Lack of Trust in Nonprofits May Hurt Fundraising, Advocacy, Hiring

Plus, philanthropy can play a pivotal role in combating climate change (opinion), and see our guide to donor-advised funds [Philanthropy Today] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Please sign up]( to receive your own copy. Trends [The Nonprofit Trust Crisis]( By Ben Gose Chronicle contributor The public’s declining regard for nonprofits may hurt fundraising, advocacy, and hiring. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Opinion [Philanthropy Must Stop Fiddling While the World Burns]( [Image]( Lauren Rolwing for The Chronicle By Larry Kramer President of the Hewlett Foundation Climate change poses unprecedented pressures and burdens on philanthropy, says Larry Kramer, who leads the Hewlett Foundation. The stresses will grow exponentially in the coming years, ravaging the lives of generations unless we act to mitigate climate change now. Fundraising [A Guide to Donor-Advised Funds]( Donor-advised funds are an increasingly important and controversial force in philanthropy. This report compiles the Chronicle's best articles about donor-advised-funds, including efforts to more tightly regulate them, fundraising strategies, and opinion perspectives. Paid for and Created by Mercer [Top Investment Priorities for Endowments and Foundations in 2019]( As educational costs and philanthropically minded social programs continue to expand, it is important to review your allocation mix to understand the short- and longer-term expectations around performance during times of inflation. ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere A California charity for veterans has raised millions over the last two decades, but less than 10 percent of that has gone to its mission. VETS — Victory Ensured Through Service — gets a few thousand dollars a year while the telemarketing firm it uses, Zagar and Associates, keeps more than 90 percent of what it generates, documents show. Zagar, which was banned from operating in Oregon in 2001 for deceptive practices, is under investigation by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Carl Zagar, who runs the telemarketing firm, said he does little business with the charity. His business partner, Kurt Nielson, who runs a Zagar subcontractor, does not appear to be registered as a commercial fundraiser in California but insisted his business is legal. ([Sacramento Bee]( New York’s attorney general is investigating a charity run by lawmakers for allegedly neglecting to hand out scholarships to minority students. The New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators was founded in 1985 to promote education and leadership opportunities for African American and Latino youths. After repeatedly being criticized for failing to offer scholarships — and for spending most of its donations on an annual weekend of events — it recently changed its mission to “engaging New York State residents in dialogue.” Attorney General Letitia James has reportedly subpoenaed a civil court judge who used to chair the nonprofit as well as the charity’s accounting firm. ([New York Post]( A right-wing nonprofit that often echoes President Trump’s rhetoric and claims to monitor liberal corruption was rebuked by an Iowa elections official this week after making misleading claims about voter fraud. Judicial Watch issued a news release stating that eight Iowa counties had more registered voters than residents. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the author of that state’s law requiring voter ID, called the claim false. The error lies in comparing population data, which is at best two years old, to current registration data, which is regularly updated, and in looking at active as well as inactive registered voters, which Iowa separates out. ([Washington Post]( More News A Nashville Art School Will Purge All Non-Christian Faculty Now That It Has Been Taken Over by a Religious University ([ArtNet News]( Nonprofits Hurt by False Information Circulating on the Internet ([KX News]( Researchers Halt ‘Ineffective’ HIV Vaccine Trial Led by Fred Hutch With Gates Foundation Backing ([GeekWire]( Chiefs quart Celebrates Super Bowl Win by Paying for Dogs’ Adoption Fees ([Washington Post]( ‘I Lose Sleep Over This Building’: A Rush to Make Synagogues Safe ([New York Times]( Second Man With Ties to Mexico’s Largest Monarch Butterfly Reserve Found Dead ([Washington Post]( Leadership Southern Poverty Law Center Hires Amnesty Director as New CEO ([Associated Press]( Livestrong Foundation Gets Brand Revamp and New Mission ([Austin Business Journal]( How to Disrupt a Nonprofit Board (and How Not to Stand in the Way) ([Generocity]( Arts and Culture Classical Music Has a ‘God Status’ Problem in the MeToo Era ([Atlantic]( 45 Military Veteran Artists Urge Museum of Modern Art to Divest From “Toxic Philanthropy” in Open Letter ([Hyperallergic]( Tip of the Week To find new donors, invest in direct mail. Snail mail may feel old-fashioned, but it’s still one of the main ways people give. Although response rates to direct mail are dropping, and most direct-mail campaigns initially cost more than they produce, over the long haul these donors will more than cover your expenses. “Acquisition is an investment,” says Angela Struebing, former president of CDR Fundraising Group. “You’re not going to make money in your first mailing. Most nonprofits are breaking even within 18 to 24 months.” Get more advice in [7 Basic Ways to Acquire New Donors]( and consult our [resource center]( for more than 1,100 other how-to articles and tools for nonprofits. Subscribe to the Chronicle As donors become increasingly selective in their giving, it’s more important than ever that you have unlimited access to the tools and resources needed to show your impact. A subscription to the Chronicle of Philanthropy provides you with the knowledge you need to generate excitement for your nonprofit, grow your donor base, and stay ahead of emerging trends. [Subscribe Today]( What Everyone Else Is Reading [2 Universities Get $100 Million Donations]( Plus, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges get $1 million apiece from legendary business leaders Ken Chenault and Joan Johnson. [How Philanthropists Can End the Cycle of Panic and Neglect for Disease Outbreaks (Opinion)]( As the coronavirus spreads, it’s time for donors to provide the money emergency responders need now and to set the stage for work that prevents these horrific diseases. (PREMIUM) [How to Diversify Your Nonprofit's Board]( Advice to help you recruit trustees with varied backgrounds and experiences to ensure an inclusive approach to governance. [Working With Donor-Advised Funds: The Basics]( Donor-advised funds continue to boom. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about receiving donations from the accounts. [How to Run a Fundraising Campaign for Valentine’s Day and Other ‘Hallmark’ Holidays]( To make the most of quieter fundraising periods, celebrate minor holidays. Here’s what some creative charities are doing. (PREMIUM) How to Create a Fundraising Plan [Join our next webinar]( — A development plan can help your nonprofit focus its fundraising efforts, track and reach annual revenue goals, and even boost results. Yet nearly a quarter of nonprofits ― and more than a third of small groups – lack a formal fundraising strategy. Join us for a 75-minute webinar to learn how to create or improve a 12-month fundraising plan and secure more money for your cause. Our experts will explain what to include – and exclude – in an annual development plan, how to set realistic fundraising goals and define timelines to deliver them, and smart ways to measure your results. Plus, you’ll learn how to get staff and board members invested in a new plan and foster accountability to ensure success. [Sign up today]( to join us on Thursday, February 13, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Want More News and Ideas About Fundraising? See our brand new free weekly newsletter chock full of stories to give you an edge, keep you up to date, and inspire you with advice from your peers. [Subscribe here](. 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: [Assistant Dean for Advancement, School of Theology and Religious Studies]( The Catholic University of America [Foundation Director]( American Association of Colleges of Nursing [Associate Executive Director, Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications]( The City College of New York [Manager of Foundation Relations/Grant Writer]( National Women's Law Center [Search the Chronicle's jobs database](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Sign up]( for other newsletters, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2020 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy](