Critics of Dot-Org Sale Dismiss Promises Made by For-Profit Buyer

Nonprofits decline gifts with too many strings (survey), and Jeff Bezos unveiled his $10 billion gift for publicity, not scrutiny (opinion) [Philanthropy Today] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Please sign up]( to receive your own copy. Technology [Critics of Dot-Org Sale Dismiss Promises Made by For-Profit Buyer]( By Michael Theis Chronicle reporter "These aren’t solutions to the issues raised by the global nonprofit community. They are misdirection and sleight of hand," says Rick Cohen, chief operating officer at the National Council of Nonprofits. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Fundraising [Nonprofits Decline Gifts With Too Many Strings or Misaligned Values, Survey Finds]( [Image]( Erik McGregor/LightRocket/Getty Images By Michael Theis Chronicle reporter Only 55 percent of organizations have a gift-acceptance policy of any kind, according to new survey results from the Center for Effective Philanthropy. (PREMIUM) Opinion [The Way Jeff Bezos’s Unveiled His $10 Billion Announcement Maximized Publicity and Avoided Scrutiny. And That's a Problem]( By Benjamin Soskis Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute The public can’t assess whether large-scale philanthropy makes a difference when donors won’t provide details. And that is a big problem when concerns about inequality and capitalism are on the rise. Grants Roundup [JPMorgan Chase Pledges $75 Million to Help Young People Enter Lucrative Careers (Grants Roundup)]( By M.J. Prest Chronicle contributor Also, a $38 million grant will build a new medical hub in Texas's Rio Grande Valley, and Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation commits $5 million to boost soccer programs for girls and women. Paid for and Created by Salesforce.org [Blazing a Trail of Fundraising Success]( Learn how four nonprofits are using Salesforce technology in innovative ways to improve collaboration, make real-time strategic decisions and further their missions. ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere A new report backing up women’s accounts of Placido Domingo’s sexual misconduct should force a reckoning in the opera community. Opera companies for years turned a blind eye to Domingo’s behavior because he drew crowds and stretched himself artistically. An investigation by the American Guild of Musical Artists confirms the allegations of more than 20 women. In response, Domingo apologized for his behavior. (Commentary: [Washington Post]( Philanthropy and Climate Change Conservative billionaire Rebekah Mercer, a prominent supporter of climate-change-denial organizations, is no longer on the board of the American Museum of Natural History. Mercer’s 2013 election as a trustee chagrined scientists and academics, more than 450 of whom signed a[letter]( in 2018 warning that the public could lose confidence in “science education institutions” by associations with such climate-change skeptics. The Mercer Family Foundation has given millions to the[Heartland Institute]( a libertarian think tank that argues that global warming is not a crisis, and to organizations that argue that carbon-dioxide emissions are beneficial. Mercer’s term as a trustee expired in December, but she was eligible to serve one more term. ([Artforum]( Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg says his record on fighting climate change puts him ahead of his rivals, but some environmentalists say his proposals lag behind the other candidates’ platforms. Bloomberg leads a coalition of city and state officials who aim to meet the Paris climate agreement’s goals despite the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the pact. He has also funded a successful effort to shut down coal-fueled power plants, supported an effort to help U.S. cities cut emissions, and helped elect politicians who champion clean energy. But his past as a GOP member and donor, his past investments in fossil fuels, and his former stance on civil liberties could hinder his efforts to build the coalitions he will need to get big things done. ([Vox]( Plus: In Climate Change Fight, Advocates Like Bloomberg’s Money — but Not His Plans ([McClatchy]( Also: Bezos Is Pumping $10 Billion Into Climate Science. That’s Both Good and Bad, Some Scientists Say. ([Washington Post]( More News Nonprofit Says It Will Open a Supervised Injection Site in Philadelphia to Combat Drug Overdoses ([Associated Press]( Environmental Groups Sue U.S. Over Lightbulb Energy Standards ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) Wealth Disparity and Donor-Advised Funds (Opinion: [Capitol Weekly]( Arts and Culture A Philly Art Museum Boss Hit His Workers. They Complained. He Kept His Job for 2 More Years. ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( As Trump Guts the NEA, We Need More People to Engage in Activist Philanthropy. Here’s What That Means (Commentary: [Artnet News]( After Giving $130 Million in Art to the L.A. County Museum of Art, the Ahmanson Foundation Says: No More (Commentary: [Los Angeles Times]( Obituary: Anne Marion, Texas Rancher, Heiress, and Arts Patron ([New York Times]( 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 [Charitable Giving Projected to Increase 4.8 Percent in 2020]( Giving by bequests is expected to show the strongest growth, followed by giving from foundations, and giving by individuals, according to a report from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. But experts say fundraisers should plan for economic risks. (PREMIUM) [Philanthropy Must Declare a Climate Emergency (Opinion)]( The new commitments from Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are insufficient. It is up to everyone in philanthropy to make climate the top priority in their investments, grants, and other actions. (PREMIUM) [After #MeToo, Nonprofits Need to Help Workers, Donors, and Boards Build a Safer Workplace (Opinion)]( As Harvey Weinstein’s conviction Monday marked a key moment in the #MeToo movement, it is an important reminder to nonprofit leaders and fundraising executives that they need to redouble their efforts to protect employees from abuse. (PREMIUM) [Financial Leaders at America’s Foundations Have the Power to Reshape Philanthropy (Opinion)]( A hotter planet, increased gun violence, America’s crippled democracy, and an ever-precarious economy are stretching our households and communities to the breaking point. That’s why we need financial executives to join forces with grant-making colleagues to ensure all of a foundation’s assets advance social-justice missions. (PREMIUM) [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. Attracting Gifts from DAFs: How Charities Do It [Coming Thursday]( — Giving to donor-advised funds continues to boom: Philanthropists poured $37.1 billion into these funds in 2018, up 20 percent from the previous year. But when people give to charities through these funds, it can be tough for nonprofits to identify, recognize, and build ties with those supporters. How can your nonprofit cultivate DAF donors and raise more money for your cause? Join us for a 75-minute webinar to hear directly from charities that consistently attract gifts from these funds. You’ll learn which techniques work, how to make it easy for account holders to contribute, and effective ways to spur giving through DAFs in your communications and fundraising appeals. [Sign up now]( so you can join us tomorrow at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Advance Your Fundraising We’ve collected many of our best pieces in easy-to-read booklets you can download for immediate reading. In our store, you’ll find the fundamentals of monthly giving, how to seek major gifts, what it takes to hire and retain talented fundraisers, and much more. All are based on in-depth reporting with topnotch fundraisers who will show you what’s working and what pitfalls to avoid. [Visit the Chronicle’s store]( now. 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: [Development Director, Arts & Community Org]( Washington Improv Theater [Director, Corporate and Foundation Partners]( The Global FoodBanking Network [Director, Strategy, Sales and Business Development]( The Chronicle of Philanthropy [Senior Editor, Opinion]( The Chronicle of Philanthropy [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](