Companies Lead Philanthropic Response to Calls for Racial Justice

Plus, philanthropy needs bold cation to improve the lives of women and girls after Covid (opinion), and two universities get big gifts [Philanthropy Today] Are you working remotely? Many organizations provide access to premium Chronicle content in the office. If your group is one of them, you can maintain that access when you’re at home. Read this helpful [FAQ]( to see how. Your account is easy to set up and will provide you access wherever you are. Corporate Support [Companies Lead Philanthropic Response to Calls for Racial Justice, but Will It Last?]( [Image]( JOHN EVERETT FOR THE CHRONICLE By Alex Daniels As the cries to end police brutality against Black people escalated in cities across the country this year, corporations led the philanthropic response, moving faster than foundations to get billions of dollars in grants for racial justice out the door. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Opinion [Philanthropy Needs to Take Bold Action Now to Improve the Lives of Women and Girls When Covid Recedes]( [Image]( PHOTO BY SASITHON POOVIRIYAKUL By Sarah Green If the past is any prediction, things will probably worsen for females when the pandemic ends, setting back decades of progress on human rights. Gifts Roundup [U. of Tenn. Lands $40 Million, and Spelman Receives $10 Million]( By Maria Di Mento Plus, Marquette University gets support for first-generation students of color, and Otis College of Art and Design lands $1 million for diversity, equity, and inclusions efforts. Transitions [Mercy Corps Taps Tjada D’Oyen McKenna as Next CEO]( By M.J. Prest Also, the National Organization for Women replaced its president, and the Kresge Foundation has promoted two of its grant-making leaders. Paid for and Created by Omidyar Network [The Future of Workers and Work]( Covid-19 magnified the scale of an economy that is dramatically out of balance, clearly pointing out the importance and fragile state of worker rights, opportunities, and protections in the US workforce. This series of videos explores these themes in even more detail. A Message from Anthology: Campus Labs, Campus Management, and iModules have come together to create Anthology: a collection of the best in higher ed. [Learn more](. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon used two nonprofits as part of his efforts to siphon money from the We Build the Wall crowdfunding scheme that led to his arrest last week, prosecutors say. Bannon faces fraud charges for allegedly siphoning off $1 million from the wall project, which he then poured into a 501(c)(4) organization that is unnamed in the indictment but is likely his Citizens of the American Republic, based in Los Angeles. In 2018, the organization took in $4.45 million but made only $15,000 in grants, including $10,000 to a fire department in New York State where he held a political rally. Almost all of the revenue went to expenses, including payments to his nephew and sister, and a film-production company owned by Bannon. Donors were not disclosed. ([CNBC]( Plus: How a veteran’s idea to solicit donations for a border wall won over Trump supporters — and produced conspiracy charges ([Washington Post]( Legal-aid lawyers are bracing for a flood of cases as a federal moratorium on evictions and a subsequent month-long notice period expire today. The eviction freeze, part of the Cares Act, had protected about 12 million people. Some local moratoriums extended that protection to others. By one estimate, about 30 million people across the country now could be turned out of their homes. Some legal-aid lawyers are already racking up significantly more court hours fighting evictions that were planned before the moratorium, and the caseload will likely mushroom. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, lawyers are trying to reach poor, homeless, or otherwise vulnerable people who do not know their rights or whose access to crucial services, including library-provided internet or benefits-check pickup at a local social services office, is cut off due to pandemic closures. ([New York Times]( and [Los Angeles Times]( Some theaters around the country are following up a summer of racial-justice activism with fundamental changes to their operations. In Berkeley, Calif., New York City, and Philadelphia, white male founders or directors are handing over the reins of their companies to people of color. A theater in Baltimore is acceding to demands made in an open letter by a collective of minority theater workers, including fewer rehearsal days and payment for playwrights during rehearsal periods. Other companies have fired their leaders over issues of racism, and some theater associations are recruiting board members of color, offering paid internships, and making other attempts at outreach. ([New York Times]( More News and Analysis - Charity Cannot Save the U.S. Postal Service ([Hill]( - Journalism’s Billionaire Philanthropy's Gate Keepers ([Columbia Journalism Review]( - Billionaire Robert F. Smith Reportedly Under Investigation for Potential Tax Crimes ([Forbes]( - Harvard University Board Gains Backers of Fossil Fuel Divestment ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) - The Lesson Americans Never Learn: Trying to Replace the Government With Personal Initiative Requires an Impossible Amount of Energy. ([Atlantic]( - Cultural Heads Eye Endowment Funds in This ‘Apocalyptic’ Moment ([Boston Globe]( - How a Free Meals Power Broker Spends His Sundays ([New York Times]( What Everyone Else Is Reading [Why a Theater Committed to Diversity Paused Fundraising After George Floyd’s Killing]( ArtsEmerson's executive director, a Black man, and its chief fundraiser, a white woman, tell the Chronicle about the frank conversations they've had during the nation's racial-justice reckoning — and what they wish other fundraisers would rethink. (PREMIUM) ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( [What Role Should Consultants Play in the Nonprofit World? (Opinion)]( As foundations and charities seek to figure out how to transform their operations in the wake of the pandemic, they will hire outside help. Let’s better understand how consultants can contribute in ways that make a difference, says a scholar who has been studying these firms. [Obama Foundation Poised to Be a Powerful Force in Racial Justice Movement]( However, some nonprofit leaders say they wish the Obamas had used their star power to engage with grassroots efforts more directly. (PREMIUM) [Philanthropy Won’t Make Headway on Racial Justice Without Tackling Housing Justice (Opinion)]( Black Americans have long suffered under policies that denied and devalued their right to housing, and systemic racism has exacerbated the problems that lead to homelessness. [#HalfMyDAF Movement Spurs $4.7 Million in Grants So Far, Co-Founder Says]( The effort to spur more giving fast from donor-advised-fund accounts has helped 389 charities, according to data provided by one of the founders of the effort. (PREMIUM) Major-Gift Fundraisers: Learn From Your Peers [Join Our Webinar]( — Attracting big gifts from wealthy supporters gets more competitive each year, but 2020 has upended traditional approaches to big-gift fundraising. With the pandemic wearing on, in-person meetings on hold, and the economic outlook dim, how can you stay in touch with key donors in meaningful ways — and win big gifts? Join the Chronicle for a 75-minute webinar to learn from three big-gift fundraising experts who will explain: - how to prioritize donors when there is never enough time - ways to engage wealthy supporters and deepen ties with them — virtually - inspire big donors to give in these challenging times. [Sign up today]( to get a special early-bird discount on this session which airs Thursday, September 10, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Can't make it then? Watch it on demand at your convenience. Subscribe to Our Other Newsletters [Sign up online]( - Philanthropy Today — Roundup of news, opinion, and features (daily) - Fundraising — Briefing on news and ideas (weekly) - Philanthropy This Week — Roundup of news, opinion, and features (weekly) - Nonprofit Adviser — How-to’s for nonprofits (weekly; subscriber only) - Chronicle Insider — Highlights from each new issue (monthly; subscriber only) Subscribe Now As the outbreak of Covid-19 upends all aspects of nonprofit work, the Chronicle of Philanthropy is dedicated to helping nonprofits deal with this unprecedented threat, care for their clients and staffs, manage financial setbacks, and stay connected with donors. Please consider subscribing today, so that we may continue to provide carefully vetted information in challenging times such as these. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [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](