Tokens of Appreciation Can Motivate Lapsed Donors, Study Finds

Plus, why Americans shouldn’t look to foundations to save democracy (opinion); and Henry Kravis's $100 million gift to his former prep school ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. FUNDRAISING [When a Warm Glow Isn’t Enough: Donors Respond to Tokens of Appreciation, Research Says]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( When people who aren’t already deeply motivated by a cause know they’ll get something in return, they are more likely to donate, the research found. OPINION [Big Philanthropy to the Rescue? Think Again.]( By Jeff Cain [STORY IMAGE]( Americans shouldn’t look to nondemocratic, publicly unaccountable foundations to save democracy. GIFTS ROUNDUP [Financier Kravis Gives $100 Million to His Long-Ago Prep School]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, Bowling Green State University received more than $76 million to help ensure that students who are struggling financially will graduate in four years with little debt. WEBINARS [May 9 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( What does it take to create a vibrant culture of fundraising among board members? Join us for How to Get Your Board to Raise Money to learn from two veteran fundraising executives how to solve this perennial challenge. They’ll explain how to build a board that suits your organization’s goals, match individuals’ skills to different roles, set new board members up for success, and create a fundraising tool kit that empowers board members to raise money. [May 21 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Unlocking the full potential of a donor database can help fundraisers identify donors and giving opportunities with the greatest potential, segment supporters into groups and tailor messages to their interests, and take gift prospecting to the next level. Join us on Tuesday, May 21, for Using Data to Boost Giving to learn how to better manage and analyze donor data to reveal the stories it can tell to make fundraising at all levels more strategic. SPONSOR CONTENT | Classy [Fundraising Strategies for a Digital Age]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online At Brown University, a plan to have a board vote in the fall on protestors’ demands to end investments linked to Israel has outraged some donors, while others credit it with defusing the current crisis and allowing graduation ceremonies to proceed — though they vow to pull their money should the board vote for divestment. ([New York Times]( Software billionaire Marc Benioff’s grand scheme to plant or conserve 1 trillion trees globally by 2030, inspired by a 2019 research paper that made enormous claims for trees’ role in fighting climate change, has hit less than 15 percent of its target, although exact figures are impossible to come by. Those who have signed on measure their contributions in various ways — trees planted, trees not cut down, reforestation acres pledged, money committed, etc. — and verification is problematic. Benioff said he stands by the plan. ([Bloomberg]( More on Campus Protests - University Endowments Show Few Signs of Direct Israel, Defense Holdings ([Washington Post]( - Billionaire Donor Assails Brown’s ‘Unconscionable’ Deal With Protesters ([New York Times]( - Israel Divestment Is a Legal Risk for College Trustees ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - Activist Groups Trained Students for Months Before Campus Protests ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - Pro-Palestinian Protesters Are Backed by a Surprising Source: Biden’s Biggest Donors ([Politico]( More News - $400-Million Boost in Federal Funds for Security at Places of Worship ([Associated Press]( - Plus: Bomb Scare Emails Target NYC Synagogues, Brooklyn Museum ([New York Daily News]( - Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries receives Presidential Medal of Freedom ([Los Angeles Times]( - No Drug Education: The Rise and Fall of DARE ([Filter]( - King Charles’ Longtime Charity Celebrates New Name and U.S. Expansion at New York Gala ([Associated Press]( - Global Citizen NOW Urges Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa and Youth Outreach ([Associated Press]( Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS CAMPUS CONFLICT [The Donor Revolt Comes to Annual Giving: Israel, Gaza, and Campus Unrest]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( As colleges prep for commencement and reunion season, rank-and-file supporters issue ultimatums, pledge to withhold donations, and boycott events. HIGHER EDUCATION GIVING [Mega Gifts Are Funding University Tuitions. Which Students Do They Help?]( By Stephanie Beasley [STORY IMAGE]( In 2018, Michael Bloomberg gave $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to enable academically qualified low- and middle-income students attend his alma mater. The impact of this and other tuition-related gifts is becoming clear. RESEARCH & DATA [Did a $100 Million Effort Reduce Homelessness? The Results Are In]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( San Francisco’s Tipping Point Community pooled big private money to halve chronic homelessness in five years. A new study finds the effort failed to reach that goal, but lessons for philanthropy-government collaborations are rich. SPONSOR CONTENT | The California Endowment [California Communities are at the Center of Health Transformation]( Discover what these organizations are doing to advance an anti-racist health system, address community conditions that lead to poor health outcomes, and foster robust ecosystems of care and belonging. RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — Many nonprofit leaders are overlooking a treasure in their midst: the donor database. Unlocking the full potential of a donor database can: prioritize giving opportunities that have the greatest potential; enable fundraisers to segment donors into groups and tailor messages to their interests; and take donor prospecting to the next level. Join us on Tuesday, May 21, at 2 p.m. ET to learn how to better manage and analyze donor data to reveal the stories it can tell and make fundraising, at all levels, more strategic. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](. [Major Gifts Officer, Portland Museum of Art]( Portland Museum of Art [Annual Gifts Officer, Portland Museum of Art]( Portland Museum of Art [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037