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.
Trump Is Shutting Down His Charity: Daily News Roundup
The decision has been made amid allegations that he used it for personal and political gain. Plus, Northwestern University got $50 million for artificial-intelligence study; small gifts are down since the new tax law took effect, but big gifts more than compensate; five ways giving is likely to change in 2019; an aid worker in Yemen discusses conditions there; seven considerations donors should keep in mind for year-end giving; and more.
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Hires Its First Investment Chief: Daily News Roundup
David Lee, managing director of Princeton University’s endowment, will oversee $10 billion. Plus, in the midst of her sold-out book tour, Michelle Obama attended a small workshop at a community group where she once worked; the Wall Street Journal reviews apps that teach children about giving; Ken Griffin talks about the $700 million he has given away and what attracts him to particular nonprofits; judging nonprofits by how much they spend on administrative expenses is flawed; and much 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.
Smaller Foundations Follow Through on Plans to Change Grant Making After Trump Election
However, a survey by Exponent Philanthropy also indicated that pessimism about the influence of philanthropy has grown during the past two years.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
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.
LeanIn.org May Have a Sheryl Sandberg Problem: Daily News Roundup
Women in Lean In movement see disconnect with Sandberg’s message; gay Christian issue roils churches, nonprofits in Seattle; concerns over new tax plan implications on alumni giving; and more.
A Devastating Rule for Migrant Families Could Become Law Soon (Opinion)
Monday is the deadline for public comments on a proposed federal law to keep immigrants from getting safety-net programs for food, health, and housing.
By Carol Larson
Contributor
Alumna Debra Perelman and her father, Ronald Perelman, are the donors. Plus, Virginia Tech got a $50 million to attract research scientists and boost growth in the region; a $50 million contribution to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures almost didn’t happen; a group called Entrepreneur Auction helps charities raise money by auctioning meeting with billionaires; the legacy of George H.W. Bush’s giving lives on in Portland, Maine, where a golf tournament raised money for charity; and much more.
$100 Million Gift to Help Refugee Kids: Daily News Roundup
The Lego Foundation gift to Sesame Workshop will allow it to intensify its work creating play-based educational opportunities. In other articles, the University of Southern California is facing a backlash from big donors after its interim president decided to force out a dean over his handling of accusations against faculty and staff; NPR CEO Jarl Mohn has announced he will step down in June; and much more news, plus articles about big gifts and grants, health care, and opinion.
Facebook Exposes Charities to Hackers: Daily News Roundup
Some nonprofit leaders say that as Facebook has introduced new fundraising tools, it hasn’t added appropriate customer support for groups that use its products. Plus, Hungary’s prime minister has forced the university founded by George Soros out of the country; St. Jude Hospital got $50 million from a biopharmaceutical company; a federal investigation is looking into possible corruption by former officials of a Missouri-based mental-health nonprofit working in Arkansas; and much 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.