Big Donor Influence and the Marijuana Campaign

Plus, three children’s hospitals land big gifts; and Promoting Trust in Elections Is Crucial to Bridge-Building Work (letter to the editor) ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. MAJOR PHILANTHROPY [Can Big Donors Ever Move the Needle on Controversial Causes? Lessons From the Long Marijuana Campaign]( By Marc Gunther [STORY IMAGE]( The 50-year movement to legalize cannabis was funded by a handful of very rich and ideologically diverse philanthropists, including Hugh Hefner, George Soros, and Sean Parker. ADVERTISEMENT GIFTS ROUNDUP [Three Children’s Hospitals Land Gifts Totaling More Than $155 Million]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, Drake and Hofstra universities also landed huge sums, along with Jupiter Medical Center Foundation. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [Promoting Trust in Elections Is Crucial to Bridge-Building Work]( An article missed a key element of nonprofit efforts to strengthen democracy — establishing faith in elections. WEBINARS [Tomorrow, 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. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A perennial shortage of immigration lawyers has become critical as migrants have entered the country in record numbers over the past few years. There are 1,413 undocumented people in the United States for every charitable legal professional, by one count, and only about 30 percent of migrants can secure a lawyer to represent them in court, according to another think tank study. The shortage has put many asylum seekers with legitimate claims at risk of being deported. ([New York Times]( Background from the Chronicle: [Foundations and Government Team Up to Pay for Legal Help for Immigrants Facing Deportation]( California’s first Black land trust, the 40 Acre Conservation League, has bought 650 forested acres north of Lake Tahoe. The nonprofit wants to turn the property not just into a conservation area but also to a haven for Black nature lovers, who traditionally have not had equal access to the country’s undeveloped spaces. ([Los Angeles Times]( More News - Judge Shuts Down More Fake Child Nutrition Nonprofits in Minn. ([Fox 9]( - Youngkin Vetoes Measures to Remove Tax Breaks for Confederate Heritage Group ([New York Times]( - God Inc. — Church Startups Spread Franchise Model Across U.S. ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) - How a Lancaster Charity Linked to a Private Christian College Influences Public School Policy in Pa. ([Lancaster Online]( - Julián Castro’s New Mission: Helping Latinos Help Themselves ([NBC News]( - NRA Kicks Off Annual Meeting as Board Considers Successor to Longtime Leader Wayne LaPierre ([Associated Press]( - After Buyout Offer, KQED San Francisco Will Make Further Staff Cuts. ([Inside Radio]( Big Gifts - Billionaire Philanthropist Gives $1,000 Each to Umass Dartmouth Grads ([Boston Business Journal]( - Background from the Chronicle: [How Billionaires Found Joy With $1 Million Gifts to Small Nonprofits]( - Calif. Couple Who Got Rich Off Clif Bar Donate $550 Million ([Forbes]( Melinda French Gates - Melinda French Gates’s $12.5 Billion Creates Path to Unrestricted Giving ([Bloomberg]( - Melinda French Gates, the Philanthropist Pursuing Her Own Passions ([Financial Times]( — subscription) 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 EXECUTIVE TIPS [Leaders’ Advice for Other Leaders]( By Ben Gose [STORY IMAGE]( Nonprofit chief executives share their secrets for managing stressful jobs and staying motivated. LEADING [How to Create a Culture of Fundraising on Your Board]( By Lisa Schohl [STORY IMAGE]( You shouldn’t assume trustees know how to raise money simply because they joined your board, experts say. Here are nine ways to build a board that prioritizes fundraising — and help them succeed. PHILANTHROPISTS [Melinda Gates’s $12.5 Billion Separation Agreement Is a Windfall for Women’s Causes]( By Alex Daniels and Stephanie Beasley [STORY IMAGE]( While she is widely expected to devote billions to women’s causes, she has been undertaking other efforts that could be just as consequential for philanthropy. Plus, read about [Monday’s announcement](. 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](. [Director of Donor Engagement]( Woodland Park Zoo [Chief Advancement Officer, College of Fine Arts]( Carnegie Mellon University [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