions Housing Migrant Children; Daily News Roundup
The founder of Southwest Key Programs may also have engaged in self-dealing with top executives. Plus, the National Rifle Association has awarded millions of dollars in contracts to people with close ties to the group; critics are noting that the American system that allows some wealthy philanthropists to build fortunes contributes to the social ills their gifts are attempting to alleviate; companies that use the “buy one, give one” strategy are now key to some entrepreneurs; and more.
Nonprofit Investment Returns Average Only 6.7%: Daily News Roundup
A 2009-16 study shows that they underperform even U.S Treasurys. Plus, charities are anxiously anticipating a drop in year-end giving because of the new tax law; a musician has announced a new foundation for prison overhaul; the president of Dillard University is chiding philanthropists for giving less to historically black colleges and universities; Mary’s Place, one of Jeff Bezos’s favorite charities, is launching a campaign to raise $2 million for a new shelter; and much more.
Giving to Hospitals and Other Health Institutions Grew 2.9% in 2017, Report Says
Organizations that had at least seven fundraisers did the best, the report noted.
By Timothy Sandoval
Contributor
Giving Rose 14% Last Quarter, Mainly Due to Big Gifts
Big donors have driven the growth so far this year, but nonprofits should be concerned that smaller contributors are giving less, researchers say.
By Timothy Sandoval
Contributor
Ford Foundation’s 2-Year, $205 Million Headquarters Makeover Is Complete: Daily News Roundup
The building has a soaring atrium and a saw-tooth skylight but also a smaller footprint with room for other foundations, plus a public art gallery and a touch-and-feel garden for the blind. Plus, the Trump administration’s Opportunity Zones could be a boon to distressed areas; Michael Bloomberg’s $1.8 billion gift to Johns Hopkins has prompted a variety of responses; Rhode Island prisons are working to get opioid treatment for inmates; and more about innovation and cultural groups.
Trump Administration Urged 4H Youth Group to Drop LGBT Policy: Daily News Roundup
The move helped lead to the CEO’s firing. Plus, housing units for homeless people provided by a New York City nonprofit are unsafe for children, according to a city review, and the group fails to see that residents get social services; a foundation CEO gets about $40,000 a year for working there two hours a week, according to a foundation report; giving circles account for a small fraction of charitable giving, but they’ve been on the rise; and much more.
How Academics, Nonprofit News Sites, and Government Can Collaborate to Inform the Public
Scholars want to spread their ideas, and policy makers want to demonstrate why colleges matter. When they work with news organizations, they can tell stories in more substantive ways.
By Global Reporting Centre
Contributor
Election Results May Give Charities a Shot at Tax-Law Changes
One immediate goal is to delay new taxes on nonprofit employee fringe benefits, and some see a shot at reopening the debate on letting all taxpayers deduct their charitable giving.
By Alex Daniels and Julian Wyllie