The Latest Industry Numbers on DAFs Are Yet Another Example of Selective Transparency

The Latest Industry Numbers on DAFs Are Yet Another Example of Selective Transparency

A new report on donor-advised funds, billed as independent, was another product of the philanthropic establishment. It speaks to a broader issue: overly rosy reporting of giving data by interested parties.

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Post-WeWork, the Neumanns Are Still Billionaires. Whatever Happened to Their Philanthropy?

Post-WeWork, the Neumanns Are Still Billionaires. Whatever Happened to Their Philanthropy?

Before being forced out of the company, Adam and Rebekah Neumann signaled some big philanthropic aspirations. They’re still very wealthy; did they continue giving?

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Beyond the Rhetoric: Why Donors Need to Match Talk with Action When It Comes to Unrestricted Funding

Beyond the Rhetoric: Why Donors Need to Match Talk with Action When It Comes to Unrestricted Funding

Talk about unrestricted grantmaking abounds these days, but are we really entering a new era of flexible funding? In this guest piece, fundraising leaders at four global human rights funds make a case that grantmakers should do more.

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Five Questions We Should Be Asking About Trust-Based Philanthropy

Five Questions We Should Be Asking About Trust-Based Philanthropy

Trust-based philanthropy is on trend but has experienced backlash recently. While some of these critiques seem to misunderstand its premise, there are valid questions worth posing about its goals and execution.

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More Than a Spokesperson: Why Foundations Are Prioritizing External Communications

More Than a Spokesperson: Why Foundations Are Prioritizing External Communications

Some funders prefer to operate far from the spotlight, but we’ve been noticing a lot of sophisticated communications teams at foundations lately. What do they do, exactly, and why do funders make this a priority?

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Improving Nonprofit Tech Can Be Tricky. Here's How One Funder Is Getting it Right

Improving Nonprofit Tech Can Be Tricky. Here's How One Funder Is Getting it Right

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program just announced an open call for applications. The growing program offers a useful window into the challenges surrounding nonprofit tech, and of the importance of funding it.

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Not Sure Where to Start With Participatory Philanthropy? There’s a New Tool to Help

Not Sure Where to Start With Participatory Philanthropy? There’s a New Tool to Help

Funders looking to become more participatory in their grantmaking are often uncertain about the next steps. Consultants Katy Love and Diana Samarasan have created a new self-assessment tool as a guide.

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Amid Attacks on DEI, This Tool Can Help Funders Further Their Own Journeys — and Push Back

Amid Attacks on DEI, This Tool Can Help Funders Further Their Own Journeys — and Push Back

CHANGE Philanthropy’s Diversity Among Philanthropic Professionals survey is perhaps the most in-depth instrument of its kind in the sector. It’s particularly apt this year as attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion escalate.

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Appreciating Altruism: Against the Backlash Against Philanthropy

Appreciating Altruism: Against the Backlash Against Philanthropy

Negative sentiment toward philanthropy is on the rise, largely tied, for understandable reasons, to surging wealth inequality. But IP’s Wendy Paris encourages us to set our cynicism aside and appreciate acts of generosity.

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With a Message for Funders, Advocates for Better Nonprofit Worker Pay Join Forces

With a Message for Funders, Advocates for Better Nonprofit Worker Pay Join Forces

Fund the People and Staffing the Mission, two of the leading organizations calling for better nonprofit salaries and working conditions, recently merged. Leaders hope the move will bolster their work and draw new backers.

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Foundation Assets Reach a Record $1.5 Trillion, Propelled by Investment Gains and Big Donors

Foundation Assets Reach a Record $1.5 Trillion, Propelled by Investment Gains and Big Donors

Estimates by FoundationMark show private foundation assets at an all-time high, having only just reached $1 trillion in 2019. Here’s a look at what’s driving the gains and why the trend toward a top-heavy sector isn’t going anywhere.

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As the Gates Foundation's Budget Balloons, More U.S. Grantmaking Should Be On the Table

As the Gates Foundation's Budget Balloons, More U.S. Grantmaking Should Be On the Table

Gates’ largest annual budget ever stands at $8.6 billion, but that’s just a starting point for what it might have to spend if it’s going to sunset. With so much room to maneuver, why not look into a broader range of U.S. causes?

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How a Philanthropic Advisor Helps Hesitant Wealthy Donors Level Up Their Giving

How a Philanthropic Advisor Helps Hesitant Wealthy Donors Level Up Their Giving

Erinn Andrews works with wealthy, but not super-wealthy clients who want to give more thoughtfully but lack the capacity to do so. Here’s how she gets these lagging but well-intentioned donors to step up their games.

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Funders Have a New Tool to Help Navigate the Fast-Moving AI Landscape

Funders Have a New Tool to Help Navigate the Fast-Moving AI Landscape

Philanthropy leaders and staff face the daunting task of deciding whether and how they should implement new artificial-intelligence-based tools. Technology Association of Grantmakers offers some new guidance.

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As We Enter a New Era of Checkbook Philanthropy, Can Donors Avoid the Pitfalls of the Old One?

As We Enter a New Era of Checkbook Philanthropy, Can Donors Avoid the Pitfalls of the Old One?

Giving without rigorous strategy or metrics was once the target of ridicule, but lately, we’ve seen a move toward more ad hoc forms of giving with few strings attached. Will this approach advance social justice?

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Philanthropy Made Easy: the Emergence of Donor-Advised Funds in Asia

Philanthropy Made Easy: the Emergence of Donor-Advised Funds in Asia

As they explode in popularity in the U.S., DAFs are also gaining steam on the other side of the Pacific. Guest author Natalee Hung discusses why Asian donors are primed for DAF giving, and how the rules around Asian DAFs differ.

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10 Funders to Watch in 2024

10 Funders to Watch in 2024

Several large funding institutions will be in flux this year and others are emerging as major players. Meanwhile, national and global events will put leading funders to the test. Here are 10 we’re watching closely in 2024.

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To Increase Trust in Philanthropy, We Have to Put a Stop to "Billionaire Shell Games"

To Increase Trust in Philanthropy, We Have to Put a Stop to "Billionaire Shell Games"

A report from the Institute for Policy Studies details how tax code loopholes are used to warehouse wealth. IP’s Dawn Wolfe argues that such practices not only keep money from reaching nonprofits, they undermine public trust.

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What Books Are Philanthropic Leaders Reading? Here Are 11 Great Picks From IP Interviews in 2023

What Books Are Philanthropic Leaders Reading? Here Are 11 Great Picks From IP Interviews in 2023

We’ve interviewed dozens of funding leaders, and we often ask for the last great book they read. Here, we compile their responses from conversations in 2023 into one handy and riveting list.

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Philanthropy Awards, 2023

Philanthropy Awards, 2023

As we say our goodbyes to another year of philanthropic highs and lows, it's time for our latest round of philanthropy awards: the 2023 IPPYs!

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