Donor-Advised Funds Buck Recessions; $1 Billion Donor Schwarzman Says More to Come

[Philanthropy Today] [Billionaire Stephen Schwarzman Explains What’s Next After $390 Million Giving Spree]( By Ben Gose The Blackstone financier placed a big bet on the study of artificial intelligence and landed at No. 4 on the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s ranking of the top donors. PREMIUM Plus, see our entire [Philanthropy 50]( special report. Individual Giving [Grant-Making From Donor-Advised Funds Is Strong During Recessions, Study Finds]( By Julian Wyllie The researchers say donor-advised funds give money at a far higher rate than some other studies suggest. PREMIUM Communications and marketing [A Model for Expanding Monthly Giving]( By Lisa Schohl Charity: Water adapted a strategy created for startups that offer subscription services to attract monthly donors, keep them engaged, and motivate them to recruit others. PREMIUM More Tools and Resources Plus see more than [1,000 other items]( elqTrackId=ef03d6e7b66044da9241906cbe61a8b7 elq=ab38d599858047b1b3e50997c9caca91 elqaid=21865 elqat=1 elqCampaignId=10653&elq=71227d6075224922bcd7d7600e363e60&elqaid=22348&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=11005) in our resource center, exclusively available to subscribers. PAID FOR AND CREATED BY OMIDYAR NETWORK [Moving Beyond the Trade-off Debate]( How can impact investors move beyond the debate over financial return versus social or environmental impact? Omidyar Network worked with leading practitioners to show that investments are most effective -- and can create bold and lasting change -- when they are made across the spectrum of return and impact. ADVERTISEMENT Improvements on the Way We want to let you know about some improvements we’re making to how we send our newsletters. In the next few weeks, Chronicle newsletters will be coming from a new address: newsletter@newsletter.philanthropy.com. If you use filters or labels, please update them with this new address. If you find your newsletters wrongly placed in your spam or junk mail box, please mark them as “not junk” to move them back into your inbox. Please email us at circulation@philanthropy.com with any questions or concerns. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Large gifts made up a bigger share of giving last year, thanks to changes to the standard deduction in the 2017 tax law. Contributions of $1,000 or more went up 2.6 percent in 2018, but gifts under $250 went down 4.4 percent, and the total number of donors dropped 4.5 percent, according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals. ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription). Plus, see the [Chronicle's coverage of the study]( cited in this article. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation has made $456 million from a modest investment it made in a drug company in 2013, according to one estimate. The hospital spun off the gene-therapy company, which was working on a treatment for a rare form of blindness, and Roche Holding AG is now buying it. ([Bloomberg]( A rabbi who had raised nearly $1.5 billion from evangelicals in support of Israel since 1983, died of a heart attack earlier this month. People will wonder if his daughter, who now runs the organization, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, will be able to match his fundraising prowess. ([Haaretz]( A nonprofit Pennsylvania reform school for boys has a long history of violence. Top leaders of Glen Mills Schools failed to vet and train counselors and ignored the complaints about beatings, according to internal documents, court records, interviews, and more. ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( More News and Opinion - N.Y. Proposal Would Shake Up Charity-Care Funding ([Crain's New York Business]( - Why a Changing Donor Base Might Finally Persuade Museums 'to Get Woke' ([Artnet]( - Mari Kuraishi Brings International Perspective to Jacksonville's duPont Fund ([Florida Times Union]( - The Whitney Biennial: 75 Artists Are In, One Dissenter Steps Out ([New York Times]( - Jussie Smollett Dropped from LGBTQ Charity Following Arrest ([Blast]( New Grant Opportunities Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to [GrantStation's]( database of grant opportunities. Among the latest listings: - [Climate change and health.]( The Kresge Foundation is supplying grants of up to $100,000 for efforts that mitigate the health effects of climate change and promote resilience at the local, regional, and state levels. (A second phase will provide multiyear project implementation grants.) Applicants that have never applied for a grant from the foundation must create an account by March 5 to begin their application online. Letters of intent are due March 19. - [Music.]( The Amphion Foundation funds nonprofit performing ensembles, presenters, festivals, and music service organizations that have a history of substantial commitment to contemporary concert music at a high level of excellence. In general, grants range from $1,000 to $7,500, although larger grants may be awarded. Applicants must have been in existence for at least two years and have completed two full seasons of programming. Applications from performing ensembles are due April 1. The deadline for presenters, festivals, and music service organizations is September 15. What Everyone Else Is Reading [Giving Did Not Keep Up With Inflation in 2018, Study Says]( Contributions of $1,000 or more picked up last year, but smaller gifts, new donors, and donor retention declined, according to a new report. PREMIUM ADVERTISEMENT [Nonprofits and Foundations Are Unintentionally Promoting Racism: Here’s How to Stop (Opinion)]( Words and images wield considerable power. All the more reason to get divergent views on communications that are the public face of an organization. [Understanding the Modern Family in Philanthropy]( Virginia Esposito, a champion of family foundations, talks about how they’re changing and what’s to come. PREMIUM [McGill Gets $200 Million for Scholarships: Gifts Roundup]( Plus the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Detroit Mercy, and University of Wyoming all received estate gifts. [All Donors Need More Education ­— Not Just the Wealthy (Opinion)]( People who give $10,000 to $100,000 a year find it nearly impossible to figure out where to give and how to donate effectively, says one philanthropist who tried everything she could to learn more. PREMIUM Learn How to Craft Enduring Gift Agreements Save 20% on Our Next Webinar No fundraiser wants to deal with a donor lawsuit or lose a hard-earned gift. Yet news accounts of wealthy donors reneging on multimillion-dollar pledges or filing lawsuits when things go sour drive home the need for gift agreements that can stand the test of time. Join the Chronicle on March 7 and learn from Richard Marker, a philanthropy adviser and former foundation leader, who will provide advice on how to help donors clearly define their expectations for a gift. He’ll share ways to determine what you can and should not promise in exchange for a donation and tips for properly articulating expectations in writing. You’ll also hear from Felicia Murphy-Phillips, a top fundraiser at Morehouse College. She’ll offer tactics for communicating regularly with donors — from the start of a relationship until long after a gift is made — to prevent pitfalls and ensure that your key supporters feel valued. [Sign up now]( so you can save 20 percent when you join us March 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Job Opportunities Find your next job in the Chronicle's jobs section, where employers have posted hundreds of the best career opportunities in the nonprofit world. Here are a few: [Vice President of Advancement]( New England College [Director of Regional Giving and Systems]( Educators for Excellence [Search the Chronicle's jobs database](. Subscribe Today [Get unlimited access]( to expert insight, tools, and practical advice. [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( [Stop receiving]( this email. [Sign up]( for other newsletters. [View]( our privacy policy. © 2019 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037