Gates Foundation Spends $200M on Futuristic Toilet: Daily News Roundup
Poor sanitation kills half a million young children a year and costs $200 billion in health care and lost wages. Plus, emails suggest interior secretary Ryan Zinke continued to be involved in discussions of his family foundation’s property despite his pledge to recuse himself; billionaires are using their influence and donations to back candidates in favor of expanding charter schools; donors support University of Maryland president in controversy over football player’s death, and more.
How Political Differences Affect Philanthropy: Daily News Roundup
The more competitive the area, the less people give, a new study finds. Plus, a GoFundMe campaign for the Tree of Life synagogue has raised $1 million; the former Gates CEO Patty Stonesifer is stepping down from Martha’s Table; a white man is suing a Detroit museum of African-American history, saying he was fired because of race; and a representative for George Soros says he wants to appear on Fox News, but it won’t book him. Plus articles on giving and the election and nonprofits.
A strongly worded letter condemned the group for its efforts in the wake of football player Jordan McNair’s death. In other articles, new requirements for distributing federal funds to states for programs that help the poor has left a food pantry in Ohio struggling to keep up with demand; a Chicago psychiatric hospital is being investigated over reports that allege sexual abuse of children; and more articles about big gifts and grants and innovation.
Gates Foundation Is Holding Off On Work With Saudi Crown Prince’s Nonprofit: Daily News Roundup
It’s rethinking its work with the group in the wake of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. In other articles, Mark Zuckerberg saves $128 Million in Facebook holdings through regularly planned sale of stock to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; National Geographic takes a look at how the Wyss Foundation’s $1 billion pledge to environmental causes may be used; almost $1 million was stolen from Jewish a charity in Fort Worth, Tex.; plus more news and articles about innovation and arts groups.
Philanthropist Plans to Give $1 Billion for Conservation: Daily News Roundup
Hansjörg Wyss explains his decision in a New York Times opinion piece. In other articles, Google.org is giving $25 million to humanitarian projects that use artificial intelligence; UCLA got $25 million for Parkinson’s disease research; the Ford Foundation CEO discusses how the #MeToo movement strengthened his resolve to work toward a more just world; what’s wrong with philanthropists’ efforts to fix education; and more opinion pieces and articles on innovation and cultural groups.
Russian Operative Looked at U.S. Nonprofits’ Cyberdefenses in Graduate School: Daily News Roundup
As a student at American University, Maria Butina gathered information on media-freedom and human-rights groups. In other articles, people who live in politically divided counties give less to charity; Fifth Third Bancorp commits $2 billion more to greater Chicago; tech billionaires continue their fight over raising taxes to help the homeless; Rajiv Shah talks about the Rockefeller Foundation’s new areas of focus and strategies. Plus, more news and articles on innovation.
Shooter’s Rants on Social Media Were Aimed at Jewish Agency That Aids Refugees: Daily News Roundup
HIAS is one of nine agencies that has a contract with the State Department to help refugees acclimate to the United States. Plus, Muslims have raised $110,000 for the Pittsburgh synagogue victims; Parkland families are creating memorial funds and activist organizations in memory of those who lost their lives in the shooting; and much more about HIAS, big gifts and grants, and giving and the wealthy.
Paul Allen’s Sister Is Executive and Trustee of Late Billionaire’s Estate: Daily News Roundup
Jody Allen is the former CEO of Vulcan, her brother’s umbrella company. Plus, Trump’s lawyer says in court that nobody wanted Trump’s portrait so his foundation had to buy it; two trustees leave ‘More Than Me’ nonprofit and a donor suspends a contribution; a look at a basic-income approach to housing assistance; the American Cancer Society is allowing groups that raise money to put the names of loved ones on grants; and much more news and articles on ideas, opinions, and innovation.
Trump Foundation Faces N.Y. Attorney General in Court: Daily News Roundup
The grant maker is requesting a lawsuit be dismissed that alleges the organization along with Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr., and daughter Ivanka violated state and federal laws. Plus, the British arm of Oxfam has seen a spike in claims of sexual abuse; religious groups and atheists are clashing over a longtime tax break that gives religious leaders tax-free housing allowances, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually; and more news and features about cultural groups.
The bulk of the money will be in the form of loans and equity; $16 million will be philanthropy. Plus, some Mega Millions players say they would give to charity if they won; the D.C. attorney general begins an investigation into sex abuse by Catholic priests; U.S. regulators offer to help a new nonprofit drug company backed by some of the country’s top hospitals; after an explosive device was found in George Soros’s mailbox, his foundation denounces the “politics of hate"; and more.
Explosive Device Found Near George Soros’s Home: Daily News Roundup
No one was hurt; the motive was unclear. In other articles, the wife of the former president of the University of Oregon denies a new book’s claim that Phil Knight threatened to withhold funds from the university because of a dispute over workers’ rights; a $120 million gift from a Canadian company will create a foundation to support youths; and Ryan Murphy gives $10 million to a hospital that treated his then-2-year-old son for cancer. Plus, more about ideas and innovation and cultural groups.
Billionaire Is Devoting $100 Million to Curbing Drug Prices: Daily News Roundup
Former energy trader John Arnold’s focus on bringing down high prices has the drug industry rattled. In other articles, San Francisco’s tech leaders are in an uproar over a tax proposal to help the homeless; and at the Harvard admissions trial, emails were presented as evidence that the university favors people related to or of interest to big donors. Plus, additional news and features about sexual abuse at nonprofits, philanthropy under scrutiny, and more.
Nonprofits and Foundations Are Slow to Take Up E-Filing of Public Tax Documents
One third still choose paper tax returns over e-filing, IRS records show. Critics say transparency suffers as a result.
By Alex Daniels and Peter Olsen-Phillips
Charities Again Holding Galas at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Daily News Roundup
A few charities that stopped holding galas at the Florida resort last year due to the president’s controversial comments are planning events there this winter. Plus, legal experts say the Heritage Foundation’s efforts to train and influence law clerks raises ethical issues; two New York museums say they will not use Saudi money for programs on Middle Eastern art; Chinese-Americans are gaining prominence as U.S. donors; and more news and articles on giving, ideas and innovation, and obituaries.
Nonprofits Decry Latest Proposed Postal-Rate Increases
Some charities balked at a proposed 10 percent hike in the cost of a first-class stamp, saying they still rely heavily on mailings and that online revenue remains a small slice of their fundraising.
By Julian Wyllie
Contributor
Elaborate Scam Aimed at Women’s March: Daily News Roundup
The fake events posted on Facebook to exploit people’s interest in politics and protests originated in Bangladesh. In other articles, Opportunity Zones give the rich a way to get tax breaks for spending money in low-income areas; new data show how orchestras are segregated by gender; three George O’Keeffe paintings deaccessioned by the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, N.M., could fetch $30 million at auction; and more about big donors and ideas and innovation.