The Accidental Charity Leader Who Defies Volunteerism's Downturn

Meet ex-screenwriter and community-service powerhouse David Levinson. Plus, tips for how volunteering can bring people together. [Philanthropy Today Logo]( This is a special weekly edition of Philanthropy Today featuring stories and content from [The Commons](. You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. If you no longer want to receive the Philanthropy Today newsletter, [unsubscribe](. From The Commons DEMOCRACY [Can Your Volunteer Program Bring America Together? This Screenwriter-Turned-Charity Leader Thinks So.]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( The nonprofit Big Sunday is defying the downturn in volunteerism as it pursues founder David Levinson’s dual mission: community service that builds community. ADVICE [6 Ways a Volunteer Program Can Burst the Bubbles We Live In]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( One tip from a charity leader with a 25-year track record of success: Ask those on the receiving end of charity to help, too. Of the Moment Noteworthy news and items: - Zach Rausch, lead researcher for social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s new book, The Anxious Generation, outlines in a [Substack column]( how the decline of community at the local level has contributed to the high rates of anxiety and depression among teenagers. - [A forum]( by the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins examined how the proliferation of political advertising, paid campaigns, and marketing strategies has reshaped contemporary political discourse. Among the political pros on hand: strategist Jennifer Palmieri, a senior adviser at Emerson Collective, and Mark McKinnon, a political analyst and co-founder of the No Labels political organization. - Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is out [with an issue]( that explores how to attract talented and civic-minded people to public service. Few good people, the editors note, run for office when politicians and politics are hated. Contributors include Sarah Hunt of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, Daniel Stid of Lyceum Labs, and Layla Zaidane of the Future Caucus. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Webinars [June 18 and 25 (June 4 on demand) | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for Build a Thriving Nonprofit Culture, a series of three, 75-minute online sessions designed for leaders of small nonprofits who want to create a vibrant organizational culture to attract and retain top talent from all backgrounds. You’ll get strategies and tactics for creating a positive work environment from the inside out — without breaking the budget. The complimentary registration includes three sessions: Create an Inclusive Nonprofit Culture | Attract, Motivate, and Retain Top Talent | Foster a Culture of Well-Being. All sessions will be recorded and available on demand. Editor's Picks OPINION [How French Gates’s $12.5 Billion Could Move the Needle for Women]( By Amy Schiller [STORY IMAGE]( To change the economic and social structures that harm women, she should invest in caregiving, reproductive rights, and cultural change. OPINION | DEI UNDER ATTACK [Civil Rights Are Under Siege. DEI 2.0 Is the Answer]( By Gara LaMarche [STORY IMAGE]( Philanthropy needs to emerge from its defensive crouch and unleash a bold and creative response to DEI attacks. OPINION [How the Fearless Fund Ruling Distorts Charity, History — and Law]( By Roger Colinvaux [STORY IMAGE]( The wrongheaded decision should not dissuade nonprofits committed to racial equity from doing their critical work. [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