Vote.org Turmoil: a Chronicle Investigation

Plus, where should the nonprofit world stand on campus protests? (opinion); and Luis Miranda, Jr. talks about his family's giving ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. INVESTIGATION [Turmoil at Vote.org]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( The voter-registration group once promoted by Taylor Swift has been wracked by resignations, layoffs, and regulatory lapses. Former employees think the CEO is to blame. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Where Should the Nonprofit World Stand on Campus Protests?]( By Eboo Patel [STORY IMAGE]( Stop romanticizing student demonstrators against the war in Gaza, and start encouraging them to reexamine their strategy. Q&A [Luis Miranda Jr. Reflects on Giving, the Arts, and His Son Lin-Manuel in the New Memoir ‘Relentless’]( [STORY IMAGE]( Miranda spoke to the Associated Press about how he and his family have dedicated themselves to lifting up Latino communities through giving. WEBINARS [Today: 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 | The California Endowment [California Communities are at the Center of Health Transformation]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A donor who last week announced a $237 million gift to Florida A&M University is the same person whose $95 million pledge to a South Carolina school four years ago quickly fell apart. Gregory Gerami, a wealthy hemp farmer from Texas, said he has already transferred the gift in the form of stocks, which the university will convert to cash, but inconsistencies in Gerami’s accounts of his wealth and background continue to fuel skepticism about the donation. ([Myrtle Beach Sun News]( Plus: Florida A&M donor, CEO speaks out after skepticism around record $237 million donation ([Tallahassee Democrat]( The storied American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles dissolved in March on the eve of its 60th anniversary, having launched some illustrious musical careers. The nonprofit orchestra, which fell victim to plunging donations, soaring costs, and board burnout, could not finish its season amid a financial crisis that its director of development said had made its traditional model unsustainable. ([Los Angeles Times]( Plus: Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles: A New Home for Young Talent Pursuing a Career in Music ([Los Angeles Times]( More News - Project Roomkey: Lessons Learned From a Massive Program to Save the Lives of Homeless People ([Los Angeles Times]( - Student Who Raised $400K for D.C. Homeless Man Refunds Money to Donors ([Washington Post]( - BLM Nonprofit Says Tides Foundation Mismanaged $33 Million ([Bloomberg Law]( - This Nonprofit Has Spun Over 150 startups Out of the University of New Mexico. Here’s How It Works. ([New Mexico Inno]( - Why Two Young Philanthropists Are Building a New Media Ecosystem ([Transom]( - Exclusive: Tech Heavyweight Launches Philanthropy Firm ([Axios]( - Politicians and Nonprofits Will Struggle to Keep A.I. in Check — But Corporate Boards Can’t Afford to Fail ([Fortune]( - Inside Wytham Abbey, the £15 Million Castle Effective Altruism Must Sell ([Bloomberg]( Opinion and Analysis - A Disturbing National Security Bill Could Silence Nonprofits and College Protests ([Hill]( - Do No Harm–and More Good: When Healthcare Giants and Elite Universities Stray From Their Mission to Do Good, Should These Nonprofit Titans Lose Their Tax Privileges? ([American Purpose]( 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 INDIVIDUAL GIVING [The $230 Billion Donor-Advised Fund Industry Gets an IRS Hearing]( By Stephanie Beasley [STORY IMAGE]( Congress and the Biden administration are considering what should be done to crack down on donor-advised funds, an increasingly popular way for donors to set aside money to spend on charitable causes. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP [A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable]( By Ben Gose [STORY IMAGE]( 96% of the leaders in the Chronicle’s exclusive survey report a high level of job satisfaction. But the demands are relentless. GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION [Is a House Panel Providing Charity Oversight or ‘Ideological Policing?’]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The Republican chair of the House Ways and Means Committee has raised concerns about donations from the Tides Foundation to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its associated foundation. ADVERTISEMENT 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](. 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